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) Cook, an American bistro located in Newton, is welcoming multi-media journalist Janet Wu as part of its continuing “Cook for Charity” celebrity chef series. On Thursday, October 6, Janet will trade in her microphone and get cooking with Executive Chef/Owner Paul Turano, where they’ll be serving up flatbreads to benefit the Ed Walsh Foundation. In addition to Cook’s signature menu items, Janet and co. will be serving up “The Edzo” special, a house-made flatbread topped with pepperoni, roasted peppers, San Marzano tomatoes and mozzarella. 100% of sales from each $16 “The Edzo” flatbread, affectionately named after Ed Walsh himself, will be donated to the foundation.

Named for Lieutenant Ed Walsh of the Boston Fire Department, the Ed Walsh Foundation was established to keep Ed's spirit alive by giving back to the community where he lived and worked. The Foundation's mission is to help Boston area children and families in need. In addition to lending a hand to local families coping with tragedy, death or illness, the Foundation also supports youth sports, after school programs and organizations like the YMCA and Franciscan Children's.

Janet Wu will be joining the Ed Walsh Foundation for this special event. Janet is a multi-media journalist known locally for her many years as an anchor/reporter for Boston's NBC station. She currently contributes health reports for two networks and is an adjunct professor at Emerson College. A frequent Op-Ed contributor to The Boston Globe, her work has also been published in The New York Times, The Boston Herald, and several anthologies, including The "Norton Sampler of Essays," one of the most widely read college textbooks. She graduated from Yale with a dual major in Philosophy and Psychology and earned a master's degree in Journalism and International Affairs at Columbia University. She was named The Girls Scouts of New England 2015 Leading Woman of the Year and selected as a fall 2016 TEDX speaker.

This night of cooking is one of several celebrity chef events at Cook, all of which raise money and awareness about a charity chosen by the specific celebrity chef of the evening. The regular menu will also be available on the night.

WHEN: Thursday, October 6. Appearance by Janet Wu from 6:00PM – 8:00PM. Dinner served from 4:30PM to 10:00PM.
RSVP: Reservations recommended by calling 617-964-2665.

2) Margaritas, the Mexican-inspired restaurant known for its namesake cocktails freshly made each and every day with their housemade “Squeeze,” spices up their fall cocktail game with seasonal-twists on their fan-favorites.

Whiskey-Rita: The house favorite margarita -- made with Jack Daniels instead of tequila. Hand-shaken with home-made Squeeze and triple sec, topped off with a float of Grand Marnier.
Pumpkin Sangria: Sangria isn’t just for summer. Enjoy white (sauvignon blanc) or red (merlot), combined with apple and cranberry juices, Absolut Vanilla and pumpkin puree. All the flavors of fall in one sip.
Pomegranate Cinnamon Proseccorita: Margaritas takes their Proseccorita to the next level by mixing Cuervo Cinge, triple sec, pomegranate juice and Squeeze, topped with a festive mini split of prosecco.

WHEN: October 11 - December 31, 2016

3) On Tuesday, October 4, Besito Mexican in the Burlington Mall and the Shops at Chestnut Hill, will say “Olé” to National Taco Day with a “Buy One, Get One” taco deal offered during lunch and dinner hours (dine-in only) at both locations, featuring the restaurant’s “Street Taco” creations. Yes, you read that right, this year it’s officially National #TacoTuesday!

National Taco Day presents an exciting opportunity for guests to experience the Mexican flavors and artful presentations that have become synonymous with the Besito name, via a wallet-friendly, weeknight dining experience.

Served with three ample-sized tacos during lunch, and two during dinner, Besito’s “Street Tacos” are layered with vibrant, fresh and authentic ingredients, and available in four unique combinations, including Street Tacos de Pollo, a delicious blend of Chicken a la Plancha, salsa de guajillo, salsa chipotle crema, nopales salad and queso fresco; Street Tacos de Carne Asada, a flavorful mixture of marinated-grilled skirt steak, scallions, and salsa verde cruda; Street Tacos de Camarones, featuring crispy shrimp, salsa chipotle crema, salsa molcajete, and queso fresco; and Street Tacos de Pescado, a guest favorite boasting crispy fish, salsa chipotle crema, and salsa molcajete.

COST: Purchase one of Besito Mexican’s “Street Taco” combinations ranging in price from $8.95 to $11.95 and receive a second of equal or lesser value free. Offer does not apply to "appy hour” “Street Tacos” and cannot be combined with any other offers or promotions.

MORE INFO: Available for “dine-in” guests only. Valid only during lunch and dinner hours on Tuesday, October 4 at Besito Mexican locations in Burlington and Chestnut Hill.

4) The 7th annual Raise Your Glass for Jimmy beer and wine tasting fundraiser will benefit the Jimmy Fund and Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. On Wednesday, October 19, at 6:30 p.m., guests will experience more than 30 beverage selections from five wineries and five breweries, including a variety of craft beers and local brands.

Wine selections include:
· August West Wines
· Gordon's Fine Wines and Liquor
· Masciarelli Wine Co.
· M.S. Walker
· Plymouth Bay Winery
Beer selections include:
· Anheuser Busch
· Atlantic Importing
· Medusa Brewing
· Wormtown Brewery
· Newburyport Brewing Company

The event will also feature seasonal hors d’oeuvres and desserts from Capital Grille, Strega, Del Friscos, Row 34, and Fleming’s, among others. Guests will enjoy live band entertainme and attendees can also participate in a silent auction.

