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) From family-run restaurants with well-kept secrets to some of Somerville’s newest and hottest eateries, East Somerville’s restaurant corridor has some of the city’s most authentic flavors and hidden gems. On Tuesday, September 16, from 6pm-9:30pm, a ticket to the East Broadway Foodie Crawl will give diners exclusive access to more than a dozen area restaurants representing five continents for tastings of food and a glimpse of the experience at each.

The East Broadway Business District is home to some of the city’s best restaurants, trademarked by the authentic food that each serves. The Foodie Crawl invites participants directly inside each participating restaurant for a walking and tasting neighborhood tour that sets it apart from other food events and festivals. The experience includes the sights and smells of Ethiopia, the tastes of El Salvador and the colors of Haiti. New to the tour this year is dynamo La Brasa, which serves food anchored in the neighborhood’s cultural roots

This year’s event will also include the newly-completed East Somerville streetscape, allowing for outdoor seating and music while enjoying the crawl. This crawl leads more than 1,000 people to East Somerville deliciousness each year, and includes not only tasty bites but also entertainment along the way.

All proceeds benefit East Somerville Main Streets, which is committed to building a safe, sustainable and prosperous multicultural community by developing a vibrant businesses district at the neighborhood’s heart.

Tickets for the Foodie Crawl are on sale now. You can buy them for $20 online and $25 at the door if there are still tickets available. For more information or to buy tickets, please visit: www.eastsomervillemainstreets.org. The event has a rain date of September 17th.

2) Joslin Diabetes Center, the world's largest diabetes research and clinical care organization, will celebrate with “ritmos de salud” at the Artists for Humanity EpiCenter on Friday, September 26, from 6pm-10pm, to benefit its Latino Diabetes Initiative.

Guests will enjoy an evening filled with upbeat Latin rhythms from Alexander el Cantante as well as a performance by Boston’s own “Salsa y Control” Dance Company; guests will be encouraged to join in on the dance floor. A fabulous array of food will be provided by some of Boston’s most renowned Chefs, led by our culinary chair – Chef Jose Duarte of Taranta.

Diabetes is a disease of epidemic proportions across all populations, affecting certain racial/ethnic groups in even greater numbers. National data demonstrates that Latinos have a two-fold increase in the risk of developing type 2 diabetes compared to the Caucasian population. Joslin Diabetes Center’s Latino Diabetes Initiative (LDI) strives to improve the lives of Latinos affected by diabetes, or at risk for the disease, through culturally oriented patient care, education, outreach and research, as well as working to find a cure.

Tickets ($75) can be purchased by calling 617. 309.2512 or emailing Meghan.Mongeau@joslin.harvard.edu