Lester Esser

I attended a 50^th Birthday party for a friend that was catered by Lester a week ago. It was a BBQ party with roughly 20 people attending. The food was magnificent. The timing of apps and main dishes brought out from the kitchen to the back yard was perfect.
He brought everything he needed into the kitchen early on, set up and went to work. A cheese plate with marinated olives was first out. Homemade hummus, delicious. Small lamb meatballs served with homemade yogurt dip so nicely spiced they were a treat for the tongue. Huge shrimp wrapped in bacon and grilled, outrageous. BBQ chicken wings with a slightly sweet glaze… really good stuff.
Now I’m kind of a foodie, as they say; and I know smoked meats. Lester’s smoked baby back ribs served on a bed of collards were unparalleled. I’m telling you the big three local BBQ joints in and around Boston don’t compare. Really. His BBQ sauce is homemade and I pray he bottles it.
He made it seem effortless and after he cleaned up the kitchen and patio you would have sworn no one had been there that night, let alone cooked in the kitchen.
Do yourself a favor… call this man next time you’re entertaining and you actually want to spend time with your guests.
Oh man, I almost forgot about the vegetarian pressed panini sandwiches and the little crab cakes with chipotle aioli.
–MB