Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.
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1) On June 22, The Beehive Restaurant will celebrate “La Fête nationale du Québec” or “Quebec National Day,” a journey of exploration in traditional Quebec food and music.  The Beehive will be decked out representing our friends to the north in proper fashion as they’ve partnered with the Association Québécoise en Nouvelle-Angleterre, the Quebec Delegation of Boston, The French Cultural Center and Svedka Vodka.

Dinner will kick off at 5:30PM with a La Fête nationale du Québec special menu in addition to The Beehive’s regular fare. The evening’s food will feature both traditional Québec fare such as: Creton (Pork Pate) with Accoutrements ($10.50), Tourtière (Rustic Meat Pie), Homemade Ketchup, Pickles, Salad ($22) and Oreilles De Crisse (Pork Rinds) ($6), as well as highlight products from Québec such as Raw Malpeques Oysters, Maple Cider Mignonette (6) ($15), Seared “Brome Lake” Duck Breast with Wild Mushrooms, Plum Sauce and Pan-Fried Rice ($25) and Roasted Québec Pork Shoulder with Whisky Maple Baked Beans and Old Style Mashed Potatoes ($24).
If you’re in the mood for some Québec cocktails why not try some of The Beehive’s fun featured cocktails for the evening such as the "Caribou de Ville” ($11.50) blending together red wine, American Honey Wild Turkey splashes of Flaernum and maple syrup, served on the rocks with a cinnamon stick, or the "Québec Urbain" ($11.50) made with Svedka Clementie, blood orange juice and muddled fresh mint served on the rocks.

The Beehive will host two very special performances from award winning Québec artists. From 6pm-7:30pm, the singer-songwriters, Isabelle Cyr and Yves Marchand take the stage. From Témiscamingue Lake in Québec to the Acadian shores, Isabelle Cyr and Yves Marchand offer a repertoire of original songs and traditional pieces. Through music and tales they share with humor and passion their history and heritage. To the rhythms of the piano, the harmonium, the drum, the autoharp and the guitar, the irresistible duo blend their voices and cultures for the greatest pleasure of us all.

From 8pm-10pm, you can listen to the twisted classical sounds of neo-folk group Nicolas Pellerin et les Grands Hurleurs.  Deeply attached to traditional repertoire with ingenious arrangements, Nicolas and his two sidekicks produce original music where soft atmosphere meets groove and mingles with all the craziness of Montreal. Expect dazzling arrangements as violin and mandolin go hand in hand with guitar and synths. Nicolas’s vitality, rhythmic rigor, his dedication to his roots and his unique style in both foot-tapping and violin are some of the many qualities that puts him on top of the list in folk music. The band’s debut album won the Québec music award for the best traditional album of the year.

There is no cover charge for this event, but dinner reservations are highly recommended.

2) The 14th annual Chefs in Shorts© event brings together a group of the area’s leading chefs who will fire up the grills and create their favorite dishes during this outdoor, summer-in-the-city barbecue. Join some of the city’s most talented chefs for a night of grill-offs and fun, including:

