Whoa whoa — let’s back up to the title for a second: a wild boar WHAT now? As soon as my eyes crossed these three tantalizing words on the menu at Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake, I was sold.
Ten minutes prior to reading the menu, I entered the Boylston Street bar and grill for the very first time, unsure of what to expect. At first glance it seemed somewhat divey, but I was pleasantly surprised by the establishment’s warm ambience and friendly service — most likely, influenced by its culinary captain, Chef Brian Poe (a reigning 50 on Fire winner).
The Rattlesnake Bar and Grill’s partnership with Chef Poe back in 2009 resulted in “Poe’s Unleashed Menu”, an inventive hybrid of southwestern and South American flavors. And, as I am already a big fan of Chef Poe’s exotic culinary creations at the Tip Tap Room, I decided it was high time I check out his other Boston kitchen.
But enough about me — back to the dish itself.
The Wild Boar Burrito actually tasted more like a Wild Boar Empanada (hence the South American influence) which (in my opinion) made it all the more ‘dish-elicious’. The buttery and crispy shell was stuffed with flavorful boar meat and Latino spices. The succulent Wild Boar tastes similar to pork (no surprise) with a sweet, slightly nutty taste — much less gamey than you’d think. The meat was perfectly mixed in with delicious plantains and a traditional green chili braise, which created a savory and slightly sweet dish. And to top it off, the boar bacon in the salsa and melted mexican cheese created something akin to food porn (refer to picture above).
According to Chef Poe, this dish was inspired by his “love of cooking wild game and wild boar” during his “time spent in Arizona.” So, if South American and/or southwestern style food is your jam (including chips and unique dips like Tequila Cream Cheese and Minted Tomatillo), then head to the Rattlesnake after work today and enjoy their roof deck seating while the weather’s still hot.
Chef Brian Poe is one of the reigning 50 on Fire winners, and BostInno is excited to announce that nominations for this winter’s celebration are now open. Check out the winners here, and submit nominations here through September 30th!
