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) What began as a supper club run out of husband/wife team Tse Wei Lim and Diana Kudayarova’s Somerville apartment later became Journeyman, an intimate, almost naked dining experience in Union Square that turns five this month. Marking the milestone will be a week-long throwback menu highlighting some of the top dishes from the restaurant’s first five years.

In keeping with their no-menu approach, the Journeyman team – led by Chef Tru Lang – will carefully craft memorable moments through a multi-course meal that reinterprets such standout dishes as:
· A Salad of Every Seasonal Vegetable
· Clams and Oysters with Watermelon, Dill and Fennel
· Ricotta Gnudi with Corn, Tomatillo, Huitlacoche and Jimmy Nardello Peppers
· Blueberry, Banana and Black Sesame

The anniversary celebrates the restaurant’s journey while also nodding to the transformation of its Union Square home. Though now a serious stomping ground for established local chefs and food/drink enthusiasts, Union Square wasn’t always a polished dining destination or even one with much personality at all. When Journeyman opened in 2010, Tse Wei and Diana recognized that the neighborhood was on the cusp of something big. From their perch on a quiet side street off Union Square’s main drag, they now have a front-row seat to the continued development that they helped catalyze.

WHEN: Wednesday, September 16 – Sunday, September 20 5:30 – 10:30 PM
TICKETS: $65 - $95/person (exclusive of beverages and gratuity); $55/person for beverage pairings; Tickets available for purchase here https://journeyman.tocktix.com/#/home
INFO: For more information, call 617-718-2333.

2) On Tuesday, September 15, at 6pm, Legal Harborside will host a special burgundy seminar and wine dinner with Maison Bichot, ideal for Burgundy collectors and aficionados. Since its inception in 1350, the family-owned winery which has been passed down over generations has created some of the greatest wines in the world. Bichot’s label encompasses four separate vineyards located at the heart of the four major wine regions in France that create Burgundy: Chablis, Côte de Nuits, Côte de Beaune and Côte Chalonnaise. Each vineyard is dedicated to the vinification and aging of each wine’s structure and character and each wine represents the essence of their expertise and style. Legal Sea Foods will team up with Guillaume Suss, to host an exclusive seminar and five-plus-course dinner featuring signature cuisine paired with selections from the Maison Bichot vine.

The menu will be presented as follows:
COLLECTOR’S TASTING SEMINAR
Domaine Long-Depaquit, Chablis Grand Cru “La Moutonne,” 2012
Chateau Gris, Nuits-Saint-Georges “Les Terrasses” Blanc, 2012
Domaine du Pavillon, Beaune Premier Cru “Clos des Mouches” Blanc, 2012
Domaine du Pavillon, Meursault Premier Cru “Les Charmes,” 2009
Domaine Adelie, Mercurey Premier Cru “Les Champs Martins,” 2012
Domaine du Clos Frantin, Gevrey-Chambertin “Les Murots,” 2012
Domaine du Clos Frantin, Nuits-Saint-Georges, 2009

HORS D’OEUVRES
Hiramasa Crudo, Cucumber, Tosaka, Kombu Vinaigrette
Striped Bass Rillettes, Puff Pastry
Local Oysters, Mignonette Foam, Dulce
Gruyere Gourgéres
Domaine Long-Depaquit, Chablis, 2013
FIRST COURSE
Seared Diver Scallop (couscous, apricot, marcona almonds)
Domaine Long-Depaquit, Chablis Premier Cru “Les Vaucopins,” 2012
SECOND COURSE
Striped Bass (heirloom cauliflower, anchovy butter, tarragon)
Albert Bichot, “Secret de Famille” Pinot Noir, 2011
Albert Bichot, Mercurey, 2011
THIRD COURSE
Hudson Valley Duck Breast (parsnip, spaetzle, chicories, red currant)
Albert Bichot, Gevrey -Chambertin Premier Cru “Lavaux Saint Jacques,” 2009
CHEESE COURSE
Époisses (coriander shortbread, wild Maine blueberry)
Albert Bichot, Gevrey-Chambertin, 2009

COST: $175 per person (excludes tax & gratuity)
Reservation required by calling 617-530-9470

3) Papa Razzi Metro, in Burlington, is launching a brand new brunch menu. Guests can now enjoy a variety of freshly-squeezed juices and a selection of top caffe while dining on brunch items designed to satisfy every palate.Whether sipping on a Special Roast Illy Blend Coffee while catching up on the morning news or enjoying a bountiful brunch with your closest family and friends, Papa Razzi Metro offers an opportunity to enjoy a delicious, Italian meal in a casual yet exciting atmosphere.

