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Less Than Greater Than Pairs Island Treasures

The Ramen and Three Dots and a Dash makes a pairing at Less Than Greater Than in Hudson, MA perfect.

The only thing more mystifying than a back door speakeasy masquerading as a cobbler shop is a perfectly murky bowl of 18 hour broth in the thick of central Massachusetts’ ramen desert. Visit Less Than Greater Than (<>) on any Tuesday tiki night and you’ll see what I mean.

Located in the rear of New City Microcreamery is a cryptic light switch that serves as the gateway to the town of Hudson’s secret classic cocktail lounge. Flip the switch and wait for a Dutch door to swing open in haste. A woman sporting a floral lei will usher you inside before ducking back behind the marble bar. The bar is apt to be packed, so order your ramen immediately and wait for a steaming Japanese noodle bowl to appear before you.

Less Than Greater Than’s ramen dish is arduously prepared with an 18 hour surf and turf broth, fresh noodles, a slow poached egg, fried garlic, braised chicken, scallions and nori. Paired with Three Dots and a Dash, the ramen’s bold salinity is offset by the mellow sweetness of Aged Agricole, orange, and local honey. Three Dots and a Dash also features grassy Demrara Rum that works to enhance the ramen’s deeply earthy sheet of roasted seaweed. Clove and cinnamon notes of Pimento Dram, Falernum, and Angostura Bitters further intensify the broth’s complex dimensions.

Japanese cuisine and classic cocktail culture have a lot in common, calling for clean and simple ingredients combined with an iron-fisted attention to technique. Ramen and tiki are the outliers. They demand a laundry list of ingredients and a healthy dose of creativity. Both continue to attract a cult following.

With that said, noodles and umbrella drinks have had a particularly hard time making a craft resurgence in central Massachusetts. Less Than Greater Than has unearthed a fashionable niche and a rising tide will raise all ships. I feel confident that ramen and tiki drinks are only the beginning.

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Basil n’ Spice Basil n’ Chili

Basil n' Chili from Basil n' Spice on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Basil n' Chili from Basil n' Spice on Shrewsbury Street in Worcester, MA

Basil n’ Spice has an unassuming entrance at the back of a parking lot. From the outside, I was skeptical of the interior, but the ample parking thrilled me enough to suggest there would be something good behind that door.

The rooms are cleaner and more sophisticated than I expected. Inside, there is a simple, yet elegant, bar area with a few high-top chairs and two dining areas separated by a red pergola.

I decided to branch out beyond Pad Thai. I went back and forth for longer than I care to admit before boldly selecting a dish with a red chili pepper next to the title: Basil n’ Chili.

The protein options include chicken, beef, tofu, shrimp, duck, and a seafood combo. I went with shrimp and jasmine rice.

The dish arrived on an oblong platter with red and green bell peppers, onion, carrot, broccoli, green beans, mushrooms, scallions and basil leaves with a very light sauce. The jasmine rice came on the side.

I added some rice and took my first bite.

The bottom of the menu indicated that one chili means ‘mild’. I am not so new to Thai food so I assumed mild meant medium. I was correct. Once I swallowed, the heat came. The spice was bold, but it was not overwhelming. I mixed in all the rice and drank at least eight glasses of water, but the heat brought all the flavors together in a great way.

The waiters were friendly, pleasant, and eager to serve. Whenever my water dropped below the last quarter of the glass, a server refilled it.

I would highly recommend Basil n’ Spice for dinner any day of the week. The place is a bit small and a lot of glassware is used so I’m not sure it would be a great choice for a family with small kids. Then again, it depends on how well behaved your kids are.

I will return to Basil n’ Spice to try their Pad Thai with my husband or a group of friends.