COST: Tickets cost $50 per person.
For more information or tickets, please visit: http://www.jimmyfund.org/events/cancer-fundraising-events/raise-your-glass-for-jimmy/

WHERE: Boston College Club, 100 Federal Street, 36th Floor, Boston

5) On Tuesday, October 4, which is National Taco Day, Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake is offering a diverse mix of tacos for your pleasure, including:

Roti Chicken Tacos - Serrano & Thai child braised chicken mango, cilantro slaw with roti tortillas ($14.95)
Jalisco Taco – duck fat-infused antelope, Fresno chile, Chihuahua cheese, salsa fresca, jalapeno bacon ranch with a fried corn tortilla ($14.95)
Spicy Cubano Tacos – chipotle & lime marinated smoked pork loin, pickles, Swiss, jalapeño pickled red onion, habanero & saffron slaw, flour tortillas ($13.95)
Antelope Tacos – duck fat infused ground antelope, jalapeño bacon ranch, Chihuahua cheese, smoked Fresno chile, fried corn tortillas, refried beans ($14.95)
Fish Tacos– apple & Anaheim chile slaw, Iceberg lettuce, celery root tempura, battered local whitefish, cherry peppers, chipotle crema, flour tortillas (market price; pictured below, right)
Veggie Tacos – jalapeño-infused tofu, mushroom, asparagus salsa, kale pesto, fried Swiss chard, asiago cheese ($13.95)

6) Chef/Owner Michael Schlow, The Tico Boston team, and the Slater Foundation invite guests to join them at Tico for a charitable night of Halloween revelry. On Saturday, October 29, at 8:30pm., Tico and the Slater Foundation will be hosting its annual Halloween for Hope to benefit the Ellie Fund and those affected by breast cancer. The Alice in Wonderland –themed party will include a cocktail hour, a DJ, dancing, passed bites, a dessert bar, airbrush tattoos, and a costume contest with cash prizes. Each guest will also receive three complimentary beverage tickets for Tito’s cocktails, and select beers & wines courtesy of United Liquors.

Based in Needham, the Ellie Fund works tirelessly to provide essential support services for breast cancer patients to ease the stresses of everyday life, allowing the focus to be on family, recovery and healing. The Ellie Fund provides critical support services including transportation to medical appointments, childcare, housekeeping, groceries and nutritious prepared/delivered meals free of charge helps to relieve patients’ burden while in treatment.

Tickets are now on sale for a special price of $50 and will cost $65 from October 18th until the night of the event. 100% of ticket proceeds will be donated to the Ellie Fund. Tickets can be purchased at https://non-debitis.ticketbud.com/halloween-for-hope-80bb90026700

7) The Filmark Hospitality Group and the Italian Consulate invite guests to join them for a day of dining and drinking to benefit the Italian regions devestated by the recent earthquake. Participating restaurants include Lucia Ristorante, Ducali, Filippo Ristorante, Capo, Scopa, Rino’s Place, Massimino’s Cucina Italiana, and many more.

On Sunday, October 23, from 1pm-4pm, at the DCR Steriti Rink on the North End Waterfront, Boston Stands with Italy will bring together Boston’s best Italian restaurants to raise funds for the regions of Central Italy most affected by the recent earthquake. Guests will enjoy sips and bites from the Umbria, Marche, Abruzzo and Lazio regions of Italy prepared by over 30 local Italian restaurant and distributors. In addition to food and wine offerings, the event will also feature a high-end silent auction and entertainment provided by local organizations.

Tickets cost $60 and can be purchased in advance at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/boston-stands-with-italy-tickets-28161067511. For more information, please visit http://www.bostonstandswithitaly.org.

8)On Wednesday, October 5, starting at 6:30pm, The Palm Boston welcomes guests and wine lovers to a special Torres Wine Dinner featuring paired selections with a five-course tapas tasting menu crafted by The Palm Boston Executive Chef Karen Mitchell. Guests will be led on a culinary adventure featuring Spanish wine pairings.

Similar to The Palm, Bodegas Torres has a rich history of family ownership and traditions while pushing the envelope forward in innovation. Torres is widely recognized for their commitment to sustainability and social responsibility. For this one-night only event, The Palm Boston has created a distinctive tapas menu created to complement the nuances of flavors from a selection of Torres award-winning wines including Verdeo Verdejo, Pazo das Bruxas Albariño, Celeste Crianza and Salmos.

The full menu is as follows:

FIRST
Chorizo & Crab Stuffed Blue Point Oysters
2013 VERDEO VERDEJO
SECOND
Alaskan King Crab Salad (Lime Marinated Avocado, Apple Radish Slaw, Whole Grain Mustard Vinaigrette)
2012 PAZO DAS BRUXAS ALBARIŇO
THIRD
Braised Beef Short Rib, Chipotle Caramel Sweet Potatoes
2011 CELESTE CRIANZA
INTERMEZZO
Mint & Grapefruit Sorbet
FOURTH
Grilled Colorado Lamb Chop, Balsamic Fig Pan Sauce
2012 SALMOS
FIFTH
Amaretto Crème Brûlée, Cinnamon Sugar Crust, Cinnamon Almond Biscotti
20 YR BRANDY

COST: The Torres Wine Dinner is $120 per person ($95 for 837 Club Members) and includes a reception, 5-Course Dinner and pairings (exclusive of tax and service charge).
Reservations can be made by emailing Paulina Slovenkai at pslovenkai@thepalm.com or by calling 617-867-0333