Some of the menu items include:
Prosciutto & Melon (Cantaloupe, honeydew, crispy prosciutto, baby arugula, ricotta salata)
Caprese Bruschetta (Avocado, marinated grape tomatoes, mozzarella, basil, sunny side egg)
Steak & Eggs (Grilled sliced 7oz sirloin, local over easy eggs, onion, pea greens, potato hash, romesco sauce)
Cast Iron Poached Eggs (Red onion, pancetta, red chile, pomodoro sauce, local eggs, ricotta, grilled bread)
Stuffed French Toast (Ricotta & raspberry mousse, warm maple syrup)
Metro Frittata (Three egg omelet, sweet Italian sausage, fennel, baby spinach, tomato jam, grilled bread)
Daybreak Panini (Local egg, fontina, double thick smoked bacon, black pepper aioli, toasted ciabatta)

WHEN: Brunch is now available every Saturday and Sunday from 11:30 a.m.to 3p.m.

4) This Saturday night, August 29, from 5pm-11pm, head up to downtown Portsmouth, NH, for the Vida Cantina Pop Up at Moxy. Dave Vargas, Chef/Owner of Vida Cantina, is taking over the Moxy restaurant and kitchen for one night only, cooking pop-up Tacos, Guac, Pigs Head Platters, and More. And they will be serving the signature Vida Margaritas too, with several tequilas available.

Chef Vargas explains, “We’ve been talking about how great it would be to bring our tacos and margaritas to downtown Portsmouth. And now it’s happening – I am thrilled we are doing it this Saturday night at our sister restaurant Moxy. Matt Louis has opened the kitchen for us – and it’s all ours, all night on August 29th. We’ll keep cooking as long as the people keep coming and we still have food!”

The Vida Pop Up Menu includes:
Single Enchiladas $11 chicken, beef, or bean with rice & beans, and choice of sauce: red sauce / green sauce / xmas sauce
Rice & Beans $4 Just Rice $2 / Just Beans $2
OG Lettuce Tacos $13 house chorizo, lime crema, local corn salsa
Sonaran Dog $12 Mexican style hot dog, house bacon, crema, salsa fresca
Kale Salad $9 OG kale, masa croutons, almonds, cotija, sherry viniagrette
Fried Queso Fresco $10 bitter greens, apples, spiced nuts
Belly Taco $5 pepper aioli, salsa fresca, fried kale
Fish Taco $5 masa tempura, pickled slaw, avocado
Mushroom Taco $5 NH mushrooms, salsa de aguacate, pickled habaneros
Potato Tacos $8 Maine potatoes, salsa cruda, lemon onion
Tamarind Chicken $10 confit drumsticks, pickled mustard seeds
Tamales $11 local squash, chile verde, peanuts
Guacamole $9 served with chips and salsa
Chips & Salsa $4 corn tortilla chips, salsa fresca
Salsa Flight $6 mango habanero, salsa verde, salsa fresca
Local Pig Head Platter $50 tortillas, salsa flight, cilantro, onions, limes
Ceviche $13 yellowfin tuna, mango, avocado, peanuts, aguachile
Ribs $12 Fried hominy salsa, pickled tomatillos, chipotle BBQ
Fried Chicken & Pickled Jalapeño Mac & Cheese $11 chihuahua cheese, cilantro bread crumbs
Churros $8 Mexican fried dough, spiced chocolate sauce
Ghost Chili Frosty $8 3 times cooked fries

A Ghost Chili Frosty? Now that sounds very intriguing., Skip the Kale Salad and go for a Belly Taco or a Pig Hed platter.