discern "Seeking out good eats, coffee and beer."

Note to self: The next time you’re in a city full of Sicilian fishermen, have yourself a pizza or go to a seafood restaurant.

The salsa at Jalapeños was a watery Pico de Gallo that refused to remain on the chip. My wife’s enchilada platter was actually sweet—but that was nothing when compared to her margarita. On the menu, it was called Black Gold, but a more apt name would be the Wilford Brimley; one should expect to contract diabetes should they manage to finish this cloying cocktail.

Something of which I was previously unaware is that it possible to completely hose a plate of fajitas, usually a mouthwatering dish. But serve it up with bland beans, brown guacamole and sub-standard, unseasoned and undercooked meat and you had better prepare yourself for one heck of an unpleasant meal.

I typically avoid completely smearing a restaurant at which I am served a less-than-stellar meal, so I’ll finish with a couple of positives. The service was very good, despite how (surprisingly) busy the joint was. Our waitress was attentive, despite how many tables she was tending to. But the highlight of my meal at Jalapeños was the Tequila, a glass of Tres Generaciónes Añejo, served neat in a small snifter. Must I mention you need not visit Jalapeños to have one?

This restaurant, alongside a small creek on a wooded highway in the northwest corner of Massachusetts, is the last place you’d expect to find a plate of sizzling fajitas or tasty enchiladas, but that’s exactly what we found while spending some time in the quaint village of Williamstown. This cantina is just a tad outside the town center, and boasts remarkably authentic Mexican offerings, the likes of which I have been hard pressed to get my hands on since I lived south of the 35th parallel.

We started with chips and salsa (of course), I had a Tequila (Don Julio Añejo—straight up) and my wife had a mango Daiquirí. I ordered Fajitas Coyotes, which, surprisingly, didn’t make a loud entrance into the dining room. Instead, a can of Sterno was lit ablaze to keep the cast iron plate piping hot. Four small cups of the fixings (rice, beans, guacamole and sour cream) adorned the odd, elevated apparatus on which the meal was presented.

The Fajitas were delicious, and my wife reported that she enjoyed her Enchiladas Rojas (with vegetables). All in all, I’d say we were rewarded with the experience of having discovered Mexican food of this caliber in such an unlikely location.

Ipswich, Massachusetts, with its beaches, farms and positively certifiable drivers who will cross intersections with reckless abandon and without thought of life or limb, isn’t just known for its seascapes and skid marks; it is home to Zabaglione Cafe, and their restaurant around the corner. Here, you can get out of your car (phew) and have a great bite to eat for lunch and some tasty desserts to boot.

Since arriving in the Cape Ann area a week earlier, I’d been craving two things: clams and Greek food. Both, oddly enough, were satisfied at Zabaglione, an Italian joint. The clam chowder, while no substitute for steamers, was satisfying, and “The Greek” with its Tzatziki sauce and chunks of marinated lamb wrapped in a pita was just the ticket after hiking around on the trails at Crane Beach. My wife played it safe and ordered an Italian sandwich, which she also enjoyed.

Zabaglione Cafe has plenty of options for vegetarians, and an incredible-looking selection of cannoli, cakes and tiramisu for dessert, which, alas, we skipped on this occasion. But should we ever throw caution to the wind and attempt to drive through Ipswich again, we’ll certainly pay Zabaglione another visit.

Originally I wrote, “Loco Coco’s has some of the best tacos and burritos on the Seacoast.” Back when they opened, they were the best choice in the area for Mexican food.

But then they expanded, after raking in what I’m sure must have been a pile of cash. We went back, and I edited my review to say, “…Loco Coco’s has deteriorated a bit in both quality of food and service since expanding their operation into the adjacent part of the building. The old room has become a bar, and in the new section, an inefficient, somewhat greasy kitchen with more space and several more tables. But it still tastes pretty darned good—for Mexican food in New England…”

Well, last night, we tried again, just to give them one more shot. I’m sorry to say that will be our last time going to Loco Coco’s. The food now tastes like one of those Ameri-Mex chains, except with even poorer quality, and less Mexican flavor, if that’s possible. Grease abounds within the burritos. There was more gristle in the meat than ever before. We even found several small pieces of plastic in the “guacamole” from the salsa bar. But mostly, it just didn’t taste very good.

From now on, if I want some Mexican food, I’m going to Chipotle at “The Crossing at Fox Run” (near Best Buy and Barnes and Noble). It may be a national chain, but it tastes really, really good. Another alternative is the not-so-Mexican Dos Amigos. Not my favorite, but at least it ain’t an artery-clogging grease-fest, like Loco Coco’s.

I had a Guinness braised short rib with a surprisingly delicious Brussels sprout hash, made with fingerling potatoes and bacon. Tasteful, comfortable ambience and real wine glasses made the food even better. We split a vegetable trio appetizer, which was interesting, but probably not something I’d reorder, and the same goes for the chocolate cake we had for dessert. However, the mains and wine were outstanding, and I think some of the other choices on the menu had real potential.

It was better the first time I went. You want good Thai food? Drive to Portsmouth, NH and go to Thai Paradise. Nuff said.

I can’t remember the last time I’ve had such an incredible dinner—and we are no strangers to fine dining. Granted, it was the middle of January, so we had the staff’s nearly undivided attention, but everything from the salad to the main course was carefully and interestingly presented. The flavors were outstanding. My locally-raised steak was perfectly seasoned and cooked. We had a bottle of Dry Creek Vineyards Cabernet Sauvignon, which was velvety and ripe. Dessert was a three-part, mouth-watering chocolate experience.