Introduction
Hard to believe, but Dee is now another year older since we started the Gertz Girlz blog (funny how that works). For her birthday celebration, we traveled to one of her favorite past haunts. It was an uncommonly warm–and impossibly sunny–day for early March; in fact, it was a perfect day to visit Cambridge MA and be a part of the bustling life of city dwellers and college students; the frenetic bus, car, cab, and foot traffic; and the sense of belonging that occurs in one of Dee’s favorite cities.
Dee Sez:
Oh Cambridge, My Cambridge! How I’ve loved and missed you so. You were there for me at just the right time: when I was young and everything was possible, and you were right at my door (or just a few miles away). Back then, I lived in Belmont, within walking distance to the Mount Auburn Cemetery. If you’ve never been, don’t let the idea of graves keep you away. It’s an extraordinary place, filled with gorgeous landscaping, walking paths, horticulture, architecture, history; and in the spring, lush lawns abut a pond filled with gorgeous waterfowl. It’s a place that is magical and alive.
While my home was in Belmont, my life was in Cambridge. I knew every square inch of every Square (except Kendall, which in the 1980s wasn’t all that interesting; I understand it’s more interesting now). I ate hot dogs at The Tasty in Harvard Square, which is gone now, but immortalized in Good Will Hunting (as an aside, I find it irritating that the characters ate hamburgers…really?…the hot dogs were amazing!). I had so many dining experiences in so many of Cambridge’s Squares, and way too many to mention here.
But oh, the memories of Christopher’s…
I’m now living in a country town I love. It’s nice to be a country mouse when you’ve had your fill of city life. But I have found that the city mouse in me still wants to scurry in the flurry of city energy once in a while, and so, the Gertz Girlz indulged me on a birthday trip down memory lane.
Thirty years ago, when I visited frequently, Christopher’s was the place for the young, casual, and hip, and I was two of those things–guess which two (lol). Today, with Lesley College taking the place of the Porter Exchange, it’s still–and especially–a young person’s place. And it should be. Cambridge is meant for the young, if not the young at heart. And after all those years, I was THRILLED to discover they still offer Yuppie Nachos on the menu. I don’t know if ‘yuppie’ is now an un-PC term, but good for Christopher’s for keeping the name, and more importantly, keeping it on the menu! Yuppie Nachos was all I wanted, and Christopher’s didn’t disappoint.
Yuppie Nachos, like all nachos, are easy to make, but years ago they figured out a winning combo: chips, jack and cheddar cheese, and the most important ingredients: sun-dried tomatoes and goat cheese. Back in ‘my day’, they didn’t offer guacamole, but they do now, thank you! DeeLish!
Eva Sez:
It was exciting to make a trip to the city (like my aunt and mother, I may be a city girl at heart). For someone who lives in the New Hampshire ‘burbs there is no end of fascinating people watching as you sit at traffic light after traffic light. And this was the perfect casual campus checkout…Lesley College you are not for me but at least I know where you are now!
Lisa Sez:
Buyer’s remorse is a real drag when you’re talking about food. I now have been on the Keto diet for three months. I have perfected cooking a >bleeping< omelet to the point where someone should be hiring ME to work the brunch station. Which is why I never should have ordered it at Christopher’s. But it had salmon and cream cheese in it and that was the bait for me.
Ultimately, I ended up looking longingly at other, more interesting choices and wishing I had made them…like a big juicy bun-less burger for instance. Still, I had my appetizer splurge and those Yuppie Nachos were all that Dee had bragged about. They made me want to tie a cardigan around my neck and change my name to Muffy. Let’s just say they were in the top five nachos I have ever eaten, and that’s saying something!
Eva Sez:
If there is one thing I love more than people, it’s dogs. So when we walked into Christopher’s I was instantly giving them props on their decor. Our extremely nice waiter Dan explained that they feature local artists’ work and change it up on a regular basis. Our timing was perfect…beautiful, huge, paintings of dogs on every wall surface of the restaurant and bar! I was in heaven.
They are all for sale but I don’t think I’ll have that kind of space in my dorm room!
Lisa Sez:
I love good art almost as much as Eva loves dogs. It was kind of spectacular when we entered Christopher’s to see these very large-scale close-up paintings of all different breeds of our canine friends. Please note as of this writing that the Dog Exhibit has moved on. Christopher’s retains an art consultant named Hailey Cormier with CambridgeEatsandBeats.com if you would like more info on these gorgeous works of art.
Gertz Girlz Final Dish:
It’s always fun to revisit your old stompin’ groundz. We were happy to experience this with Dee, to celebrate another birthday, and to see some of her young-self past with our very own eyes. Another bonus that day at Christopher’s was the staff.
We had two “Dan’s” (waiter and beverage manager) who couldn’t have been friendlier or more informative and patient with all our incessant Gertz Girlz questionz! We highly recommend this wonderful old(?) pub to everyone who loves wonderful old(?) pubs!
More info: christopherscambridge.com
Gertz Girlz! 