I had the best Thai meal at Garlic Bistro in Chelmsford Thursday night. Location: Drum Hill Rotary. Now don' t be turned off by the hectic spot (im finding some of the best meals come in pedestrian packages). This place is clean, fast, equipped w/ friendly & attentive staff, but most importantly serves up some of the best ginger, lemongrass, garlic infusions around. I loved the tropical chicken, flecked with roasted cashews, pineapple and mushrooms served in a split open-faced pineapple — how festive! Beef w/ macadamia nuts in a robust, dark ginger sauce was extremely satisfying. But the real test was the pad Thai (the shinning star of Thai cuisine). They passed w/ a limey zing and multiple plump shrimps. Only neg. note was the scarce chopped nuts that gives this noodle dish its crunch. Our pork dumplings also rocked. Like Peking ravioli w/o the oil. Great little pockets. This meal was not cheap, but not prohibitive either. Wines are an ample pour.

I’m a coffee purist, I take it as black and dark as a Monday morning in February, but this has piqued my interest. Coffee cocktails. The brilliant baristas at the Java Room in Chelmsford are not wasting time with their new liquor license. Like you I tried (and now lament) espresso martinis. What a way to ruin the wholesomeness of ice coffee? But when you add Baileys, chocolate, hazelnut liquor and cream to your bean juice, all of a sudden unwinding with a drink is like apres ski in Stow, VT.— cozy and cool. With live jazz on Friday and Saturday and wines by the glass, Java Room owner Candy Lui is making some nice moves. She plans on turning this cafe into a wine bar at night. That means cheese plates and other trendy pm noshes could come soon if we support her. So let’s go. Located in Ginger Ale Plaza on Littleton Road.

In mid May the greater Lowell area will have a new Tuscan lounge/wine grill. Silks at the Stonehedge Inn in Tyngsboro is being updated with a new name, new look and new cuisine. And, as much as I loved the idea of the upscale European hotel/restaurant on the Lowell line, it’s about time. The last time I had a glass of wine in the bar the stained ceilings, drab curtains and overall tired clubby feel of the touted joint was a huge turn OFF. For a venue that is known for the deepest cellars in New England, couldn’t they do better? Well thank Bacchus, they are.
“It will be an innovative wine grill, with chops and seafood,” said owner Dawn Bozkurt.
“We have an American chef, born and raised in New England. He understands local farms.” Sounds promising. They are ditching heavy Euro fare for sauce on the side, fresh and light ingredients said Dawn.
Further innovations include a flat screen TV, modern furniture, a lounge menu and (since phillies have not been running here in 10 years), say sayonara to the horse theme. Look for a full report in a few weeks.

Good news coming out of Chelmsford for caffeine and plant lovers. Jones Farm on Acton Road is opening a cafe in their greenhouse at the end of the month — April 28 to be exact. Expect espresso, cappuccino and smoothies made with the natural fruit grown on the premises.
The cafe in a flowerful greenhouse will sell scones/cookies/desserts made by an all-natural Newburyport baker, known for her Ghirardelli fudge brownie pie. Hello! This kid-friendly cafe has blackboards for little scribners and a patio in summer. Sounds very LA. Farm owner Phil Jones tells me the cafe will be open year-round from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. Now you know where I'm picking up my patio pots.

Pomegranate is about to jump the shark. The spoiler? The acai berry.
This Brazilian fruit culled from the rain forests is purported to be the antioxidant to beat all antioxidants. Run a Google search on acai and the words “destroys cancer cells” is the first to pop up. Apparently this berry has been on Oprah ( but it prob. got lost on the couch causing us to miss it). So why am I the last to know about this? Seems the berry’s wonder properties, from anti-aging to great skin, are just becoming known in the North East. I encountered acai in drink form last week at Life Alive. Two healthy looking representatives from Monavie, a Utah-based company that makes the power drink, poured me a thimbleful and (no placebo effect here) I immediately perked up. They gave me a bottle (a stylish wine shape) to get started. My husband and I have had a shot each morning and night since last Wed. and in short we are hooked. It is not avail at Whole Foods, this is a network marketing company.You can only order it on-line ... More later when I find more Monavie.

Thin crust pizza. We all love it, but where to get it? I am a huge fan of Figs, the Todd English chain that features the thinnest, crispiest za around. Back when English was a wide-eyed fledging chef, he spent a lot of time in New Haven and discovered Pepe's. If you are a pizza fan lliving within the northeastern Uniteds and have never sunk your teeth into a pepe's pie, make plans now. In the city's Italian section, Pepe's sits like a shrine to great pies. They make a killer clam pie. But if you are not feeling adventurous and need it now (lately ive been pie-eyed) where to go? Cobblestones in Lowell makes flatbread pizzas (is this really thincrust?) Ricardo's used to make a good one, put they pulled it off the menu. Has anyone tried Barisano's on the Tyngs/Low line? The sign boasts thincrusts, but I remain skeptical.
In the frozen food dept. (not very gourmet I know) you can find some surprisingly stellar options. Amy's makes a pie w/ a crunchy cornmeal crust. The gritty texture of corn and tomato sauce sends me over the moon. For less buckage try Palermo pizzas. I buy a basic frozen thincrust (like spinach) and add sliced tomatoes, drizzle olive oil and spices when it comes out of the oven. The results are simply smashing.

Two new restaurants just opened on Merrimack Street, JD Roast Beef and Angelinos Subs, within a block of each other.
On a quick drive-by, I am relieved to report that Angelinos has style. Okay, so decor can't mask taste, but a little ambiance can sure improve a lunch break. Sorry Espresso Pizza, but cinder blocks and orange plastic booths are not the stuff of edible ecstasy.
Electric blue walls, IKEA furnishing, drop lights and a retro-hip bar that will soon offer beer and and wine, makes Angelinos possibly the hippest eat on the street. How long has it been since a new restaurant opened on Merrimack? Almost three years. That’s when the Mambo Grill rolled its first fat one, unless you count Gary’s Ice Cream, which I don’t. JD’s has moved into Gary’s old space, more suitable for a fast food beef joint. Looks like the za’ stands that line Hampton Beach. Has anyone tried JD's? Carnivores please report.

Cinco de Mayo is a week away, it's time to start testing out the margaritas in our midst. La Hacienda and La Carreta in Nashua, N.H. are good places to start. There are two camps here. Some live for Carreta’s freshly prepared guac and homemade, lime-forward ritas. Others say Hacienda is the place for gringos to enjoy cheap no-frills drinks in a cheerful atmosphere. A recent upgrade has brought Hacienda into this decade. East of the border, the restaurant that started it all the Border Cafe has my vote. Order one at the Harvard Square institute and you will be feeling no pain. It's fun to toss one back with giddy Havard undergrads in mod tweeds. And don't forget the chips and salsa. A more perfect combination of drink and snack I know not of. And speaking of salsa I hear Norm's White Horse in Methuen on Route 110 has killer salsa. Ole!

The word on the street is crepes are the new dogs. Better for you (w/in reason) easier to carry (no messy mustard) and so international. Yes, spring is crepe season and there's lots to try on Market Street. Brew'd Awakening just unrolled its creperie to replace waffles, good move. There are sweet ones, with chocolate, honey and banana and those that double as meals such as ham and Swiss cheese. But the one that caught my eye is pear, spinach, blue cheese, walnut and raspberry vinagrette — a portable salad in an edible container. Made with a vegan batter (so hip) this is a meal/snack you can feel good about. $5.75 each. 61 Market St. This just in ... at the Burlington Mall yest. I noticed new food court entry, Appleseed. They do crepes. Has anyone been?