June 2022 Openings and Closings [Boston, New England]

sunnyday · June 6, 2022, 3:11pm

Always a good thing to have more food courts; that’s probably the one thing that these Chinese supermarkets have been lacking. I don’t cook Korean dishes enough to need regular trips, and with the prices of everything flying up I shudder to thing what the prices look like at H-mart these days - but options are options!

Have you tried Maruichi in Brookline for Japanese groceries? I don’t go often but they have a much better selection of Japanese products and seasonal offering - and a mini pharmacy in the room next over too. They had some vegetable starters for sale last time I went; just wish somebody didn’t take the last shiso plant! (No luck growing shiso in my yard no matter how hard I tried…)

Alcachofa · June 6, 2022, 8:31pm

I feel like Gourmet India has become just OK. Perhaps better than typical “mall Indian”, but that’s a low bar to clear. And, at the same time, though perhaps for understandable reasons, their prices have gone up quite a bit. Is Tashan new-ish? Could it be distracting them? I would love to go to fine-dining Indian, but Mrs. Alcachofa is not a fan.

How does the parm at Parm compare to local legend Vinny’s Superette?

I have a Brazilian friend who was a huge fan of Fogo when it first opened in Boston. The old school weigh your plate places are probably better, on a dollar-adjusted basis. But it is nice to go somewhere with a nice atmosphere once in a while (and pay for the privilege).

I agree that Pepe’s is maybe 90% of New Haven. But that’s still freakin’ awesome.

Parsnipity · June 14, 2022, 11:34pm

Caramel Patisseries and Macarons has closed in Davis Square. It appears that in the long run, they were only one patisserie, and that remains located in Salem. I believe the extra “s” did them in, since it prevented me from patronizing them due to my own ability to excuse grammatical errors. The few times I went in, the pastries were good but a bit pricey and didn’t draw me back.

truman · June 15, 2022, 12:01am

Tatte Bakery and Cafe is opening its location in Wellesley this week. Super excited, as we can walk to it and therefore can justify eating pastries.

Laughing Monk also opened recently - haven’t been yet.

honkman · June 15, 2022, 12:11am

Not an opening or closure but I just saw that Buttonwood isn’t any longer part of the Sycamore “empire” as they sold it to a former employee. It’s always hard to predict how such an ownership change will effect the quality or menu

fooddabbler · June 15, 2022, 12:51am

While I have some sympathy for your explanation, there’s a more mundane one here:

Parsnipity · June 15, 2022, 12:55am

Yes, I saw that thread 61 minutes (approximately ) after posting and was unable to edit. I like my explanation better…

fooddabbler · June 15, 2022, 1:17am

+1

clovenhoof · June 15, 2022, 8:29pm

With all those extra "S"es They really missed the opportunity just to pluralize their name to “Caramels” in the true Bostonian fashion (and maybe sneak an “irre-gahdless” in there for good measure).

sallyt · June 15, 2022, 10:38pm

ridiculously excited for Tatte.

I’ve been to Laughing Monk 3x - twice for lunch and once for takeout. Takeout was fine, not great, and my family prefers Little Spoon. Lunch was good, but pretty $$$ for lunch.

grumpyspatient · June 16, 2022, 6:16pm

Not sure this is new, but it is new to me. And looks very good, has anyone been
(sorry for the length, its a paywall otherwise)
QUICK BITE

Thai marketplace and takeout shop Boon Noon Market is a boon to East Arlington at any hour

By Kara Baskin Globe Correspondent,Updated June 16, 2022, 1 hour ago

Spicy satay noodles at Boon Noon Market in Arlington.LANE TURNER/GLOBE STAFF

Where to Boon Noon in East Arlington.

Why For lovingly prepared Thai food, plus crispy anchovies, tapioca coconut cookies, and bags of black garlic from Boon Noon’s marketplace. Many of their products are imported from Phetchaburi, “the most well-known region for desserts and pure palm sugar,” says owner Nutthachai “Jeep” Chaojaroenpong, who calls Boon Noon a “grocerant.”

