Savory Sticks

Part of conforming to other cultures means trying new things, even if those new things are in your backyard. There's nothing wrong with a little eccentricity at home! So when you choose a restaurant location for a Saturday night out with your friends, make a point to try something new. Example: a dinner on sticks!

STIX is a new restaurant in Boston's Back Bay that serves its meals on (you guessed it) sticks. But it's more than a shish-kabob; it's foie gras on sticks, curried shrimp on sticks, duck a'Lorange on sticks, and sashimi tuna on sticks. Start with the plentiful cheese plate and a bottle of wine from the very reasonably-priced wine list. Each "stix" plate comes with three sticks -- a perfect amount of food for one person -- so get a few stix that everyone can share and enjoy. It's a great twist on the "family style" concept.

Pre-dinner p.s. Go early and have a drink at the bar. The Grey Goose Sparkling Pear cocktail is a nice start to a funky night.