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) On Monday, June 2, at 6:30pm, Terramia Ristorante, located on Salem Street in the North End, is celebrating the long standing history of Frescobaldi wines with a five-course Tuscan wine dinner. The Frescobaldi family has over 700 years of winemakers dedicated to serving the highest quality Tuscan wines. Established in 1300, their faithful clients have included everyone from great Renaissance artists to the Papal and English Courts. Centuries later they were the first in Tuscany to plant Cabernet Sauvignon, Merlot, Pinot Nero and Chardonnay, and to this day they continue to change the wine industry.

At this Frescobaldi dinner, will sample Chef Luiz Prata’s hand-crafted five course menu paired with Frescobaldi’s Tuscan wines. The meal will start with Tonno Crudo, a sushi grada tuna tartare with cherry tomatoes, avocado, and micro greens salad matched with a 2013 Frescobaldi Pomino Bianco Chardonnay. The second course follows with Torta, smoked tomato and braised onion tart topped with goat cheese and mâche greens alongside a 2011 Frescobaldi Nipozzano Chianti Rufina Riserva. As the night continues, guests are treated to spinach and feta filled Ravioli Amatriciana with smoked pancetta, spicy Collina tomato sauce, pecorino and parigiano, paired with a 2011 Tenuta di Frescobaldi. The fourth course includes the Bistecca, a prime filet mignon complete with sweet potato mash, sautéed baby spinach and red wine reduction complimented by a 2008 Frescobaldi Castel Giocondo Brunello di Montalcino. The evening will finish on a sweet note, a Budino Di Pane, salted caramel bread pudding with vanilla gelato, is enjoyed with a 2006 Frescobaldi Pomino Vin Santo.

Ciro Pirone, Director of Italian Wines at Horizon Beverage Company will be on hand to discuss the nuances and history behind each and every wine.

Cost: The dinner is $70 per person (+tax and gratuity).
Reservations are required and can be made by calling Terramia at 617-523-3112.

2) Last summer, Fruit Center debuted an outdoor grilling series – offering free lunch for its customers -- with a unique twist: manning the grill in the supermarket’s parking lot were recognizable chefs from South Shore restaurants, rolling up their white-jacketed sleeves to serve up mini-samples of recipes lifted from their own impressive menus, but made with meats, seafood and produce given to them by Fruit Center.

A repeat of the outdoor grilling series for summer 2015 was a no-brainer. The chefs that'’ll appear at Milton Marketplace and the Hingham Harbor location are a mix of both familiar and emerging culinary personalities.

Grilling demonstrations at Fruit Center are free of charge and lunch items will vary. Look for the big white tent and the smoking grill in Fruit Center parking lots on the following dates between 11:30 am and 1pm.

Saturday, June 27 in Milton
Alex Horowitz, TAVOLO, Dorchester
Alex is likely to draw inspiration from any of the 22 regions of Italy
Saturday, July 11 in Milton
Jenna Perette, JENNA’S DRIVE-IN, Weymouth
Grilled Shrimp Tacos with special sauce will be on the menu today
Saturday, July 18 in Hingham
Andrea Schnell, SQUARE CAFÉ, Hingham
Back by popular demand, this personable young female chef has promised us a delicious surprise
Saturday, August 1 in Milton
Chris Douglass, ASHMONT GRILL, Dorchester
Chris has kept the neighborhood happy for almost ten years with his local and comfortable American menu
Saturday, August 22 in Hingham
Jes Childers, NEW WORLD TAVERN, Plymouth
This South Shore newcomer is worth discovering, with a selection of global dishes grilled right

3) To complement its nearly 120 whiskey selections, Saloon in Somerville’s Davis Square is debuting a new menu to satisfy the palates (and stomachs) of the brown liquor faithful. Designed by Executive Chef Shayne Nunes, this pre-Prohibition restaurant and bar’s refreshed and expanded menu focuses on shareable, savory cuisine to pair with its extensive roster of alternative whiskey and scotch selections creating the ultimate social experience.

To start, there are over a dozen hors d’oeuvres to choose from. To showcase the season’s bounty, Chef Nunes serves up Saloon Street Corn (two grilled cobs, spicy remoulade, cotija cheese, grilled lime - $7); Watermelon & Watercress Salad (feta, granola, fig-balsamic vinaigrette - $9); and, Local Heirloom Tomato Salad (beefsteak tomatoes, fresh mozzarella, pistachio-basil ricotta, reduced balsamic - $12). For heartier whiskey-friendly bites, there is Grilled Bratwurst (tomatillo relish, smoked honey mustard, brioche finger roll - $6); Baby Back Ribs (whiskey BBQ, peach-purple cabbage slaw - $10); Picatta Chicken Wings (roasted garlic, capers, parmesan, lemon-butter sauce, fresh herbs - $8); and, Crispy Potato Wedges (garlic, parmesan, pork belly, horseradish mayo - $7).

For turophiles balancing the art of spirits and cheese, there is an Artisan Cheese Board (selection of three cheeses with assorted fruits - $13) and meat-lovers can sharpen their appreciations with the Charcuterie Board (selection of three cured meats with mustard and toast - $14). Saloon also will continue to serve up its signature Devils on Horseback (feta-stuffed dates wrapped in bacon - $9), inspired by a taste in history when the Norsemen invaded England and wore rashers of bacon as armor while on horseback.

For entrees, there are five options that come enveloped in refined succulence and are a perfect complement to your malt of choice including the Tenderloin Steak Tips (bourbon marinade, roasted garlic-potato purée, red watercress salad, crispy shallot, picked red onion - $24); Pan-Roasted Atlantic Swordfish (creole potato salad, grilled peaches, golden peach BBQ - $24); Arline Chicken Breast (fig and chorizo stuffed, smoked Gouda polenta, baby kale, lemon-butter sauce - $20); Grilled Stuffed Avocado (red quinoa-charred corn salad, heirloom cherry tomatoes, pistachio-ricotta, farm egg, sriracha - $15); and, the Rodeo Burger (USDA prime, Great Hill blue cheese, crispy onion strings, whiskey BBQ, garlic parmesan fries, brioche bun - $15).

4) Are you ready to rumble? On July 1, at 5:30pm, Puritan & Company is hosting a Rosé Rumble  in the next installation of “Wine Wednesdays.” Puritan & Co. Chef/Owner Will Gilson, Chef de Cuisine Alex Saenz, Wine Director Peter Nelson and the restaurant’s team are featuring 15 different varieties of Rosé paired with small bites.

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.

Cost:  Tickets are $65
Reservations are required so please call 617-615-6195 or log onto www.picatic.com/roserumble