Sometimes I wonder if people that live in the Boston metropolitan area know how wonderful it is to live near a world class city like Boston. For all that matters, sometimes I wonder if people in suburban Kansas City know what it’s like to live near a fantastic city like Kansas City.  Janet and I are foodies. For years we watched the Food Network and really started to know the food scene and celebrity chefs. In Kansas City we found Chef Celina Tio and loved her place. We also tried to frequent other local chefs on the Plaza, and other places in the city. What we found was the suburban chain restaurants just didn’t do it for us any more. I don’t know, maybe we’ve become food snobs. I don’t even really like chain pizza stores any more after experiencing the glut of mom and pop stores here in New England. All that to say that one Sunday we found ourselves wanting something different so we headed down to Boston to see what we could find.

Our search took us to Piatini on Newbury St. Newbury St. is a high end retail district housed in old brownstone apartments in the Back Bay area of Boston. Our table was on the sidewalk and we enjoyed the beautiful day sipping wine and enjoying a nice meal.  It reminded me a lot of the cafes and bistros we saw in Paris. These are the experiences one finds in the city that you don’t get in the suburbs or rural towns. This is exactly why I would rather live in a city than a cul-de-sac. Unfortunately, teachers, even city teachers cannot afford to live downtown in a major city like Boston. Until then, I will continue to live on the outskirts and venture into the city when I get the urge. I will continue to be a food snob and find restaurants that are unique, and possibly out of the way.  It’s not my dream, but it’ll do for now!

“Life is either a daring adventure or nothing at all.” – Helen Keller