Exotic Boston Cuisine

(Yes, we DO have exotic food in Boston):

Addis Red Sea (Ethiopian) - Tremont Street, South End (take #43 bus from Park Street Station to Cyclorama stop near Dartmouth Street) (Eat at authentic woven tables, listen to to authentic regional music, savor authentic dishes served by staff in authentic costumes. Spicy food is consumed with hands using injera bread (for the real deal experience, request the brown grain Ethiopian variety, not the white variety that is dumbed down for the hypersensitive American palate). Good bets: the rare beef dish, the vegetarian sampler, Tej Honey Wine and the Ethiopian red wines. Beer is NOT the best bet here. The next best thing to a trip across the galaxy.

Tibetan Café - Central Square, Cambridge on Magazine Street (between Mass Avenue and Green Street). Authentic Mongolean dishes, spicy beef, noodles. The beer and wines are very different. Indiana Jones could approve.

Green Street Café - Green Street, Cambridge, just across the street from the the #47 bus stop near the Central Square MBTA Station. Authentic Jamaican Jerk Cuisine, spicy goat meat dishes, conch with fruit compote. Live reggae and jazz on some nights.

Jumbo Seafood - 5 Hudson Street, Boston (in Chinatown). Chinese variety with an emphasis on exotic seafood such as abalone, shark's fin, sea urchin, oysters, jellyfish as well as the more prosaic for those in your party who are not into the exotic. They also have some fish specialties that resemble gagh (fictional Klingon specialty). Also features shrimp, scallops, beef, chicken and vegan fare. Good for group culinary explorations.

Lala Rokh - Turkish, 97 Mt. Vernon Street, just off of Charles Street (great hangout for Kerry fans exploring Beacon Hill). Tagines, soups, appetizers. Unique wine and beer selections.

Tangierino - Moroccan, located in Charlestown, 83 Main Street. Sample tartare tuna, foie gras, calamari, bedouin salad, and harira at its best. This new place, decorated in the very finest Arabian furnishings, is fit for the pickiest fannish belly dancer afficianados.

Bob the Chef's - Soul Food, Columbus Avenue, near Mass Avenue, in Boston's South End. Accessible on foot from the Sheraton-Hynes convention area or by the #1 bus that runs along Mass Avenue (get it at Hynes-Auditorium and along Mass Avenue). Black-eyed peas, chitlens, fried chicken, collard greens, some cajun. Certain evenings and for Sunday brunch, there is live soul, blues and jazz.

The Wine Bar (Fondue) - 30 Mass Avenue, a short walk along Mass Avenue (in the direction of MIT) from the Sheraton, Boston. Fondue - plain, fishy, crabby, Italian-style, and ostrich (yes, ostrich! tastes like beef filet but low in cholesterol). Check out the chocolate dessert fondue, a great fannish group activity. The ultimate fannish group eating activity. Yum!

Casa Romero - Spanish and Mexican, 30 Gloucester Street (entry behind at alley and down a set of stairs near Newbury Street, Boston). Variety of Spanish cuisine, including excellent ceviche, meats, salads, tapas. Great sangria (the real deal, not the dumbed-down Yankee variety that you get most places). Open for weekend bruch, too. Not your usual Sunday brunch

Bricco - Italian, beginning of Hanover Street (North End), Boston. Great unusual gourmet dishes. Pasta dishes with a twist. Kobe beef filet (house special, market price - be warned, it's high, so you might wish to share, but it is SO worth it for this special treat), zucchini buds with field greens and toasted ricotta cheese. Superb martinis and outstanding wine list.

-- Sally Mayer