So I went to the opening of Left Bank at Stonehedge Inn last week and if first impressions are accurate, it's smashing. Rejoice, we have a cool place to blow our week's paycheck. The menu is upscale American, a term the restaurant industry hates, but applicable. Grilled Atlantic swordfish with sweet potato, fava bean and morel mushroom (they are sprouting on every menu) hash and lobster sauce $29. Points for creativity. The other thing that's hiting the rest. scene hard lately is aioli. ummm! love those international foddie-words. It shows up here w/ garlic on buttermilk marinated fried calamari. There is halibut. salmon and poached lobster, but the show-stopper is Kobe beef tenderloin $55 ...
Too upscale for greater Lowell? They seem to draw a healthy crowd from Boston. At the opening the crew from Chronicle was there. The lounge is pretty stylin'. Black leather chairs, low couches, candles and a new flatscreen TV. Updated (ie. younger) look has much to do w/ the new GM cutie Tay Boskurt. check it out!! Pawtucket Blvd., Tyngsboro

Too hot to grill? Never. Embrace the season by grilling out at least once a week this summer. Once you get the coals going (i recomend a kettle starter) this is really brainfree cooking. Must be why men think they own this domain. Really, what's so hard about throwing down some chicken or fish and turning it over? Being outside in the elements makes grilling feel adventurous what with all those dangerous flames flyng, but really it's just cooking outdoors. Im into tuna steaks this summer. Chef Bruno Melo of Fish Bones in Chelmsford shared his grilled sesame tuna recipe w/ me. It's v. easy. Marinate steaks in toasted sesame oil, sprinkle on seeds, and toss on said grill. Cook for 5/7 min each side. Don't over do it, or it will be too dry. Pour on some soy sauce and serve w/ seaweed salad and wasabi. can you top that?