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) Boston’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry, a Culinary Event for a Cause, returns on June 9. A number of Boston area’s chefs, restaurateurs and mixologists will join forces to help end childhood hunger. Share Our Strength Founder and CEO Billy Shore; Taste of the Nation’s Distinguished Chef Council which includes: Gordon Hammersley, Tony Maws, Joanne Chang, Jodi Adams, Jason Santos, Andy Husbands, Michael Scelfo, Mary Dumont and Brian Poe.  

Some of this year’s participating restaurants include: Lincoln Tavern, Belly Wine Bar, Craigie on Main, Abby Lane, Tremont 647, Bistro du Midi, Bergamot, Alden and Harlow, Sweet Cheeks Q, Ribelle, Loyal Nine, TRADE, Tico, West Bridge, Davio’s, Grill 23, Harvest, 80 Thoreau and Fairstead Kitchen.

Proceeds from the event benefit No Kid Hungry’s work to end childhood hunger in America. Led by a distinguished Chef Council, Boston’s culinary tastemakers will provide guests with bite-size fare, craft cocktails, and desserts of all kinds. One in five children in this country struggles with hunger, including more than 270,000 kids in MA. No Kid Hungry is ending childhood hunger in this nation by ensuring that kids start the day with a nutritious breakfast and families learn the skills they need to shop and cook on a budget. In 2014, Boston’s Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry raised $123,000 to help feed children in need more than 1,230,000 healthy meals.

WHEN: Tuesday, June 9, from 7pm to  9:30p,  VIP Admission starts at 6pm.
WHERE: Cruiseport Boston, One Black Falcon Avenue, Boston
COST: Tickets are $95 for General Admission and $150 for VIP admission. Tickets can be purchased by logging onto www.nokidhungry.org/boston.

2) Puritan & Company Wine Director, Peter Nelson, is changing things up a bit with a dine-around and sip-around event for the next Wine Wednesday which takes place on Wednesday, July 1st. Guests are invited to say “Yes Way, Rosé!” where they can mix, mingle and sample at this celebration of the pink-hued wines.

Passed appetizers and small plates will be paired with a selection of 15 Rosé wines to make this event a little more special than most. This is a perfect way to taste a bunch of Rosé and find your favorites for the summer.

Tickets are $65 and can be reserved by calling 617-615-6195 or logging onto www.picatic.com/roserumble.

3) Do you love cheese? And really, who doesn't? The American Cheese Society is holding Cheese Camp 2015 in Providence, Rhode Island, from Wednesday, July 29 to Saturday, August 1. This is a large educational conference and world-renowned cheese competition, and this is the first year in almost ten years that it has been held in New England. There is much for the cheese industry and food professionals but there are also events that will appeal to the general public.

Check out the Festival of Cheese, which is open to the public on Saturday, August 1, from 7pm-9pm, and will feature over 1600 American artisan cheeses that were entered in the 2015 Judging and Competition. In addition to all of these cheeses, guests will also get to try a wide array of specialty accompaniments from preserves to chocolate to wine and craft beer. All guests will get a commemorative wine glass and cocktail plate. Tickets are $60 per person, with all proceeds going to the American Cheese Society’s cheesemaker scholarships.

All of the remaining cheese will be sold at the Cheese Sale on Sunday morning from 9am-1 pm. Entry is free, and will be a great opportunity to purchase rare artisan cheeses from across the country at incredible prices.

Individuals or groups can also volunteer from July 23 through August 2, 2015. Volunteers can assist with many aspects of ACS’s events, including but not limited to: volunteering with the renowned ACS Judging & Competition; assisting at the Conference registration desk; preparing cheeses for educational tasting sessions and sponsored events; and helping to set up the Festival of Cheese .

Volunteers receive an official “ACS Cheese Camp Counselor” t-shirt, a ticket to the Festival of Cheese on Saturday, August 1 ($60 value), and any meals that coincide with their shift(s). Volunteers may purchase additional tickets to the Festival of Cheese at a discount. Shifts vary in length. Volunteers must be age 18 or older.

Sign up to volunteer for ACS Cheese Camp 2015 in Providence at www.shiftboard.com/cheesesociety.
For more information about volunteer opportunities, please contact Jeff Yeager at 720-328-2788 or jyeager@cheesesociety.org.