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) Orá Trattorizza Owner Jo Megwa and Chef Luis Cano invite guests to kick off 2019 with an Italian-inspired brunch on New Year’s Day, Tuesday, January 1, 2019, from 9:30am-3:30pm. Menu items range from $10 until $16 and include options such as:
--Nutella Stuffed French Toast
O--ra Fitness Omelet with roasted vegetables, egg whites and goat cheese
--Avocado Toast
--Gluten Free Pizza
--Traditional Ora Pizza Menu
--Ora Mista Salad and Ora Rucola Salad

Brunch cocktails were created by veteran mixologist Jefferson Ryder at the Charlesmark Hotel and include the following:
--Oranj Jeana: Ketel One Oranje, Grand Marnier, fresh lemon and orange juices and a float of champagne ($13)
--Crantini: Finlandia Cranberry and Lime Vodkas, Triple Sec, White Cranberry Juice ($12)
--Bloody Mary: Titos Vodka, Tobasco, Bloody Mary Mix, Feta Stuffed Olives and a Cajun Rim ($12)

For more information and reservations, please call 857-239-8437

2) Nobody knows quite where or when it originated but somehow, ordering Chinese food on New Year’s Eve has become an American tradition and one that Sumiao Hunan Kitchen in Kendall Square will cheekily embrace this year by putting a high-quality, Hunanese twist on the quintessential Chinese “Combo Plates.” Decadent and gluttonous, these two creative takeout options from SHK will be available from December 28-31 and will serve as one last “hurrah” before the healthy New Year’s resolutions kick in:

“BAO OUT” COMBO ($66)
Pan-Seared Wheat Bao (4)
Steamed Pork Bao (4)
Pork Soup Bao (5)
Scallion Twisty Roll (4)
Sweet Twisty Roll (5)
Purple Yam Bao (4)

THE “BASIC L-19” COMBO ($150)
Scallion Pancake (2)
Avocado Meatballs
Sumiao Gyoza (8)
String Bean with Eggplant
Beef with Broccoli
General Tso’s Chicken
BBQ Rib Festival
Kung Pao Shrimp
Hunan Street Noodles
Sumiao’s Fried Rice

Combos available for takeout only; order online at www.sumiaohunan.com or call the restaurant at: 617-945-0907

3) Puritan & Co. invites guests to join them this Christmas Eve for a three-course holiday menu. With reservations available from 5 to 8 p.m., the menu costs $50 per person with an optional wine pairing available for an additional cost.

The menu includes:
A la carte
Six local oysters with traditional accompaniments ($15)
First course options
Tuna crudo with celery, apple, fennel, caviar
Roasted pumpkin bisque with vadouvan curry, lobster, citrus cream
Braised chicken & black truffle pie with wild mushrooms, leeks, herb crust
Pesto-stuffed burrata with apples, chicories, radish, speck
Second course options
Grilled organic salmon with salsa verde, farro risotto, broccoli rabe
Roasted pork shoulder with spaghetti squash, marble potatoes, rosemary gravy
Braised beef short rib with potato, glazed carrots, seared brussels
Pumpkin agnolotti with hen of the woods, hazelnuts, brown butter, sage
Selection of dessert

To make reservations, please call (617) 615-6195

4) On Tuesday, December 18th from 6-9pm, join City Bar in the Westin Waterfront Hotel for a night out in support of Strong Women, Strong Girls Boston – a mentoring organization for girls in grades 3-5 with the goal of helping them develop skills for lifelong success. Tickets include champagne and spiked hot cocoa sampling, an Insta-worthy selfie station, and an appearance from a very special Mrs. Claus! There will also be some fun raffle items, including tickets to Laugh Boston and dinner at MJ O’Connor’s, custom fur ISlides, Red Sox tickets, and more.

Strong Women, Strong Girls works to empower girls to imagine a broader future through a curriculum grounded on female role models delivered by college women mentors, who are themselves mentored by professional women. Strong Women, Strong Girls strives to support positive mentoring relationships between college women and pre-adolescent girls in underserved local communities with the vision that every girl realize her inner strengths to dream and do.

Tickets are available for $35 via Eventbrite and will benefit Strong Women, Strong Girls.

5) Throughout the week leading up to Christmas, Chef Pino Maffeo of North End seafood restaurant il Molo will bring back his Feast of the Seven Fishes a la carte menu. The waterfront restaurant owned by Donato Frattaroli is known for serving up fresh, locally sourced seafood and ingredients in the city, and this traditional, Italian Christmas Eve dinner will be no exception.

The seven dishes, which are priced between $16 and $38, are inspired by the own family traditions and Italian roots of the il Molo team. Guests can choose from a hand-crafted spaghetti dish in the form of Lobster Fra Diavlo, a Baccala “Two-Ways” plate uniting fried baccala and a baccala salad dressed with pickled vegetables, chili peppers, oil and lemon as well as a rare, stuffed “Seppie” (Italian for cuttlefish, or large calamari) stewed in a plum tomato sauce and Razor Clams served with cherry tomatoes. Other highlights include Clams Oreganata, Branzino, and Stuffed Lobster (MP). For dessert, Struffoli (pan-fried dough tossed with honey and sprinkles) will be offered to all guests as a complimentary treat from the kitchen.

The a la carte menu will be served from 4:00pm to 8:00pm Monday, December 17 through Monday, December 24. Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 857-277-1895

6) The Feast of the Seven Fishes, known as La Festa dei Sette Pesci, is a deeply rooted Italian Christmas Eve tradition, originating in Southern Italy and honoring the vigil prior to a religious holiday when no meat was served. Join Davio’s Lynnfield on Monday, December 24, from 4pm-10pm, to celebrate the Feast of Seven Fishes with good food and great company. The three-course prix-fixe menu, prepared by Executive Chef Andres Tavares, will feature unique and delectable seafood courses in addition to the à la carte menu.

MENU
PRIMO
Baked Stuffed Clams, Crab Meat, Focaccia Crumbs, Oregano, Lemon
SECONDO
Squid Ink Spaghetti, Braised Octopus, Calamari, Olives, Capers, San Marzano Tomatoes
PIATTO DELLA VIGILIA
Oven Roasted Swordfish, Grilled Shrimp, Fingerling Potatoes, Maine Lobster Sherry Beurre Blanc

COST: The prix-fixe menu is $75 per guest (excluding tax & gratuity).
Reservations are recommended by calling 781.944.4810.