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MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac")

@mcslimjb.bsky.social

1.6K followers 640 following 14K posts

Pro restaurant critic with 400+ published reviews / features dating to 2005. Now at Boston Magazine. Past perches: Boston dot com, The Improper Bostonian, Stuff Magazine, Boston Phoenix, Dig Boston. Links to my published work at mcslimjb.blogspot.com

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MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 1h

Salume di Manzo at Capri, South End, Boston, MA, USA. #boston #restaurants #bars @capribos

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 4h

‘Nduja at Capri, South End, Boston, MA, USA. #boston #restaurants #bars @capribos

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 8h

Foccaccia with olives and roasted tomatoes at Capri, South End, Boston, MA, USA. #boston #restaurants #bars @capribos

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 19h

Last Word cocktail: gin, Maraschino liqueur, Green Chartreuse and lime at Capri, South End, Boston, MA, USA. #boston #restaurants #bars @capribos

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 20h

On further review, this is a Negroni down. We did order a Paper Plane that night, I just forgot to snap a pic of it!

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 1d

Paper Plane cocktail: bourbon, Aperol amaro, Amaro Nonino and lemon at Capri, South End, Boston, MA, USA. #boston #restaurants #bars @capribos

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 1d

Bell Pepper Gimlet cocktail: Hendrick’s Scottish Gin, raspberry, red bell pepper, Genepy and lemon at Capri, South End, Boston, MA, USA. #boston #restaurants #bars @capribos

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 1d

Powers Gold Irish Whiskey neat and a draft Guinness Stout at J.J. Foley's Cafe, South End, Boston, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @jjssouthend

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MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 1d

The house's proprietary Moxie amaro, featuring the principals, at Tall Order, near Inman Square, Somerville, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @tallorderbar

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 1d

A bit of rakia at a friend's house. I liked it: somewhere between grappa and a young brandy. And that Serbian cherry liqueur.

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 2d

Parting gift of a miniature Espresso Martini at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 2d

Alexandr, a Czech Pilsner from Schilling Beer Co. of Littleton, NH at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 2d

It’s So Hard to Be an Optimist cocktail: Elijah Craig bourbon, Akashi Ume plum whisky, umeshu, li hing mui (Chinese preserved plum) infused Campari and MSG at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 2d

Filet o’ fish bao: panko fried fish, tartar sauce and cheese at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

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MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 2d

I'd say the Darling SLCS sits somewhere between the Mary Chung version (which sat in a pool of black vinegar over mung bean sprouts) and the typical "Sichuan wontons in spicy chili sauce" of fairly traditional Sichuan places like Sichuan Gourmet, which have a noticeable sweetness as well as mala.

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 2d

Bang bang gai: double fried chicken thighs, gochujang, lime and cilantro at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

Don’t get me wrong: I and my whole family loved Mary Chung in general and that dish in particular. But we had low expectations that it could be perfectly replicated.

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

I’ve never seen SLCS on any other menu, so I only know Mary’s version, and this is reminiscent of it. People hoping for a time machine will be disappointed.

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MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

Colossal shrimp: tiger prawn, kimchi butter, Thai basil and cilantro at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

Suan la chao shou: pork wonton, hot & sour, house chili crisp and shallot at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

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MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

Five Amaro Julep cocktail: Averna, Cynar, Cardamaro, Bigallet China-China Amer, Branca Menta, raspberry, lemon and a lot of mint at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

Hypocrite Critic cocktail: Toki Japanese whisky, Asian pear, Shiso Junmai Daiginjo sake, yuja (yuzu) peel and carbonated water at Darling, Central Square, Cambridge, MA, USA. #boston #bars #restaurants @darlingcambridge

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

Hot dog with turkey sausage, crispy onions, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and pickles at Le Croque Monsieur ("The unique Parisian taste",) Sofia Airport, Sofia, Bulgaria. #bulgaria #restaurants #bars @le_croque_monsieur

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

Fernet-Branca neat at Unica, Sofia, Bulgaria. #bulgaria #restaurants #bars @unica.restaurant.sofia

MC Slim JB (as in "emcee" not "mac") @mcslimjb.bsky.social · 3d

Chocolate, caramel and red wine ice cream at Unica, Sofia, Bulgaria. #bulgaria #restaurants #bars @unica.restaurant.sofia

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