Thank you very much for the response. We are postponed for the moment, but looking forward to next winter. I will definitely write up the trip. Thanks again!

Thank you for such a wonderful and in-depth response. I really appreciate it.

I love goat! But that is me. I could eat it all the time.

I was looking at Jamaica today also, of course they have some unique food, but I don't know how family friendly off the beaten path will be. More research.

Thanks again!

Great recommendations. Thanks. We love Strip T's and Ribelle. And lobstah!

Portuguese is a good idea. Kirkland Tap or Craigies might be something to consider, hamburgers with bone marrow. Khmer is far away. That is true.

Maybe a lobster or clam shack somewhere up the coast. Or that one in Winthrop. Wonder if they are open in December.

Surtido. No chicharron. It is the same fatty meat with skin, but not crispy.

Haha. I just answered my own post. Didn't even realize at first.

Tried this place yesterday. The surtido was the best meat followed by the carnitas. The surtido tacos were really excellent, though I think they tortillas are grocery store tortillas.

I also tried a surtido torta. It was awesome. They used Mexican queso blanco, not american cheese and jalepenos. They also pressed it. I have never had a pressed torta before, but it was outstanding. Outstanding.

Wish it was closer.

One can purchase GMO free canola at WF and it makes great mayo.

Cutty's in Brookline has it. I bought some today, eating it now. It is excellent. It has a good spice and is a little lighter and sweeter than the one I ordered from http://www.ndujaartisans.com/ which I found very sharp and very spicy. I don't know which is more authentic, but the lighter one from Cutty's was more enjoyable.

Is this the place in Supah 88?

I second Ribelles octopus. This was one of the best octopus dishes I have had. It was the first time I ate it and it was tender and flavorful and just delicious.

I have recently been to Taqueria El Amigo twice. It has great authentic tacos, chorizo, lengua, carnitas, carne asada, pollo y al pastor. The tacos are on the smaller side. They also have a beautiful looking menudo on weekends. I have not tried it but I saw it and the bowl had a big beautiful beef knuckle in it. It is on my very short list of things to try.

I saw that XX has Bun Mang Vit which is a wonderful duck soup I have only found in Randolph. I haven't tried it yet but it is top of the list now. If you don't get the ginger sauce make sure to ask for it. You can dip your meat or pour it in your soup.

Is that the grey shrimp paste, mam rook, it is extremely pungent, much more so than fish sauce? It usually comes with Bun Bo Hue.

That is good information, thanks. I would not be happy if my money went to a church.

You know I can't. I have only had it at the place near Fenway and at Zo. I never heard of a pork gyro until I moved here a couple years ago. The idea of 'lean pork' turns me off. I want my pork fatty and crispy. ;P

Finally got to Zo today. I loved the lamb chili. I think it was one of the best diner style chilis I have had, but then again it was lamb. Awesome rec!

I also tried the pork gyro which was good, but not really memorable.

OC, my favorite is when I see a special in Vietnamese and I ask the what that is and they say oh, you don't want that... Then I say, I'll have that. ;P

If you want to make your own cheese board Wasiks in Wellesley carries a lot of NE cheese.

Where is this place? I can't seem to find it.

I tried the Bun Rieu yesterday at Xing Xing. It was good. I added a little fish sauce and lime to give it a little more depth. It was my first time going there but I will definitely be back to try more stuff there.

Sultan's sounds great. Thanks.

Thanks!

Right on. Thanks.

That reminds me it is the only place I know where I can get casings for homemade sausages.

#2 is the one I ordered:

http://www.dumplingcafe.com/dumplingc...

If you want to check out Chinatown while you are here you can go to Dumpling Cafe and get the lobster with ginger scallion sauce #1 under chef's specials:

http://www.dumplingcafe.com/dumplingc...

And if you do go there make sure to get the pork soup dumplings as an appetizer, they are one of the best things to eat in Boston.

Have a great trip!