Nutthachai Chaojaroenpong at Boon Noon Market in Arlington. LANE TURNER/GLOBE STAFF

The backstory Chaojaroenpong comes from Pak Chong, part of Thailand’s Nakhon Ratchasima province. He studied for a time at Johnson & Wales. He earned a graduate degree in marketing from Boston College and lent his knack for recipe development and business planning to restaurants such as DakZen in Davis Square and The Nu Do Society in Central Square.

This is a more casual affair, close to his Arlington home. He runs the small, seatless storefront with his wife, Phatcharawin “Patchar” Watthanagithiphat, as well as Sawitree “Aoi” Suksakul and Pilaiphon Wongpunth. They longed for an authentic taste of home, eschewing sugary, Americanized Thai. The focus is on kub kao: “food served with rice that you eat with family,” he explains.

Kao soi at Boon Noon Market in Arlington. LANE TURNER/GLOBE STAFF

What to eat You heard it here first: “The secret is that there is quite many restaurants in and around Boston area buy Khao Soi paste from us,” Chaojaroenpong says. And so that deeply fragrant, coconut-scented curry noodle soup is a staple here, fired up with house-made toasted chili.

He also recommended the spicy satay noodles — draped with peanut sauce, chili oil, scallion, cilantro. I ordered it veggie-style, with fresh, healthy chunks of carrot and broccoli. When I ask him why the flavor is so deep and mellow, he doesn’t hold back.

“I question why peanut sauce here is so pale and doesn’t have much flavor. In Thailand, the peanut sauce is much darker. The cooking process makes coconut milk break down to oil, but many people here are afraid of oil on the top of the food. But coconut milk is a healthy fat, like olive oil,” he says. “And we don’t hold back on the spices: galangal, scallion, lemongrass. And the thing that boosts the flavor is the chili oil we make in-house.”

There are also offbeat menu finds, like the absolutely magical lox Rangoons, made with salmon, real cream cheese, and dill — it’s as though the very essence of Sunday brunch has been captured in a little crispy pouch. The other big hit are shrimp cakes folded into a donut shape, battered and served with a creamy lemon and sweet chili sauce. Soon he’ll add desserts, such as Sweet Potato with Salted Palm Sugar Caramel, and coconut cream. Nothing on the menu is over $15.

Lox Rangoons at Boon Noon Market in Arlington.LANE TURNER/GLOBE STAFF

While you wait, browse the market. It has a charming homeyness, like popping into someone’s pantry: a plastic container of baked clams here; imported red lime paste there; a bag or two of black garlic. (“Good for diabetes control,” Chaojaroenpong tells me as I shop.)

Market confections come from Phetchaburi, “the most well-known region for desserts and pure palm sugar, with the help of Patchar’s parents,” he says.

Kao niao ma muang mango dessert.LANE TURNER/GLOBE STAFF

What to drink Creamy Thai iced tea or hibiscus tea, mixed while you wait; sodas; and water.

Hibiscus tea with herbs and mint at Boon Noon Market in Arlington. LANE TURNER/GLOBE STAFF

The takeaway In Thai, Boon means “good karma,” Chaojaroenpong says. This friendly little place just over the Cambridge line oozes it.

161 Massachusetts Ave., Arlington, 781-316-0059, www.boonnoonmarket.com

Ferrari328 · June 16, 2022, 6:35pm

I visited at lunchtime on a Saturday at lunch. Walked in, and three staff was around, were completely ignored, and left. Done.

truman · June 17, 2022, 1:22am

Re Laughing Monk and $$$ - that’s why I’m not likely to prioritize it. Amarin, Lemon Thai, and Krua Thai are all really good, and less expensive, and the first two are super close. I haven’t been to Little Spoon but will put it on the list!

Parsnipity · June 17, 2022, 2:13pm

I can’t tell what restaurant you’re talking about?

Madrid · June 17, 2022, 8:54pm

I can’t understand which restaurant Ferrari328 is talking about, either. I would like to know!