Jeff Fournier, 51 Lincoln; Antonio Bettencourt, 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar; Rodney Murillo, Avila & Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse; Tim Cuniff, Backyard Farms; Jay Silva, Bambara Restaurant & Bar; Peter Tartsinis, Blue on Highland; Mark Sapienza, BOND at The Langham Boston; Jarrod Moiles, BOKX 109 American Prime; Gianni Caruso, Bricco Enoteca and Lounge; Steve Butters, Butter Café & Bakery; Laura Henry Zoubir, Church and Regal Beagle; Derek Barragan, Del Frisco’s Double Eagle Steak House; Charles Draghi, Erbaluce; Corey Johnson, Jeffrey Stevens, Aniceto Sousa, Flour Bakery; Shore Gregory, Island Creek Oysters; Harjit Singh, Kashmir; Josh Beuhler, KO Prime; Rick Barisano, LTK; Nicholas Dixon, Lucky's Lounge; Market by Jean-Georges; Max Brenner, Max Brenner; Todd Winer, Metropolitan Club; Carlos Pena, Morton’s; Chef S. Giridhar, Mumbai Chopstix; Stefan Jarausch, Oak Room at the Fairmont Copley; Stuart Race, Pairings; Philip Rotondo, Philip R's; Marc Orfaly, Pigalle; Brian Poe, Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake; Jackie Kelly, Remy’s Sports Bar & Grill; Richard Rayment, Seaport Hotel; Karen Hodsdon, Seaport Pastry; Salvatore Firicano, Strega Waterfront/The Varano Group; Chris Douglass, Tavolo/Ashmont Grill; Todd Hall, Temazcal Cantina; Mark Porcaro, Top of the Hub; Suzi Maitland, Trina’s Starlite Lounge; Chris Masco, Turner Fisheries; Mark Goldberg, Woodward at AMES.

WHEN: Friday, June 24th, 2011
VIP/Media Reception: 6:30pm
Main event: 7:00-9:30pm
WHERE: Seaport Boston, 200 Seaport Boulevard, Boston (along the upper level viaduct)
COST: $60 per person, which includes complimentary beer, wine and tastings.
BENEFICIARY: The Greater Boston Food Bank distributes 34 million pounds of food annually to more than 550 hunger-relief agencies in a dedicated partnership to end hunger in eastern Massachusetts. Founded in 1981, The Food Bank celebrates its 30th anniversary this year. For more information about The Greater Boston Food Bank, visit their website at www.gbfb.org or call 617-427-5200.
TICKETS: Tickets are available through the Seaport website: www.seaportboston.com.

3) The Farm Hill Farmers Market in Stoneham returns.  Each Tuesday, from June 14th through October 11th, shop for fresh food and much more on the Stoneham Common from 2-6pm. The Market also promises entertainment, weekly raffles, and information on healthy eating and organic products.

“Our farm vendors—Jones Farm, Heaven’s Harvest Farm, Lawton’s Farm, Flats Mentor Farm, and Wenger’s Farm—will offer fresh produce, meats, cheeses, and dairy products,” said Market Manager Dennis O’Hara. “In addition, we have bakeries, artists, crafters, ice wine, and a massage therapist joining us on the Common this summer.”

Vendors such as Sarah Clark Designs, Kaleidoscope Soap, Mamadou’s Artisan Bakery, Whoopdedoo, Linda Bruen, and Big Sky Bakery return for the 2011 Market. Stoneham will welcome Still River Winery, Piantedosi Baking Company, Sweet & Savory Sisters, Rett’s Home Baked Goodies, and PMD Massage for the first time this year.

The Farm Hill Farmers Market, now in its third season, is the premiere fundraising project of the Senior Center Friends of Stoneham. Proceeds from the Market benefit the programs and services of the Stoneham Senior Center.

As I live in Stoneham, I am pleased once again that this farmer's market will soon be open. There will be plenty of excellent vendors there, and I am pleased to see new ones will be there as well. For the first time, wine will be sold at this market, and I am a fan of Still River Winery, which produces Apfel Eis, a delicious apple ice wine. You can look forward for a report of the new market in the near future.

4) Fleming’s Prime Steakhouse & Wine Bar will celebrate Father’s Day this year with early hours and a brunch prix fixe menu. Dads will also be able to enjoy the specially created Button-Down cocktail and a $25 gift card valid toward a future visit.
WHEN: Sunday, June 19th from 11:30am – 3:00pm
COST: 3-Course Brunch Prix Fixe Menu is available for $32.95 per person
Children’s Brunch Prix Fixe Menu available for $15.95
SPECIAL GIFT: To give Dad another reason to celebrate, Fleming’s is offering him a complimentary $25 dining card* to use for a future memorable evening at Fleming’s.

