Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting wine and food items that are upcoming. **********************************************************
1) Gordon Wilcox, CEO of Wilcox Hospitality Group; Dr. Jay Austen, Jr., Chief, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery & Chief, Division of Burn Surgery at Mass General Hospital; Brian Poe, Chef & Owner of The Tip Tap Room.

On August 25, from 6pm-9pm, The Tip Tap Room owners Brian Poe and Gordon Wilcox, CEO of Wilcox Hospitality Group, will host the 1st annual “Chefs for Clefts” fundraiser to benefit Massachusetts General Hospital’s Global Surgical Initiative. Funds raised from the charitable fête will directly assist Dr. Jay Austen’s (Chief, Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery & Chief, Division of Burn Surgery at Mass General Hospital) missions that support children with facial deformities and cleft lips as well as burn victims in Colombia.

This festive “Night in Colombia” themed event will kick-off with Colombian music paired with complimentary Colombian-inspired cocktails and passed hors d'oeuvres, as prepared by Brian Poe, including: Summer Corn & Cheese Arepas; Buenelos (stuffed with goat cheese and cinnamon sugar dust); Cassava Chips (topped with roasted lechona bits); Empanadas (topped with lime-infused purple cabbage relish); Traditional Fritanga o’ Picada Colombiano (patacones, chicharrón, papa criolla, chorizo, pork ribs, yucca frita & ají Colombiano sauce); and, Colombian Ceviche de Camarones.

Brian Poe and chef friends Chris Coombs (Boston Chops & Deuxave), Andy Husbands (Tremont 647), Michael Scelfo (Alden & Harlow) and Lydia Shire (Scampo) each have graciously donated a three-course paired “dinner for ten” at their respective restaurants which will be up for bid in the silent auction throughout the evening. Supporters also will have the opportunity to mix and mingle with some the City’s top culinary luminaries.

COST: General Admission (includes open bar and passed hors d'oeuvres): $40 per person in advance; $50 at the door
VIP Tickets (includes open bar, passed hors d'oeuvres and a $100 gift certificate to the following restaurants from the Wilcox Hospitality Group: The Tip Tap Room, Estelle’s, Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake, Bukowski Tavern, Lower Depths or Parish Café): $500 per person

To purchase tickets, please visit: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/chefs-for-clefts-presents-a-night-in-colombia-tickets-12358359185.

Additional donations for Massachusetts General Hospital’s Global Surgical Initiative will be accepted onsite or online at https://fundraise.massgeneral.org/anna-flesher?utm_source=created&utm_medium=f&utm_campaign=sWSX.

2) You'’ll want to be at Fruit Center’s Water Street parking lot, located in Hingham, on alternate Saturdays this summer, —rain or shine from 11:30 AM to 1 PM, to meet the hottest restaurant chefs from Hingham and beyond, and to sample their grilled specialties, free of charge. “Look for the big white tent, where we’ll have hot grills set up and hot chefs behind them, providing a tasty free lunch for Fruit Center shoppers.

Before or after the event, shoppers are encouraged to pick up whatever they need for summer cooking; Fruit Center carries dozens of unique items made by South Shore purveyors, from pasta sauce to paleo treats.

Saturday, August 9 11:30am-1pm
Executive Chef Estaban Gallego, ESTER, Dorchester
Grilled Salmon with Mexican “Street Corn”

Saturday, August 23 11:30am-1pm
Chef-Owner Brian Jenkins, PORTO BISTRO, Kingston
Marinated Skirt Steak with Meyer Lemon, chimichurri sauce and corn

3) Beginning on August 4th, enjoy the new Monday Market Menu at Davio’s Lynnfield every Monday evening during the month of August. In addition to their regular menu, the new four-course prix fixe menu, which will rotate weekly, has been prepared by Culinary Director Rodney Murillo, will utilize ingredients grown and available at the new Rooftop Farm at Whole Foods Market at Market Street in Lynnfield.

The rooftop farm is 17,000 square feet and was designed as well as installed by Recover Green Roofs, a Somerville based company specializing in vegetated green roofs, living walls and rooftop farms. After Recover completed the design and construction of the rooftop farm, Green City Growers, also based in Somerville, assumed the responsibilities of harvesting and maintaining the crops. The estimated 10,000 pounds of fruits, vegetables and herbs are for sale in the market and used in their prepared foods department. It is the largest rooftop farm in New England and the first supermarket farm in the country.

Market Menu

Antipasto
Green Tomato-Cucumber Gazpacho, Maine Lobster
Farinaceo
Bucatini, Baby Arugula, Purple Beans, Vermont Butter, Shaved Ricotta Salata
Piatti Del Giorno
Grilled Swordfish
Purple, Orange Carrots, Grilled Eggplant, Charmoula Sauce, Dill Crème Fraîche
Dolce
Blueberry Torte
Mascarpone Lemon Gelato

COST: $50 per person (excluding tax & gratuity)
Reservations are recommended by calling 781-944-4810