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) In honor of National Soup Month, Legal Sea Foods will be declaring January 15 as “Chowda Day.” Available at all Legal Sea Foods’ brands and locations for the duration of the day, $1 cups of their signature New England Clam Chowder will be served up with the purchase of an entrée. Legal Sea Foods’ iconic clam chowder recipe has been dished out at every Presidential Inauguration since 1981.

Legal Sea Foods locations throughout the country that will be serving up $1 chowder can be found here. This special offer also is available at Legal C Bar, Legal Crossing, Legal Harborside, Legal on the Mystic, Legal Oysteria and Legal Test Kitchen.

2) CityFeast returns to Boston’s North End, on Sunday, January 27, at 6pm, for the 13th year. This food-fueled evening is hosted by six of restaurants: Antico Forno, Aria Trattoria, Bricco Ristorante, Lucca, Terramia Ristorante, and Tresca. Tickets include a five-course dinner with wine pairings at one of the participating restaurants and proceeds benefit Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund, which supports the Center’s greatest needs in research, education, and clinical care. Joslin Diabetes Center is a world-renowned diabetes research and care organization located in the heart of Boston.

Carla Agrippino Gomes, owner of Antico Forno and Terramia, founded CityFeast in 2005 in the North End with her restaurants and it has continued to grow. Since its inception, the popular event has raised more than $300,000 for Joslin Diabetes Center’s High Hopes Fund. This is a personal cause for Carla whose son David has been living with Type 1 diabetes since his first birthday. Carla credits Joslin with David’s good health over the past 27 years, as well as his interest in the medical field. Shortly before his first birthday David was slipping into a diabetic coma as health professionals failed to properly diagnose him despite his parents’ persistence that something was wrong. After that experience, Carla moved David’s care to Joslin, and her family has supported Joslin’s research for a cure and cutting-edge diabetes care.

COST: Tickets are priced at $150 each, of which $100 is tax deductible, and can be purchased at: http://www.joslin.org/cityfeast.

Due to high demand, reservations are limited and will be distributed on a first-come, first-serve basis.

3) On Thursday, January 31, from 6pm-9pm, Executive Chef Tyler Kinnett and the team at Harvest welcomes noted journalist and author, Aaron Goldfarb, to showcase his new cookbook titled, Hacking Whiskey, at Harvest’s “The Book and The Cook” dinner series.  Aaron has gathered tips, recipes, and insider secrets about the weird yet delightful ways in which whiskey is being used today.

And, for this special night, Harvest will be making recipes from his collection of ingenious ideas and shortcuts to help you temper whiskey to greatness. Each dish incorporates whiskey in the recipe and will be paired with a cocktail. Aaron is also one of the most prolific liquor journalists in the country. He has also authored four additional books over the past decade.

The menu includes:
Reception
Orange Juniper Paté du Fruit
Salmon Roe, Fingerling Potato, Red Onion, Lemon & Parsley
Gruyere Cheese Gougeres
Botanical Blend Gin & Tonic
First
Beet, Bourbon & Green Apple Cured Salmon with Créme Fraiche, Dill & Mint
Smoked Mint Julep, Bourbon, Smoked Mint Syrup, Mint Sprigs
Second
Whiskey Glazed Bacon, Wheatberries, Pork Rinds & Vanilla Parsnip Purée
Benton's Bacon Fat Infused Four Roses Bourbon
Third
Beef Brisket with Orange Vanilla Poached Apricot, Swiss Chard & Confit Potato
Death & Taxes, Cigar-Infused Bourbon, Lemon Juice, Peach Syrup, Fernet Branca Rinse
Fourth
Smoked Pecan Ice Cream with Butterscotch & Black Tea Wafer Cone
Uncrustable, Peanut Butter Bourbon, Baileys Irish Cream, Frangelico, Raspberry Grand Casis Glaze
Fifth
PB & J Macarons
Tea-Smoked Hot Toddy, Scotch, Lemon Juice, Honey, Hot Water

Cost: Price is $75 per person (inclusive of tax and gratuity). Tickets include a short reception, a multi-course dinner, a fun Q&A with the author and chefs, and a signed copy of Hacking Whiskey.
Space is limited and reservations are required. Call 617-868-2255 directly to book seats. Or visit batchackingwhiskey.eventbrite.com to purchase tickets.

4) Bistro du Midi welcomes the new year with its first Celebration Dinner of 2019 showcasing Executive Chef Robert Sisca’s love for game. On Tuesday, January 29, from 6pm-9pm, Chef Sisca is serving up a decadent meal with each dish carefully-paired with an exquisite wine selection. Be sure to grab your seat, as there are limited tickets available.

The full Chef’s Seasonal Tasting Menu: Winter’s Bounty is as follows:

Nantucket Bay Scallop Crudo, persimmon, pomegranate, white sturgeon caviar
Francois Chidaine, Tuffeaux, Montlouis-sur-loire 2017

Braised Pheasant, chestnut gnocchi, feta cheese, winter black truffle
Domaine Faiveley, Clos des Myglands 1er Cru, Mercurey, Burgundy 2016

Wild Boar Sausage, pine nuts, vadouvan, cauliflower, blood orange
Château Deyrem Valentin, Margaux, Bordeaux 2015

Elk Wellington, foi gras-truffle duxelles, black garlic bordelaise
Domaine de Bagnol, Cassis 2016

Duck Egg Crème Brûlée, hop hunter chocolate ice cream
Petit Guiraud, Sauternes, Bordeaux 2015

Cost: $175 per person. Tickets are available through Eventbrite

5) On Tuesday, January 22, at 6:30 p.m., enjoy a night of wining and dining at Chopps American Bar and Grill with Rodney Strong winemaker Greg Morthole. Executive Chef Steve Zimei is presenting a paired prix fixe menu for the evening. Rodney Strong is proudly Sonoma grown for over 55 years. The expertly expansive wine making ranges from exceptional Bordeaux varietals in Alexander Valley to the classic Chardonnay from the Chalk Hill area. Rodney Strong has been named America’s Winery of the Year and is recognized for their commitment to quality, luxury and Sonoma County.

The full menu for the evening is as follows:
RECEPTION
Chef’s Selection of Passed Hors d’oeuvres
2017 Rose of Pinot Noir Rodney Strong – Sonoma, California
FIRST COURSE
Baked Oysters, spinach, parmesan cream, herb breadcrumbs
2015 Chardonnay Davis Bynum ‘River West Vineyard’ – Russian River, California
Vs.
2016 Chardonnay Rodney Strong ‘Chalk Hill’ – Sonoma, California
ENTRÉE
Peppercorn Crusted New York Strip, River Rock Farms, baby beets, potato pave, shallot brandy
2014 Cabernet Sauvignon Rodney Strong ‘Reserve’ – Sonoma, California
Vs.
2014 Red Blend Rodney Strong ‘Symmetry’ – Sonoma, California
DESSERT
Dark Chocolate Lava Cake, espresso crème anglasise, peppermint stick gelato
2014 Rodney Strong Cabernet Sauvignon ‘Rockaway Vineyard’ – Alexander Valley, California

Price is $95 per person (inclusive of tax and gratuity). Space is limited, and reservations are required so please call 781-221-6643 directly to book seats. A credit card is needed to secure a reservation.

I've been to a number of wine dinners at Chopps and they are always fun and delicious, and I strongly recommend you check this wine dinner.