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.
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1) Legal Sea Foods in Charles Square is entering the final month of their “Endless Summer” series in August, with monthly themed eats exclusive to its al fresco Terrace Bar situated in front of the Charles Hotel in Cambridge.

The Terrace Bar kitchen will feature the Down East Boil – feeding two to four people – every day in August. For thirty one days and nights, Legals will serve up the bucket filled with chilled peel and eat shrimp, whole Jonah crabs, snow crab legs, marinated mussels and Narragansett beer.

WHEN: August 1-31, 2016, during standard kitchen hours at the Terrace Bar
COST: $59.95 (serves 2-4)

2) Chef Brian Poe is bringing a taste of summer to Beacon Hill by rolling out an updated menu filled with seasonal specialties at The Tip Tap Room. In addition to serving up his signature protein and vegetarian tips as well as burgers, Chef Poe now is cooking up inventive new options with international flavors.

To start, new appetizers include the Burrata with aged coppa, heirloom tomato, herb bread crumbs, arugula and chervil with a cherry pepper vinaigrette and toast points ($14.95); Rock Shrimp Tempura with sweet chili-garlic aioli, baby corn and asparagus tips ($16.95); Duxbury Clams with beer broth, chorizo, cherry tomato and toast points ($17.95); Hummus & Tabbouleh with crispy garlic, roasted red peppers, crumbled feta and grilled naan ($11.95); and, Fried Oysters with lemon powder, mango coulis and bacon tartar sauce ($15.95).

The small plates also have been revamped with vegetable-forward options like Cucumber with cherry tomato, basil and candied lemon vinaigrette ($7.95); Zucchini that is buttermilk fried and served with Thai chile aioli, eggplant slaw and ricotta salata ($8.95); Corn with cotija cheese, ancho chili crema, lime and guajillo ($7.95); and, Risotto with Parmigiano-Reggiano, pea tendrils and freeze dried corn ($9.95).

For soups, there is the Watermelon Gazpacho with jalapeño, avocado, cucumber and feta cream ($11.95) and Lobster Bisque with corn, potatoes and ginger ($13.95). Salads can come topped with a choice of tips, with newcomers such as the Baby Kale with peppadew peppers, carrot, crisp quinoa, egg, Idiazabal cheese, fried shallots and sherry mustard vinaigrette ($11.95) and Strawberry Salad with native mesclun greens, goat cheese, candied hazelnuts and mint vinaigrette ($12.95).

With standouts from land and sea, new entrees come with suggested 12oz beer bottle pairings and include Seared Sea Scallops that are pistachio and panko crusted, served with chorizo rice and a peach and mango salsa ($27.95), Striped Bass with charred tomato, baby turnip, artichoke a la plancha and saffron cream ($23.95) and New York Strip with mountain mint, scallion and black quinoa salad, pea tendrils, spicy hazelnut crumble and mango-hazelnut puree ($29.95)

3) On September 24, music legends The Marshall Tucker Band will headline the 7th annual Hoedown fundraiser in Wayland. The fundraiser will benefit Lovelane Special Needs Horse Riding Program, a therapeutic horseback riding program serving children with disabilities in Lincoln.

The highly anticipated event is the premiere fundraiser for the Lovelane program. Guests are encouraged to dust off their cowboy boots and dress casually for a night of music, dishes prepared by Boston’s finest chefs and dancing under an outdoor tent all to benefit the children with special needs who participate in Lovelane’s program.

In addition to The Marshall Tucker Band, Hoedown will also include a live set from David Foster and the Mohegan Sun All-Stars, local Boston favorites French Lick, featuring Celtic’s owner, Wyc Grousbeck on drums and Jon Cohan & His Golden Rulers featuring blues performer Erica Rodney.

Boston chefs and restaurants will be providing bites for the evening, including: Dave Becker of Sweet Basil, Tom Berry and Juan Pedrosa of Yvonne’s, Joe Cassinelli of Posto, Steve DiFillippo and Rodney Murillo of Davio’s, Carey Dobies and Israel Medina of Bokx 109, Scott Guitose of Blue Ribbon Barbecue, Andy Husbands of Smoke Shop, Phyllis Kaplowitz of Bakers’ Best Catering, Barbara Lynch of No9 Park, B&G ysters, The Butcher Shop, Stir, Sportello, Drink and Menton, Jeff Pond of Area Four, Keith Pooler of Bergamot, Dave Punch of Sycamore of Newton, Tatania Pairot Rosana of Outlook Kitchen and Bar, Joshua Smith of Moody’s Delicatessen and the Backroom and Jason Tom of Night Market.

For beer and liquor connoisseurs, Deep Eddy will offer Vodka tastings. Clown Shoes, Farmer Willies Ginger Beer, Harpoon, Polar Beverages and Narragansett will be on hand with craft brew tastings and Ninety Plus Cellars will be donating wine.

Hoedown VII will take place September 24, from 4:00pm-9:30 p.m., at Duck Puddle Farm the home of Priscilla and Wil Catlin in Wayland. For Debby Sabin, founder of Lovelane, the Hoedown is a night not only to raise money, but to celebrate the successes of the students that ride at Lovelane.

“Hoedown VII will be an incredible evening, where new and old friends of Lovelane come together and celebrate not only the success of the program, but more importantly the success of our students,” says Sabin. “This event is so much fun to be outdoors in your boots and jeans on a gorgeous property listening to the best music and eating off of the best menus in New England.”

Tickets are on sale now and can be purchased here, Hoedown Ticket. Discounted individual tickets are now available until July 31st for $425, tickets purchased for groups of six or more are available for $375 each, and tickets for young professionals (21-35 years of age) are available for $200 each.