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) For Thanksgiving, join Beat Hôtel from 11am-8pm on November 28 for an open buffet and live country, bluegrass and Americana music all day long.

This country-style Thanksgiving buffet, priced at $38 for adults and $19 for children 12 and under, has something to satisfy everyone. Chef Rebecca Newell will be serving comfort food and a wide assortment of desserts. To accompany the buffet items, guests can choose from over 24 wines on tap, mostly either certified biodynamic, certified organic or sustainable culture wines, all available in 2.5 oz, 5oz, or 12oz pours. Mix, match and try one a different wine with each course. For something stronger, celebrate the all-American holiday with Beat Hôtel’s cocktails such as the American Breed made with Maker's Mark, St. elder elderflower liqueur and apple cider ($11), or Granny Takes a Trip, old overholt rye, bitterman's amere nouvelle, vya sweet vermouth ($10.50).

Throughout the day Beat Hôtel will have live Country and Bluegrass performers for customers to enjoy while they eat their Thanksgiving meals.

Buffet Menu (Menu subject to change)
Roast Organic Turkey
Peppered Beef Brisket
Wild Salmon with Parsley, Lemon & Sundried Tomatoes
Caramelized Leek Stuffing
Truffle Mashed Potatoes
Spinach Lasagne
Brussel Sprout, Broccoli, Parsnip & Shallot Medley
Soy-Braised Kabocha Squash
Harvard Beet Salad
Crisp Wedge & Bibb Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette
Pumpkin Lobster Bisque
Fresh Cranberry Sauce
Assorted Thanksgiving Desserts

Little Pilgrim’s
Pasta with Butter & Parmesan 10
Crispy Chicken Dinosaurs with Frites 10

To make reservations, please call Beat Hôtel at 617-499-0001.

2) Whether you're looking for the perfect gift for the person who has everything, or you want to impress your boss, friends or the in-laws, nothing says "happy holidays" bigger, better and bolder than a bottle of large format wine. Known to be superior in taste, large format wines are classified as anything more than 1.5 liters (the equivalent of two bottles of wine), and are now available in 1.5, 3, 5 and 6 liter bottles at The Wine ConneXtion, located in North Andover.

Every year, Sam and Tina Messina, siblings and co-owners of The Wine ConneXtion, set out in search for rare, large format wines produced by some of the most prestigious wineries-- and each year, their quest is unpredictable. Every large format wine is hand-bottled which makes production limited, and their availability rare. Bottles that do make it to the retail stores are found few and far between, and when they are available, are usually scooped up by wine enthusiasts who want to add them to their prized wine collections.

This year, The Wine ConneXtion searched far and wide to acquire the largest selection of large format wines in New England. Nowhere else can you find such a vast assortment of large format wines under one roof. Offering everything from 1.5, 3, 5 and even 6 liter bottles, The Wine ConneXtion’s collection of large format wines is the Holy Grail for any vino lover. Quantities are extremely limited, so stop by The Wine ConneXtion while supplies last.

3) Each holiday season from November 1 through New Year’s Eve, the Legal Sea Foods family of restaurants (Legal Sea Foods, Legal Test Kitchen, Legal C Bar and Legal Harborside) makes waves in assisting Boston Children’s Hospital. For the past eighteen years, a portion of the proceeds from every gift card sold has been contributed to innovative research that will benefit families with sick children. As an added incentive for gift-givers this holiday season, Legal Sea Foods will grant a “Lobster Dinner Reward” voucher – redeemable for a 1-1.25lb steamed lobster with a choice of two sides – for every $200 worth of gift cards purchased from the restaurants or online. (“Lobster Dinner Reward” voucher valid from January 2 through March 31, 2014)

To date, Legal Sea Foods has raised over $1 million through its holiday gift card program making it the longest running annual cause marketing program to support Boston Children’s Hospital. The funds raised through the gift card program benefit Boston Children’s Hospital expert Dr. Leonard Zon’s revolutionary zebrafish research. Zon is a world-renowned stem cell researcher who pioneered the field of zebrafish genomic research. The hope is that discoveries in the fish, whose genetic structure is similar to humans, will translate into cures for millions of people worldwide with malignant, degenerative and genetic diseases such as leukemia, cancer, anemia and immune deficiency disorders.

Says Roger Berkowitz, President & CEO of Legal Sea Foods, “We take great pride in contributing to the cutting-edge research performed at Boston Children’s Hospital. Corporate philanthropy is part of Legal’s DNA and, as a company known for having family-friendly restaurants, it’s our privilege to support an institution that has been so meaningful to families in our community.”

All Legal Sea Foods restaurants in Massachusetts are involved in the “Holiday Gift Cod” program. Gift cards are available for purchase in-store, online at www.legalseafoods.com, or by calling 1-800-EAT-FISH.