Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food & drink events.. **********************************************************
1) Pastry Chef Jessica Pelletier of Menotomy Grill & Tavern believes that innovation is the way to make diners sit up and take notice. Her Smoked S’Mores in a Jar, which recently debuted, is something she’s betting you haven’t seen before.

Smoked S’Mores in a Jar layers a brown butter brownie, housemade marshmallow, graham cracker mousse and Heath Bar shards in a mini-Mason jar. Hot wood-chip smoke is then introduced and sealed in, producing a magical molten mess. Arriving at table, the smoke in the jar wafts out, thrilling diners with its faint campfire-y aroma. Alchemy in action – and more than enough for two -- just $7.

Pelletier changes her dessert menu at this all-American tavern often, and customers look forward to tasty choices like Orange-Cranberry Bread Pudding, Mocha Crème Brulee, Coffee Cheesecake and German Chocolate Cake. With a ten year career that began at the Ritz Carlton Boston and includes two years with Finale and four years with The Grafton Group, Pelletier is a seasoned pro who watches for trends, new ideas and firsts in desserts all over New England, and is given free rein at Menotomy Grill to try out whatever suits her fancy.

2) This Saturday, February 7, from 10am-2pm, it is the 5th Annual Massachusetts Farm Wineries Day at the Wayland Winter Farmers’ Market, which is located at the Russell's Garden Center.. At the Market, you'll find lots of vendors, from fresh produce to baked goods, pickles to meats, and so much more. It is an excellent winter market, and they also run numerous special events.

For Farm Wineries Day, there will be at least 8 local wineries in attendance, offering samples of their wines. The following wineries will attend:
Artisan Beverage Cooperative
Carr’s Ciderhouse
Coastal Vineyards
Mill River Winery
Still River Winery
Turtle Creek Winery
Westport Rivers Vineyard & Winery
Zoll Cellars Winery

I've been to this market before on Farm Wineries Day and it is an excellent way to experience local wines, and understand what is being produced in our own backyard. Check it out.

3) The Boston Police Foundation will host its first annual Operation Dine Out on Tuesday, February 24. Restaurants throughout the city are teaming up to “Back Up Boston’s Finest” by providing a percentage of their sales as a donation to the Foundation that supports the Boston Police Department. The goal of “Operation Dine Out” is to raise awareness and provide funding for the Boston Police Foundation and its marquee programs including “Crime Stoppers,” “Text a Tip,” “Crime Watch” and “Officer Wellness and Safety” which focuses on suicide prevention as well as health and stress management programs for Boston police officers. Financial support of these vital programs, equipment and technology supports the brave men and women of the Boston Police Department and improves the quality and safety of the department and the extended Boston community.

This year’s “Operation Dine Out” participating restaurants include the following:
· Alma Nove: 22 Shipyard Drive - Hingham
· Carmenlina’s: North End, 307 Hanover St. - Boston
· Cask ‘n Flagon: 62 Brookline Ave. - Boston
· Church Boston: 69 Kilmarnock St. - Boston
· El Pelon Taqueria: 92 Peterborough St. - Boston
· Longhorn Steakhouse: 401 Park Drive - Boston
· M.C. Spiedo: 606 Congress St. - Boston
· Michael’s Deli: 256 Harvard Street - Brookline
· Parish Café: 361 Boylston Street - Boston
· P.F. Chang’s: 8 Park Plaza Space D-6 - Boston
· Shake Shack: 92 Winthrip St. - Cambridge
· Russell House Tavern: 14 JFK Street - Cambridge
· South Street Diner: 178 Kneeland St. - Boston
· Stella Boston: 1525 Washington St. - Boston
· TAMO Bistro & Bar: 1 Seaport Lane - Boston
· Vintage: 72 Broad Street - Boston
· Vito’s Tavern: 54 Salem Street - Boston
· Wahlburger’s: 19 Shipyard Drive - Hingham
· Warehouse Bar & Grille: 40 Broad Street - Boston

4) Bringing Scotch outside the realm of Ron Burgundy, Eastern Standard’s Bar Manager Naomi Levy and Chef Matt Garland will take guests on a journey to greener pastures with the restaurant’s take on a Scottish Supper paired with a selection of the country’s finest spirits. Naomi will lead guests through four courses of Scottish fare paired with its namesake spirit and a brief history lesson on the more unique Scotches ES has to offer.

The menu includes:
Amuse
Snail Porridge
First Course
Kippers on Toast with Soft Scrambled Egg
Second Course
Haggis en Croute with Neeps and Tatties, Cumberland Sauce
Third Course
Scottish Blue Cheese
Fourth Course
Hogmanay Cake with Fig, Clotted Cream

Guests will start the evening with a Scotch-based welcome punch before moving into the night’s featured Scotches, which include the 1985 Bowmore, Highland Park, and Cask Strength Ledaig, followed by a special Atholl Brose Milk Punch. The event will give guests the opportunity to tip their hats to the land of Whisky (without an "e") in a night full of fun and camaraderie, and perhaps a few old Scottish drinking songs.

WHEN: Tuesday, February 17, 7pm
TICKETS: $89/person, gratuity not included. Visit http://easternstandardscotchdinner.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.
Additionally, Eastern Standard has partnered with Reserve to offer $25 toward a booking for the Scotch Dinner. Reserve is guests’dining concierge. Book a table and pay effortlessly. Download here, apply promo code standardscotch, and reserve today. Promotion valid for first-time users only. All bookings cancelled within 48 hours of the event will be charged in full.