Boston Common - Niche Media - A side of Boston that's anything but common.
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48 bostoncommon-magazine.com photography by wayne e. ChinnoCk At Parsnip, the globally influenced fare delighting discerning Cambridge diners includes roasted cauliflower with apple, raisins, and a cumin brûlée (below right) and a dessert of sesame pound cake with banana ice cream and grapefruit (left). Parsnip: Not truly a carrot, not truly parsley. Parsnip in Harvard Square: Cambridge's coolest new eatery. Nestled in Winthrop Park (in the former Upstairs at the Pudding space), Parsnip Restaurant & Lounge has planted its roots in a historic duplex brimming with creative cocktails, cushy leather chairs, and simply divine dishes. "The secret is the ingredi- ents and the local sources I use," says executive chef Peter Quinion. "The seasons. The people around me." Main fare, like a duck breast with white chocolate purée, almonds, cof- fee sauce, and—of course—the restaurant's namesake vegeta- ble, highlight a menu featur- ing complex, internationally inspired entrées. Quinion, who hails from Reading, England, makes a point of infusing his farm-to-table creations with global flavor. The restaurant's vibe is homey yet sophisticated. Bright white walls complement hardwood flooring, two cozy fireplaces, and dramatic art- work on the first floor. Upstairs in The Lounge, guests can sip signature cocktails like the The Cantabrigian (applejack, Diep9 genever, Kina l'Aero d'Or, Benedictine, Boker's bitters, Peychaud's bitters) in a colorful, vintage goblet. "For a lot of people it's memorable because it's unique," Quinion says. "It's all handcrafted. It's everything you'd get from fine dining, but casual." 91 Winthrop St., Cambridge, 617-714-3206, parsniprestaurant.com . Cambridge's must-try restaurant breathes euro-ChiC life into harvard square. By Krista DeJulio A Superior ParsniP scene dine