Steph and Klay. Batman and Robin. Mario and Luigi. Every dynamic duo features a main character and a trusty sidekick. While these sidekicks often don’t get the attention they deserve, their contributions are equally important.
In local community terms, this dynamic plays out between Davis Square, a hub of Tufts off-campus life, and Porter Square. This ‘other square,’ located just half a mile south of Davis within the Cambridge city limits, is often overshadowed by its Somerville-based counterpart. Nonetheless, in recognition of this Daily special edition, I thought I’d show some love to the second Splash Brother.
In order to bask in the summer weather that has thus far pervaded October, my friends and I decided to make the just-under-30-minute walk over to Porter Square. Our first stop was Black Ruby, a restaurant that offers a cuisine I’d never previously encountered, Thai-style burgers. As soon as I saw the menu, one thing caught my eye — the Summer Special “Thai PB & J Burger.” (Yes, these are the types of things that catch my eye.)
Featuring Thai peanut sauce, blackberry jam, arugula and crispy onions, the burger hit the spot. The patty was juicy and perfectly cooked, and the blackberry jam was both sweet and savory. Though I did not really taste the crispy onions and the arugula was a little overbearing, the key element of the dish was the peanut sauce. Normal peanut butter, for once in its glorious history, would not have sufficed. The peanut sauce offered a unifying force, tying the whole burger together. It was tangy and hearty, serving as the bridge between the sweet jam and the tender burger. A novel concoction and a killer burger.
The only thing I will dock Black Ruby points for is that their burgers don’t come with fries. That’s right, burger with no fries. Luckily, former Deputy Sports Editor Zachary Gerson offered me one of his, which was quite good.
The only way to follow up a good burger, naturally, is ice cream. So, we made the five-minute trek to Honeycomb Creamery. Honeycomb offers a unique atmosphere, and its flavor selections rotate often. The limited menu and overabundance of fall flavors (insert eyeroll) left me unsure of what to choose. Eventually, I settled on Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch and Honey Lavender.
I’m not sure what possessed me to try Honey Lavender, but it was certainly not my best decision. I did not feel the lavender haze “creepin’ up on me” as Taylor Swift sings. The taste was so flat that you could’ve told me it was any random fruit-flavored ice cream, and I would’ve believed you.
Luckily, just as it did at Black Ruby, peanut butter saved the day. Each lick of the Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch was like biting into a Reese’s Peanut Butter Cup. It was that good. Whatever variety of peanut butter you prefer — creamy, crunchy or chunky — they were all represented in this flavor.
As always, my gut reactions:
Black Ruby PB & J Burger: a surprising combination that works wonders.
Honeycomb Honey Lavender: at least the scoops were generous?
Honeycomb Peanut Butter Fudge Crunch: Scoop there it is!
So, I hope I’ve taught you two things tonight:
- Never doubt peanut butter. It is inevitable.
- Don’t be afraid to visit a new location.
Tufts is lucky to be in a culinary haven, surrounded on all sides by top-notch dining options. So, in appreciation for our host communities, get out there! Have a Thai hamburger! Suffer through Honey Lavender ice cream! You’ve only got four years to eat your way around Medford, Somerville and Cambridge, so you might as well start now.
