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) On Wednesday, January 17,  at 6:30pm, Legal Sea Foods in Park Square will host a wine dinner with the Israel Wine Producers Association which represents 30 Israeli wineries—from commercial to boutique — and was established to unify the leading quality Israeli wineries in a concerted effort to promote Israel as a ‘fine wine growing region’. Israel has been able to take their ancient history and blend it with the most modern technology to produce some of the finest wines available and become one of the fastest growing winemaking regions in the world.

Legal Sea Foods will team up with Joshua Greenstein, the Vice President of the Israel Wine Producers Association, to host an exclusive four-plus-course dinner featuring signature cuisine paired with his selections from Israel’s wines. The menu will be presented as follows:

HORS D’OEUVRES
Tuna Tartare, Cherry Tomato Cup
Smoked Salmon, Cucumber Barquette, Pickled Ginger
Lemon-Saffron Chicken Brochettes
Carmel “Kayoumi Vineyard” Riesling, Galilee, 2014
FIRST COURSE
Char-Broiled Mediterranean Salmon (mushroom quinoa salad)
Teperberg “Essence” Chardonnay, Samson, 2014
Castel “C” Chardonnay, Jerusalem, 2016
SECOND COURSE
Coconut-Curried Cornish Hen (cilantro rice, braised greens, winter squash, red onion jam)
Jezreel Valley Winery “Adumim,” Galilee, 2014
Psâgot “Edom” M Series, Jerusalem, 2014
Teperberg “Inspire” Meritage, Shomron, 2016
MAIN COURSE
Applewood-Grilled Rib-Eye Steak (barley and Brussels sprout risotto, wild mushroom tapenade)
Tulip Winery “Reserve” Syrah, Galilee, 2014
Yatir Forest, Judean Hills, 2013
DESSERT
Peach and Berry Cobbler (toasted walnuts, peach sorbet)
Mystery Wine

COST: $95 per person (excludes tax & gratuity)
MORE INFO: Reservation required by calling 617-530-9397

2) Earls Kitchen + Bar at the Prudential Center is gearing up to host their first New Year’s Eve celebration in the Back Bay while Boston’s “First Night” fireworks twinkle above. The three-season rooftop bar will be transformed into a Winter Wonderland-themed lounge where “ice” will play the counterpart to Boston’s hottest night of the year to socialize.

Beginning at 8pm, revelers will be treated to a welcome drink in an ice mug before indulging in an a la carte icy oyster bar or more sips through an ice luge. Groups of four-or-more also will be treated to table service, inclusive of various packages with bubbles and bivalves.

WHEN: Sunday, December 31, beginning at 8pm
COST: Individual tickets: $50 per person (includes welcome drink)
Table for-four people: $300 (includes round of welcome drinks, a bottle of sparkling wine and a dozen oysters)
Table for-six people: $500 (includes round of welcome drinks, two bottles of sparkling wine and a dozen oysters)
MORE INFO: Tickets and reserved table options are available for purchase by visiting www.earlsnye.eventbrite.com. Ticketholders must arrive prior to 10 pm for guaranteed entry.

3) Join TAMO Bistro + Bar at the Seaport Hotel for dinner, drinks and dancing on New Year’s Eve and ring in 2018 with specialty entrées, festive drinks, a DJ and party favors—the perfect evening for couples and groups alike.

TAMO’s daily menu will be offered in addition to New Year’s Eve specials from Chef Robert Tobin including a Grilled Ribeye (baked potato, gorgonzola crema, braised collard greens), Sea Bass Bouillabaisse (garlic anchovy crostini) and Beef Carpaccio (capers, pickled red onion, watercress, shaved parmesan, truffle oil). Later, guests can toast to the New Year with any of TAMO’s festive seasonal cocktails and “Sparklers” like the Kir Royale (Chateau St. Michelle Champagne, Chambord, raspberries) or Red & Green (Poema, Cava, pomegranate, mint).

Televisions will broadcast the infamous “ball drop” and a DJ will be spinning music from 9:00pm until 1:00am so guests can dance their way into 2018.

There is no ticket price or cover charge for the festivities and reservations for dinner can be made via OpenTable.