Most Bahamians look forward to the days-on-end marathon shopping trips when they travel -- and I'm not going to lie, I do too -- but unlike most people, a quick pop into a fast food joint or a meal at the food court to keep their energy level high for the next day at the mall won't suffice for me.  There are some favorite restaurants that I've simply got to hit.  Better yet, if it's someplace I've never been before, I do my research to find out exactly what restaurant I have to go to and what is the not to be missed dish.
One place I've heard about for years is Legal Sea Foods, a Boston-based seafood restaurant group, but never having been to Boston -- I'd never dined at Legal Sea Foods.  So when I found out I would be traveling to Boston the other day, my mind was swirling with thoughts of where I'd eat and what I'd have at the end of my workdays.  I knew I had to have a steamed Maine lobster ... oysters (seeing as I would be so close to their source and all, and they would definitely be at their freshest), New England clam chowder, crab cakes made with Maryland lump crab meat ... and of course if I spotted a P.F. Chang's (one of my favorite Asian jaunts) I had to indulge in the chicken lettuce wraps, some dumplings, and whatever else struck my fancy.
In the first of two visits to Legal Sea Foods, I enjoyed the Rhode Island style calamari (crispy Montauk calamari with peppers and garlic, you can also have them served Thai style, with pineapple and peanuts), a New England clam chowder (the recipe that had been served at past presidential inaugurations), and Legal's signature crab cakes with wood-grilled shrimp and scallops.
The calamari was to die for.  Their crispness and the heat from two kinds of peppers were the perfect bite.  Being a true-true Bahamian, the heat was perfect.
Having made clam chowder many times before at home, the cream and tomato version, I was actually excited to sit down to a bowl in New England itself, made by a New Englander.  It was good, but if you've made it before at home, don't despair your home recipe probably tastes just as good.
And I couldn't wait for the crab cakes, actually passing up the steamed Maine Lobster to have them.  The cake looked absolutely delicious, and was served as a combo with grilled shrimp and scallops.  Avoiding the shrimp, I dove into the crab cake.  A quick flick with my fork, revealed the truth that I'd heard so much about -- that Maryland crab cakes were indeed chockfull of perfect pieces of lump crab meat and practically no filling.  The sweet meat was almost a divine eating experience.  The crab cake took so much of my attention that I only got a taste of the scallops and avoided the shrimp entirely.
And just because I was in Boston, I did the traditional thing of ordering a Boston cream pie for dessert.  The round cake that is split and filled with a custard or cream filling and frosted with chocolate isn't one that struck me as something that I'd like, and the Legal Sea Foods version which was more flan-like in texture, proved it's something I definitely don't like.
On my second foray to Legal Sea Foods, I went with the raw oysters.  With six varieties on the menu, I ordered one of each.  The result was a plate with three Cape Cod oysters (Welfleet, Merry Oyster, and Big Rock Oyster); and three from New York (Naked Cowboy, Cotuit and Wianno).
Disregarding the rest of the menu -- no matter how good it sounded -- like the nutty Atlantic salmon, or the cioppino (lobster, scallops, shrimp, calamari, littleneck clams, mussels and scrod in a light tomato broth), or the lobster casserole (freshly shucked lobster baked with buttery crumbs), or the lobster bake (calm chowder, steamers, mussels, chorizo sausage lobster), I went straight up and ordered a steamed lobster.  At Legal Sea Foods, these steamed lobsters range from one-and-a-quarter pounds to two-and-a-half pounds.  Having seen some big boys hauled out of the kitchen, and people struggling to get through, I erred on the side of caution and got a medium one in the range of one-and-a-half pounds to one-and-a-quarter pounds, with mashed squash and asparagus.  And like a "crazy" tourist I tied that plastic napkin around my neck and enjoyed.  The lobster meat was sweet and buttery and just delicious.   All hail the Maine lobster!
Actually that was my last meal on my final night in Boston, and if I hadn't eaten anything else, I would have been quite happy.
As you can see I had a long list, and I satisfied every craving I had going to Boston.  Making the trip extra special was the opportunity to enjoy a meal at Bonfire, a steakhouse restaurant by celebrity Chef Todd English, who is one of the most decorated, respected and charismatic chefs in the world.  (And that was thanks to the fact that airport dining has gone more upscale).  I stumbled across Chef English's restaurant in Terminal B at Boston's Logan International Airport as I was walking to my gate, and since I had a few hours to kill before my flight, you know I made a beeline for Bonfire.
Perusing the menu I was stuck between the Kobe beef hot dog (with jalapeno slaw, Dijon mustard and Parmesan fries), portobello quesadilla (roasted corn salsa, queso blanco, chimichurri and avocado crema) and the grilled bonfire burger (garlic aioli, smoky bacon, caramelized onions, cheddar cheese and Parmesan fries).  I was leaning towards the portobello quesadilla, when the waiter walked up and I asked for his recommendation.  He steered me into another direction -- the brioche chicken sandwich (garlic aioli, cheddar, caramelized onions, avocado and parmesan fries) -- I was a little skeptical, but I went with it.  I stuck to the advice that I usually dole out, which is that chefs and waiters won't steer you wrong.
And he certainly didn't!  That first bite was an explosion of flavor so intense that when I said wow, I don't think it was just in my head.  The tender grilled chicken, topped with the buttery avocado and the flavorful garlic aioli really made the sandwich.  Even though I didn't have intentions of eating any of the Parmesan cheese-flecked French fries tossed with sweet roasted garlic and crisp fried sage, they were addictively good (so much for watching those calories).  A cooling side of Pico de gallo, and that meal at English's Bonfire Steakhouse was the perfect way for me to end my first visit to Boston.  With eating that good, I intend a return trip.  And if you're ever in the area, a meal at Legal Sea Foods which has been around since 1904 is a must-do dining experience.

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