MENU:
--Choice of One Starter: Fresh Fruit Salad or the Wedge Salad
--Choice of One Entrée:
Mushroom, Cheddar and Filet Mignon Frittata, with rösti potatoes and turkey sage sausage
Berry Stuffed French Toast, with turkey sage sausage
Smoked Salmon and Toasted Bagel, sliced red onion, cream cheese, sliced tomato and fried capers
Asparagus, Swiss Cheese and Lump Crab Frittata, with rösti potatoes and turkey sage sausage
Filet Benedict, sliced filet mignon on buttermilk biscuits with rösti potatoes and turkey sage sausage
--Choice of One Dessert: New York Cheesecake, Crème Brûlée or Walnut Turtle Pie

COCKTAIL: Fleming’s Button-Down is Jack Daniel’s Whiskey, freshly squeezed lemon juice, maple syrup and a dash of bitters, garnished with a lemon twist - $6.95

5) Next week some of Greater Boston’s best restaurants are stepping up to the plate and donating a portion of their proceeds to the American Red Cross to assist with Tornado relief efforts in Western Massachusetts. For the entire week starting Sunday, June 12th, – Sunday, June 19th, restaurants across the Bay State are stepping up to assist in the efforts. The restaurants include:
62 Restaurant & Wine Bar, located in Salem, MA will be donating 15% of their dinner sales on Sunday, June 19th, 2011.

Beacon Hill Hotel & Bistro, located in Boston’s Beacon Hill will be donating 100% of their dessert sales on Monday, June 13th and Tuesday, June 14th, 2011. 

Bella Luna Restaurant & Milky Way Lounge located in Jamaica Plain, MA will be donating 75% from their Smoked Trout pâte with Pickled Red Onion and Capers on Crostini ($8) from Sunday, June 12th through Sunday, June 19th, 2011. 

The Beehive, located in Boston’s South End, will be donating 100% of their dessert sales on Tuesday, June 14th, 2011.

Bondir located in Cambridge, MA will be donating 100% of dessert sales from Sunday, June 12th through Sunday, June 19th, 2011.

Blue on Highland, the upscale eatery in Needham, MA will be donating 50% of their dessert sales on Monday, June 13th and Tuesday, June 14th, 2011.

Burtons Grill, the New England based restaurant group, will be donating 10% of their total dinner sales on Monday, June 13th, 2011 from their five restaurants located in: Boston, MA, North Andover, MA, Hingham, MA, Peabody, MA and South Windsor, CT.

Butter Café & Bakery in Walpole, MA will be donating 50% of take-home dinner sales from Monday, June 13th through Friday, June 17th, 2011.

China Blossom, the legendary family run restaurant in North Andover, MA, will be donating 10% of their dinner sales on Monday, June 13th, 2011. 

Dante, located in Cambridge, MA will be donating 100% of sales of their Zucchini Blossom Frittata with buffalo ricotta and basil honey ($15) from Sunday, June 12th through Sunday, June 19th, 2011. 

Myers + Chang, located in Boston’s South End will be donating 100% of proceeds from their Mama Chang's Pork and Chive Dumplings ($11) from Sunday, June 12th through Sunday, June 19th, 2011.

Nebo Restaurant, located in Boston’s North End will be donating 100% of sales from their Zeppole dessert which is fried dough puffs dusted with powdered sugar ($6) from Sunday, June 12th through Sunday, June 19th, 2011.

Orzo Trattoria, located in North Andover, MA will be donating 15% of their lunch sales on Wednesday, June 15th and Thursday, June 16th, 2011.

Taranta, located in Boston’s North End will be donating 100% of proceeds from their Guavannolis dessert which is Guava and ricotta mini cannolis with pistachio brittle ($8).

Tryst, located in Arlington, MA will be donating 100% of their dessert proceeds on Monday, June 13th, Tuesday, June 14th, and Wednesday, June 15th, 2011