Thursday, October 8, 2020

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I'm back again with a new edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food & drink events. For now, some of these events will simply be the opening of certain restaurants, generally ones dear to my heart for a variety of reasons. And I hope everyone dines out safely, and tips well.
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1) Some Encore Boston Harbor news. On Deck, a sports bar and burger bar, is launching weekend brunch on Saturdays and Sundays from 7am-3pm. The brunch menu, created by Chef Jackie Bullio, offers a wide array of savory and sweet dishes. 

Some of the dishes include: Traditional Clam Dip with potato chips; smoked salmon platter; cheesesteak and egg tater tots; Cinnamon Swirl French Toast; Crab Cake Benedict; a Breakfast Burger with a beef patty topped with a fried egg, hollandaise, and bacon served on an English Muffin; and a sSacked Breakfast Sandwich served on an everything bagel.

The drink menu includes a 24 ounce “Build Your Own Bloody Mary Bar”, for $23 that includes a selection sheet for you to check off your preferences. Those include starting with a choice of tomato juice (San Marzano, “Filthy” San Marzano, Yellow Heirloom and Green Tomatillo). Spirit Selections include preferred vodka, gin, tequila, Mezcal or bourbon. The garnish choices include everything from meat and cheese skewers, an array of pickled vegetables, blue cheese stuffed olives, bacon, shrimp cocktail and more.

2) Tuscan Kitchen in Burlington is rolling out fall specials, which will be available both indoors in Tuscan’s dining room and bar as well as their outdoor space, dubbed “Il Giardino.”

Prix Fixe Lunch: Weekdays from 12pm-3pm, they offer a three-course Prix Fixe Luncheon Menu ($25) which allows you the option to customize your lunch. For starters, there is Bruschetta with heirloom tomatoes, grilled ciabatta and aged balsamic or Caesar Salad with hearts of romaine, focaccia croutons and Sicilian white anchovy. Entrees come fourfold: Manzo Panini with rosemary, balsamic, garlic-marinated sirloin, roasted red peppers, fontina and arugula; Fusilli Primavera with seasonal vegetables, sautéed garlic, EVOO and lemon; Orecchiette with fresh rustic pasta, Tuscan fennel sausage, seared broccolini and toasted garlic; or Pollo Panini with chicken Milanese, fresh tomato, basil pesto and mozzarella fresca. To end with something sweet, choose between one of three Cannoli creations: orange zest and impastata ricotta; caramelized hazelnut; and dark chocolate chip.

Happy Hour: Weekdays from 3pm-6pm, they offer a collection of half-off appetizers as well as $10 pizzas. The sharable starters include options like Burrata della Casa ($9), Grilled Octopus ($8), Assaggi ($8/11), Arancini ($7), Mozzarella en Carozza ($6) or the signature Salumi e Formaggi platter ($9/13). There are also a quartet of pizzas: Margherita; Melanzana (herb ricotta, roasted eggplant, capers, roasted garlic aioli and fresh arugula); Polpetto (signature meatballs, San Marzano tomatoes, oregano and herb ricotta); and Fichi (black mission fig, rosemary, burrata and prosciutto di parma).

3) The new Malden Center Fine Wines, on the new Pleasant Street extension in Malden, has an excellent selection of Wine, Sake and Spirits. They are now holding Tastings each Friday evening, from 5pm-7pm. You need to go to Eventbrite to sign up for their tastings, or check out their Website. Each ticket is free and is good for a ten minute time slot. They advise that you please be mindful of social distancing while tasting of not just the other attendees, but for the people pouring as well. 

Upcoming Tastings include:  
October 9th 5-7pm: Wines of the Month with Dominic 
October 16th 5-7pm: Sake with Justin from Scoperta Imports 
October 23rd 5-7pm: Spirit Tasting with Jim from Atlantic 
October 30th 5-7pm: Georgian Wines with Kosta from Georgian Toast 
November 6rd 5-7pm: Spirits Tasting with Deanna from Burke 
November 13th 5-7pm: Wine Tasting with Joe from Hangtime

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