Ferrari328 · June 17, 2022, 9:24pm

Boon Noon Market in Arlington. Thought I replied to that post.

Parsnipity · June 17, 2022, 10:48pm

I was afraid that was what you meant, as I’m anticipating this restaurant eagerly after reading the Globe piece. Your reply was actually to the June openings/closings thread, so we couldn’t tell. Thanks for clarifying.

Has anyone successfully eaten at Boon Noon yet? We may bike over and give it a try for Father’s Day.

MC-Slim-JB · June 18, 2022, 6:47am

I had a smashing first visit here. Super-cool little Thai market with a crazy selection of concentrated curry pastes from unfamiliar-to-me corners of Thailand, like one with fermented crab. I imagine my whole place being stunk up in a good way just by cooking with a thumbnail-sized smear from one of those little tubs. Longer on shelf-stable than fresh ingredients at the moment, but lots of items I don’t see in the tiny Thai sections of my Chinese and Korean supermarkets.

A very promising first lunch: ua lao, a Northern sausage (chef is from Changmai or thereabouts) that reminded me a bit of sai ua, fermented and porky, described as an Andouille, nice chili fire by itself. A sweetly funky flavor I don’t see much in the States. The set included skin-on roasted peanuts, dried chilies, fresh cilantro and pickled ginger slices.

Kui chai, chive pancakes cut into triangles, had a fine fry job and the expected sweet brown dipping sauce. Good of its kind, but not so hard to find elsewhere locally.

Spicy basil eggplant with vegetables was delicious, fresh, solid – served with excellent purple jasmine rice, I’m guessing that Riceberry hybrid. The kitchen is already leading with modest spice levels after shocking some locals with traditional Thai heat. A condiment caddy with dried, fresh and pickled chilis, nam pla prik, sugar, etc. would be welcome.

Overall, impressed with the amount of earnest, traditional excellence concentrated into this small storefront: the operators seem like lovely people, too. I’m going back soon and bringing friends to work through the menu. An exciting first look!

grumpyspatient · June 18, 2022, 10:52am

Thank you for the review, we are hoping to try for lunch next week.

grumpyspatient · June 22, 2022, 4:39pm

Gourmet Dumpling House announces it will close its doors in Chinatown after 15 years

By Brittany Bowker Globe Staff,Updated June 22, 2022, 1 hour ago

4

Mini juicy pork dumplings at Gourmet Dumpling House in Boston. The eatery, located at 52 Beach St., has made regular appearances in online travel guides and best-of lists, and in 2013 it was included in Travel & Leisure’s list of the best Chinese restaurants in the US.THE BOSTON GLOBE/GLOBE FREELANCE

Beloved Chinatown eatery Gourmet Dumpling House has announced that it will close its doors after 15 years.

In a post shared through Google, the celebrated restaurant said it would be shuttering its Boston location on July 1 “due to the lease term.” The announcement noted that the restaurant’s Cambridge location will remain open.

“Dear Beloved Customers,” the post reads. “After 15 years in business, due to the lease term, we are so sorry to inform you Gourmet Dumpling House will be closing its operations July 1, 2022. Thanks to all those who have supported Gourmet Dumpling House over the years, we are extremely proud of all that we have accomplished in these glorious years and [we are] more thankful to those who have believed in us.”

Owner Ed Chen opened Gourmet Dumpling House in 2007, and over the years, the restaurant often had a line out the door. The eatery, located at 52 Beach St., has made regular appearances in online travel guides and best-of lists, and in 2013 it was included in Travel & Leisure’s list of the best Chinese restaurants in the US.

“We got so emotional when we see so many touching comments online, you are our families! We will miss you!” the Google post continues.

Gourmet Dumpling House’s last day will be June 30. The Cambridge location, called Dumpling House, is located at 950 Massachusetts Ave.

The restaurant could not immediately be reached for comment.

Brittany Bowker can be reached at brittany.bowker@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter @brittbowker and on Instagram @brittbowker.