Foundry on Elm

As a baker and food blogger, people often find it ironic that I’m also a serious gym buff.  I roll out of bed by 5:30am every morning and spend the first 75 minutes or so of every day at the gym. For me, it’s therapeutic and helps to manage stress,  but I also just love it. It’s a healthy addiction of sorts. In high school I ran track and played Ultimate frisbee, but also have been a horseback rider since I was practically old enough to walk. I participated in a sprint triathlon two years ago, and since have really fallen in love with running and biking. This past winter I spent at least 3 mornings a week atop a spin bike, pedaling my legs as fast as they would go while envisioning the baked goods I’d be creating later that evening. But now that the nice weather is here, I’ve decided I need to get my workouts outside, but with a bum hip (and no running), I’ve decided to buy a road bike.

For someone who has never purchased a new road bike, or really a bike of any sort, they seem alarmingly expensive. So for the past month or so, I’ve been on a hunt to find myself the perfect yet affordable introductory bike, and the journey has taken Kevin and I all over the city. A couple of weekends ago we ventured out to Arlington, and on the way back, driving through Somerville, Kevin suggested stopping into Foundry on Elm for an impromptu afternoon meal. And how could I say no? It was sunny and beautiful, albeit a little chilly, but we settled ourselves in right up front by the open windows, with the warm sun streaming in, and the Red Sox on TV, and had ourselves a pretty wonderful time.

Foundry was the perfect pick for that particular afternoon. I think we must have stopped in around 3pm when they were serving a light bar menu, so the prices were really affordable, and the fare was simple but fun. I ordered a cocktail which is out of character for a Sunday afternoon, and Kevin has his usual beer. I got a Tequila Sunrise which was a very traditional version of the drink, and it totally hit the spot. For food, we ordered a tallegio and mushroom flatbread, and an order of fries. So typical. We always order the fries, no matter where we go, because THEY ARE SO GOOD. Plus, after all the veggies, lean proteins and whole grains we both eat during the week, weekends are a time for indulgence! And lucky for us – a complimentary basket of scones (I believe they were wheat scones with currants?) also  arrived at our table with a big ramekin full of whipped butter. I really love whipped butter, and scones too, so that was a welcome treat!

The flatbread was pretty perfect by my standards. The crust was thin and chewy, and slightly crispy around the very edges. I think Tallegio can be a pretty potent cheese, but it was used well in this dish, and the mushrooms really balanced the flavor and brought the whole thing together. The chopped scallion garnish added a nice fresh crunch.

The fries, too, were fantastic. The Foundry fries are like matchstick fries, really thinly cut and browned to perfection. They were served with an herb aioli and some ketchup, and went well with both. After all, you’re dipping fried starch into a fattening vat of deliciousness -  there is absolutely NOTHING wrong with that.

This was our 2nd visit to Foundry – the first time we just went for drinks – and I was really happy with the whole experience. It’s a  laid-back environment that just feels really comfortable, which is a trait I love in restaurants. When you can get that kind of feel paired with great food and drinks, it’s definitely worth a visit.

Foundry On Elm
Davis Square
255 Elm St.
Somerville, MA 02144
www.foundryonelm.com
(617) 628-9999