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) At Ashmont Grill, Chef-owner Chris Douglass and his kitchen team have rolled out a late fall brunch menu to savor, made better with one of their Bloody Marys:
· Spiced Apple Buttermilk Pancakes with local apple compote
· Egg Strata with pumpkin, leeks and pears
· Autumn Hash with bacon, sweet potato, Brussels sprouts plus two sunny side up eggs and toast
· The Hot Brown Sandwich: a regional southern favorite reconfigured for diners south of Boston. Stacked with roasted turkey, aged cheddar, bacon and tomato.
· Ham & Cheese Biscuits: Stewed Langwater Farm winter greens and eggs make this another south-ified brunch treat
· Spinach Salad with roasted local pears, toasted hazelnuts and warm goat cheese; cider vinaigrette

2) Celebrate New Year’s Eve on Monday, December 31 from 9pm-2:30am, as The Beehive hosts its 6th annual New Year’s Eve gala celebration. The Beehive’s, “Discothèque Burlesque New Year's Eve 2013” is an evening of bohemian decadence and eccentric fun. Guests will explore their senses as they take in the wonders of sultry Parisian burlesque performances (by NYC’s hotties Francine “The Lucid Dream” & Essence Revealed) and dance to the live powerhouse 60’s pop and soul sounds of Amy Lynn & The Gun Show.

Throughout the evening Executive Chef Rebecca Newell will feature a delectable buffet of hors d’oeuvres and desserts, all served in a cocktail setting. To top it all off, guests can toast the evening with one of The Beehive’s signature cocktails from the evening’s sponsors including Hennessy Cognac, Milagro Tequila and Svedka Vodka, as well as Domaine Chanson wine and Moët & Chandon champagne.

Cost of the event is $115 per person with food buffet, or $75 per person without buffet. Tax and beverages not included. Non-refundable without 24 hour advance notice. Both ticket options include admission and entertainment. There is a cash bar all evening. Tickets/reservations are available by calling 617-423-0069.

3) Meet two-time James Beard Award-winning authors Karen Page and Andrew Dornenburg as they make their first public appearance in Boston in more than a decade. On December 11, from 5:15pm-6:45pm, they'll be hosted for a reception at The Butcher Shop, where they'll be signing copies of their books The Flavor Bible, What To Drink With What You Eat, and The Food Lover's Guide To Wine. I own all three of these books and think they are excellent reference works which all food and wine lovers should read. They are very informative and comprehensive.

Enjoy complimentary refreshments and meet the couple, former Bostonians who married at Biba in 1990 and now live n New York City. Page earned her master's degree from Harvard, while Dornenburg got his start cooking with Chris Schlesinger at the East Coast Grill and with Lydia Shire at Biba. Their other books include Becoming A Chef, Culinary Artistry, Dining Out, Chef's Night Out, and The New American Chef.

After this reception, at 7pm, they will be conducting a Cookbook Class at Stir ($165 per person) to prepare some of their favorite flavor combinations and beverage pairings.