Munching with Mom
Mother's Day, next Sunday, and spring coincide beautifully some years, lilacs blooming, sun shining, tulips swaying in the breeze. All that you and your mom -- or you and the kids -- want to do is revel in the out-of-doors. Other years, the weather stubbornly doesn't cooperate. Hard to tell what will happen in early May in New England.
So it's a good idea to have a plan in place to celebrate the day. Many restaurants have prix fixe menu specials for the day. And some throw in extras to make Mother's Day especially festive.
1. Caffe Umbra
1395 Washington St. South End, Boston
617-867-0707
For any mother who hasn't seen Washington Street in the Lower South End recently, a trip to Caffe Umbra and a stroll along the street will be a revelation. This restaurant's mostly Italian menu pleases all generations. The special lunch for $38 includes such dishes as grilled asparagus with fried egg and lemon pancetta vinaigrette; housemade ravioli with almond milk ricotta, spring beans and shaved green almonds; grilled pork tenderloin with new potato mustard salad, red grapes and shaved farmhouse gouda, and warm poundcake with strawberry-rhubarb coulis. After lunch, you can check out all the new, trendy businesses along the wide avenue.
Langham Hotel, 250 Franklin St., Boston
617-956-8751
Sumptuous brunch buffets are a tradition at this hotel, formerly Le Meridien. For Mother's Day, there will be eight stations featuring everything from seafood to Provencal dishes like black-olive rubbed roast leg of lamb. One station will be devoted to kids' favorites such as chicken fingers, mini pizza bagels, and chocolate chip cookies. There will also be a jazz trio, a balloon artist, and a magician. Cost is $68 for adults; $28 for children.
3. Jasper White's Summer Shack
149 Alewife Brook Parkway, Cambridge
617-520-9500
It's great to have a Mother's Day treat beyond the food. At his Cambridge restaurant, White is kicking off a gospel brunch with the singers who performed at the former House of Blues in Cambridge; the series of gospel brunches will continue each Sunday. Along with the performance, there will be a buffet featuring such dishes as shrimp, chicken, and andouille gumbo with red beans and rice; fried chicken and hush puppies; hot smoked salmon hash; and praline French toast. Cost is $35 for adults; $25 for children under 10 years of age.
4. Centro
720 Massachusetts Ave. Central Square,
Cambridge
617-868-2405
Centro will open for brunch especially for mom's day. Chef Ben Nathan is planning dishes such as spring Vidalia onion and goat cheese tart; fennel-cured salmon Benedict; thick-cut French toast with roasted peaches and lavender mascarpone; and grilled Tuscan sirloin. Some desserts are strawberry shortcake with warm buttermilk biscuits and a vanilla panna cotta with seasonal fruit sauce. Entrees range from $13 to $19.
5. Azure
Lenox Hotel, 61 Exeter St. Boston
617-933-4800
Mother would revel in the high style of Azure for her day. Some of chef Robert Fathman's dishes will be salt-and-pepper shrimp with a jasmine rice cake and mango; roast halibut and prawns; buckwheat crepes stuffed with lobster mascarpone and vanilla bean beurre blanc; and roast tenderloin of beef with Roquefort mashed potatoes. Cost is $50 each.
6. Grotto
37 Bowdoin St., Beacon Hill Boston
617-227-3434
Mother could win a makeover at this restaurant. The special four-course dinner will include tortellini in brodo; chilled lobster salad with baby beets and haricot verts; and a yellowtail snapper "BLT" with corn, pancetta, and preserved tomato. The menu is $40 or $60 with wines. For children, there will be a three-course menu with crustless grilled cheese, spaghetti and meatballs, and chocolate sundaes. Cost will be $18 for children. One mother will win a Hollywood makeover by Trish Seeney, who has worked on many movies and is the makeup artist for "Knock-First," a children's reality show.
7. Oleana
134 Hampshire St., Cambridge
617-661-0505
For the past four years, Ana Sortun, chef and co-owner of Oleana, has celebrated Mother's Day by re-creating recipes from mothers of her staff and friends. The creators, whom Sortun says are all good cooks, get credit in the titles of the dishes, which include Fanny's fresh pea and two-potato soup; Maria's zucchini keftedes with pecan labne and chick pea salad; fried softshell crab with Carol's farro and bean stew; and Merry's chicken souvlakia with cucumber sauce and spanakopita. Entrees prices are $17-$22. Oh, there's dessert, too, with such treats as Mary Kurth's strawberry-rhubarb pie, Mom's peach tart with Jersey cream, and Pam's fudge truffle cheese cake with raspberries.
