I just can’t contain our Boston vacation into one post. There were too many amazing moments packed into a 3 day weekend to keep them wrapped into one entry, not to mention the amazing food we tried throughout.
Aside from our amazing stay at the Four Seasons Boston, we had such a great time walking around the city, learning a little about America’s history and enjoying some truly incredible culinary treats.
One of my favorite parts about Boston is the ability to literally walk from one corner to the other, with lots to see and do in between.
The Frog Pond in the Boston Commons was probably our favorite part of the city.
Well, that and the beautiful carousel in the Boston Commons…
We even saw Mrs. Mallard and her ducklings!
I was able to try 10 different types of New England Clam Chowder at the Boston Chowder Festival (so good).
And of course, we made our way to the famous Mike’s Pastry for the best cannoli’s and tiramisu that I’ve easily ever had.
Still, it was the icing on the cake to get to go back to the Four Seasons to relax and just be together.
Chef Vosika of the Four Season Boston’s Bristol Lounge was kind enough to share his Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes recipe with me after I raved and raved about how amazing they were. The best part? I can share it with you!
Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes
3 whole eggs, separated
¾ cup Ricotta cheese
¼ cup Melted butter
¼ cup All-purpose flour
2 T Sugar
½ tsp Salt
1 T Grated lemon zest
Powdered sugar
Blackberries
Candied lemon zest
Separate eggs. In a bowl, combine egg yolks, ricotta cheese and melted butter. Combine flour, sugar, salt and lemon zest then slowly add to the above mixture. Whip egg whites to form firm peaks. Fold egg whites gently into batter. Lightly butter griddle or Teflon pan. Form small hot cakes and cook until golden brown on both sides. Top with powdered sugar and surround with blackberries and candied lemon zest.
Blackberry syrup:
1 Quart Frozen blackberry puree
Sweeten with simple syrup. Bring to a boil. Cool completely.
Serve 1 ounce with pancakes
That looks delicious, thanks for sharing the recipe. And Zoe’s bathing suit is the cutest thing ever. Where did you find it?
that picture of Justin is hilarious! I know how he feels, fun can be tiring too! Looks like you had a blast!
Thanks for recommending using a Teflon® non-stick pan while making your Lemon Ricotta Hotcakes. I represent DuPont and it’s always a pleasure to see people recommending our products in their recipes.
If you are interested in some other recipes or great cookbooks to look at for your blog, drop me an email and I would be glad to help you out! Thanks. Cheers, Sara
Your photos bring your adventures in Boston to life before our eyes. We just love them! We hope that when you cook up the Lemon Ricotta Pancakes at home they will remind you of all the memories made here in “Beantown.” We hope to have the opportunity to welcome you and your family back again soon.
We love BOSTON! And the pond with the swans is one of my favorite things every year. Last fall we spent hours observing them caring for the eggs.
Great pics!
Hubby and I have been saying forever we want to take a trip to Boston. Your pictures look like you had a blast. The ones of all of you relaxing in the hotel are adorable. Hoping to get there soon!
Love your photos of Boston. We lived there for 8 years, and I miss how beautiful the city and its surrounding towns are. We never had the chance to stay at a nice hotel like the Four Seasons, but now that we’ve left, we have an excuse to splurge when we go back.
On a side note, I understand why there are ads on your blog, but this side bar thing that follows you as you scroll down is really really annoying. I keep accidentally enlarging the small ad. Maybe it’s just me and my clumsy mouse skills, but it’s pretty frustrating! I just wish these blog ads were better designed…
Hello, love your family vacation photos! Would you be able to tell me where you purchased your daughters shiny converse sneakers? They are adorable and I have been searching for a pair like them for my daughter for months now. Thanks!
Sorry to provide a negative note to your blog. I’m also from Los Altos/Mountain View/Palo Alto and found your blog randomly. I started reading from the beginning and was so happy to have read your stories, since it’s similar to our story as young parents. I truly enjoyed the blog posts since it provided a different perspective for the same journey.
However, the posts recently have been way too commercial. You mention not getting paid from most of the companies, but it’s hard for me to imagine you not being influenced by free hotel nights/toys/etc. I know I would. I realize making money is part of the equation, but to make the blog so personal sounds ingenuous.
None of your readers will ever enjoy the EXTRA posh service that the Four Seasons provided to you. Your post just isn’t indicative of everyday life (unless your fork over the big $$$ for a huge suite) so it provides no true value, even though it’s meant to be a “review”.
I have enjoyed your family’s travails and I do hope you make it back to the Silicon Valley, but alas, I will stop reading your blog because it’s lost that personal touch…
Hi C,
I appreciate your feedback and understand where your comment comes from. One of the things that I made sure of when we visited the FS (each property), was that the “extra” touches were a part of their family packages offered, which is in large why I was so impressed with the experience. I posted the package starting rate in the comment section of my last post.
We are a young family living off of student loans in Manhattan. I am humbled and challenged by our situation on a daily basis, so don’t think for a second that I wasn’t also influenced by the amazing treatment at the Four Seasons. What you seem to have missed is the utter gratitude that we felt as parents being able to share such an incredible experience with our children.
I have been very, very fortunate to have had the success that has come from my blog, and while I am grateful I also know that I have worked very hard for it through my authenticity. I’m not a major blogger, or celebrity, or royalty, but the FS treated us like it, and from what I’ve heard that is their specialty for paying customers or not.
Writing sponsored reviews and posts is not my forte, and it’s certainly not why I blog or why I ever started blogging. Thera a fine balance that perhaps I’m still learning, but I am proud of my content either way.
It’s unfortunate that even though you’ve read our entire story & everything we’ve gone through, your first contribution/comment was to tell me that you won’t read my blog any more because you think my post on luxury travel was ingenue.
Either way, I appreciate your honesty and thank you for reading.
I loved these FS entries… I think you did a fine job detailing a family vacation and the *luxury* of staying in a luxury hotel. The photos are great, your kids are precious and you and your husband look happy and cute.
I’m very impressed by The Four Seasons commitment to keeping your young children happy and actively involved in the whole experience. Making a trip like this special for kids is the only reason to take them to a high line hotel, really. waste of money otherwise as they couldn’t possibly appreciate adult amenities. I think they very well at extending the service for children to include making a parent’s stay that much more comfortable with the individualized services. I bet your guys were thrilled with the small personalizations in the presentations and the photos of them in the chef’s outfits are going to be family album standouts for years.
As for the critique? I’m not seeing it. NO WAY are you over doing sponsored content, really, other bloggers could look to these two entries as models of “How to do it”…Gotta agree on the roll over side bar ad tho’..I blame that on American Living and would certainly give them a heads up on the annoyance factor..I won’t blame you as it’s just one ad but, yeah…aggravating to close it.
Jessica – great pictures! We went to the clam chowder festival two years ago in Boston and this brings back great memories…BTW – Jack looks so much like you in that pic from the carousel! I can’t get over it!!