Sunday Sips & Nibbles

I am back with a special Sunday edition of my regular Thursday Sips & Nibbles feature, where I mention some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently. I am catching up on some things since I was away, and did not want to wait until this Thursday.
**********************************************************
1) Beginning September 25, BiNA alimentari, BiNA osteria’s adjacent gourmet food shop, hosts a series of seasonal cooking classes and workshops. Every Saturday afternoon, expert staff members lead participants through an afternoon of culinary and potable learning and fun. Class schedule and themes include:

Craft Beers (September 25)
Scotches (October 2)
Cigars (October 9)
Got the Blues? Blue Cheeses (October 16)
Sangioveses (October 23)
Nebbiolos (November 6)
Holiday Pies (November 13)
Turkey Day Reds with Italian Gravies (November 20)
Ports (December 4)
Gingerbread Cookies (December 11)
Sparkling Wines (December 18)

The classes are held Saturdays, beginning September 25, from 2pm-3pm. The Cost is $18 per person.

RESERVATIONS: Recommended. Please call 617-357-0888.

2) In addition to stuffing dark chocolate truffles with lemon cream and coconut rum filling this summer, Lee Napoli of Chocolee Chocolates, has been creating “lessons plans” for her soon-to-debut Saturday morning chocolate classes.

Beginning Saturday, October 2, and continuing indefinitely, Lee will conduct limited-size classes for adults and children over 12 in the spacious, commercial kitchen adjacent to her 23 Dartmouth Street shop in Boston ‘s South End.

Classes cost $80 per person for three hours of hands-on instruction (10 AM til 1 PM) in the art of bark, truffles, beignets and more. Each student goes home with one pound of artisinal candy (retail value $48) they can boast was made with their own hands.

Those wishing to sign on for the fall chocolate-making classes should call the shop during regular business hours at 617-236-0606.

I love Lee's chocolates, especially her salted caramels, and these classes certainly sound like lots of fun.

3) Beginning October 1st, Chef Anthony Caturano of Prezza, one of my favorite restaurants, will start dishing out new autumn favorites to capture the tastes of the season.

Chef Caturano’s seasonal menu combines classic hearty Italian home cooking with the bountiful flavors of fall. Newcomers to Prezza’s menu include the following: Mushroom Risotto and fontina cheese ($15); Seared Sea Scallops, diced potato, lobster and hazelnut cream ($15); Roasted Black Figs stuffed with gorgonzola and wrapped in prosciutto with aged balsamic ($15); Bibb Lettuce, local apples, blue cheese and walnut vinaigrette ($12); Pumpkin Ravioli, lobster, brown butter, sage and marscapone (appetizer, $15; entrée, $28); Pear Ravioli with pecorino cheese and butter (appetizer, $15; entrée, $28); Panko Crusted Cod, spaghetti squash and hazelnut cream ($26); Crispy Duck, risotto cake, braised kale and cider glaze ($32); Wood Grilled Venison, sweet potato, braised greens and glazed bacon ($34); and, Bone in Tenderloin, crispy Yukon potatoes, creamed spinach ($48).

Says Chef Caturano, “Fall is my favorite time of the year. It gives you a chance to experience rich, robust flavors in their prime. During the fall season, I try and incorporate different types of game and ingredients that create a truly unique culinary experience.”

Prezza is open seven nights a week and begins serving dinner at 5:30pm. For reservations, please call: 617-227-1577.