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Party Earth
07/12
The Boston Globe Magazine
04/08
The Boston Globe
04/08
The Phoenix
04/08
Harvardmagazine.com
03/07
Stuff @ Night
01/05
The Boston Herald
10/04
Newsweek Magazine
07/04
Boston Magazine
02/04
Boston Globe Calendar
03/03
Slammed
02/03
Phantom's Great Ate for '02
12/02
Harvard Law School Review
11/02
Phantom Gourmet
11/02
Boston Phoenix
11/02
The Boston Herald
6/02
The Improper Bostonian
6/02
Pat Whitley Interview
2005 |
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Harvard
Law School Review
A new small plate restaurant offers killer
drinks and a fantastic menu.
11/02
"Cambridge could use a little fun, don't you agree?
Enter Cuchi Cuchi. The restaurant is fun from beginning to end - its name
is fun to say, its ambiance screams 'fun,' its drinks are fun
to sample and its small, straight up dishes are fun to share. Given that,
in my humble opinion, maximizing your 'fun quotient' (to steal a term
from Professor Randall Kennedy) should be the ultimate goal of any first
date, I particularly implore the dating scene folks to keep this place
in mind.
Cuchi Cuchi's setting can be described as something akin to a 1940's garage
sale for the well-to-do -- sounds odd but somehow the owners have managed
to pull it off. Antique chandeliers of all varieties hang in the dining
rooms, while splendid stained glass windows light the equally colorful
selection of liquors behind Cuchi Cuchi's forty-foot bar.
Speaking of the bar, despite its emphasis on fun Cuchi Cuchi takes its
cocktails very seriously. The cocktail menu is divided into 'Signature
Cocktails' (all $9.50), 'Vintage Cocktails' (price varies) and 'Bottoms
Up' shots ($6). The vintage list consists of a handful of the old standbys
(Sidecar, Rob Roy, Mai Tai, etc.). The list is is also educational (for
those of you who just can't get enough education), adding a little blurb
of history next to each drink. For instance, did you know that the Gimlet
originated in the British Navy when troops combined rations of gin and
lemon to curtail scurvy? Think about that next time you order one of those.
The signature list is reason alone to drop by this place on a Saturday
night (or on a Monday through Friday night if you're a 3L). All signatures
are made with fresh herbs and fruit. That's right: if, for example, you
order the Sour Apple Martini, the bartender literally stands in front
of you and crushes green apples and ice into a big glass. The freshness,
combined with a touch of creativity, makes for a wonderfully tasty drink
menu.
My dinner companion (who proceeded to drink me under the table) and I
made it our job to sample as many signatures as possible. The winner of
the frozen drink category would have to be the 'Getting Layered',
a tropical sensation of Brazilian rum and mango puree. If you're looking
for a twist on the classic Julep, try the 'Cuchi Julep' - Boru
Orange vodka blended with lime, mint leaves and orange slices. For the
sweet tooth I suggest the 'Dirty Little Secret', a successful
blend of Godiva White Chocolate Liqueur and Stoli Vanilla vodka. Cuchi
Cuchi also has six variations on the standard martini, each using a different
fresh fruit, the most curious (and yet pleasant) of which is the Strawberry
Basil Martini.
Much like its decor, Cuchi Cuchi's 'straight up' dishes are boldly eclectic.
The menu consists of a respectable selection of 'international small plates'.
Restaurants that endeavor to present a selection of foods from a variety
of cultures are always taking a chance at screwing up royally (e.g. Lexington
Kentucky's International Buffet 2000 - a complete nightmare). Nevertheless,
Cuchi Cuchi holds its own. Making our way around the globe, my companion
and I sampled six different small dishes (the number our waiter suggested,
which seemed to be just enough to fill us up). Some of the more notable
items included Mussels Thessalonika - Greece (a satisfying bowl of Prince
Edward Island mussels bathed in a roasted red pepper, garlic, coriander,
parsnip and white wine sauce, $8), the Norwegian Grilled Salmon with red
and white horseradish sauce ($8), the Brazilian Pork braised in bacon
and served with crimson lentil salad ($8), and the peculiar and yet delicious
Tuna Carpaccio and Salmon Tartar with watermelon, resting atop seasoned
couscous ($10).
Leaving a little room for dessert, I took a stab at the Cornucopia Pizzelle
cone filled with fresh fruit, fruit kissel and whipped cream ($7) which
proved a tangy treat for those who don't get their fill of fresh fruit
from the martini menu. More rewarding were the homemade Truffles ($7.50)
consisting of champagne, milk chocolate w/tangy cherries and coated w/walnuts,
orange w/Gran Marnier ganache, jasmine and rich dark chocolate varieties.
I managed to wash all of this down with a 'Bottoms Up' shot
of 'Menage a Trois', a smooth and creamy combination of Stoli
Vanilla vodka, creme do cacao and Godiva Dark Chocolate.
Whether you are in the mood for a few drinks that are a cut above the
typical Cambridge concoctions, need a place to celebrate someone's birthday,
or are looking to show your date a fun time, give Cuchi Cuchi a shot.
Besides, where else in Cambridge can you experience a 'Brazilian
Wax,' Menage a Trois,' and a 'Dirty Little Secret'
under thirty dollars?" |
