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) Chef Dante de Magistris and his brothers Damian and Filippo are introducing Wellington Wednesdays to the line up at their newest restaurant, The Wellington Neighborhood Eatery in Belmont Center. Chef Dante has been making Beef Wellington as a menu addition and for special events at his restaurants ever since he made it for the first time during a stage in Nice, France. Since then, he has loved the dish and gone through many iterations to perfect the version that he is excited to share with guests at the Wellington.

Dante is re-inventing the classic Beef Wellington and dedicating an entire weeknight to the sumptuous dish. Every Wednesday, Chef Dante will be serving up a limited amount of their classic Beef Wellington. Chef Dante’s twist on the classic showcases 8 oz. of grass-fed filet mignon from Moyer Farms that is wrapped with a black truffle tapenade, caramelized onions, speck and puff pastry and served with sautéed spinach and dijon au jus ($48).

For reservations, please call 617-932-1750.

2) On Thursday, February 14, Tuscan Kitchen in the Seaport District will welcome San Valentino to their Boston home with a celebration of artisan Italian cuisine and Romeo & Juliet-inspired cocktails laced with romance.

Available on Valentine’s evening, chefs Joe Brenner & Nimesh Maharjan have created seven a la carte additions that showcase the best regional cuisine inspired by Italy’s rich lands and seas. For antipasti courses, there is Carpaccio di Manzo with crispy capers, mache, winter truffles and Parmigiano Reggiano ($17); Zuppa di Zucca with compressed apples, toasted seeds, croutons and maple mascarpone ($14); and, Wild Mushroom Tart with fonduta, arugula, poached egg and tartufo ($19).

For secondi options, they are threefold: Agnello alla Griglia with grilled lamb chops, carrot puree, olives, artichoke and fennel jus ($48); Pesce Spada with seared swordfish, Tuscan white beans, smoked pancetta and roasted pepper agrodolce ($45); and, Surf & Turf, an 8oz filet mignon, lobster tail, mascarpone-whipped potatoes, cipollini onions and demi ($65). The dolce per due is Chocolate Torte, Chocolate Mousse, Strawberries ($22; serves two people).

To complement the culinary features, beverage manager Jose Luis Betancur is taking a page from Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet to showcase twists on classic cocktails inspired by traditional ingredients found in Verona – the city in northern Italy’s Veneto region featured in Shakespeare’s book of romance – in addition to pouring a pair of champagne offerings. The Romeo is crafted with Bulleit bourbon, housemade maple-fig simple syrup and orange bitters ($16) while the Juliet is a sparkling mix of Grey Goose L’Orange, Aperol, St-Germain and prosecco ($16). For champagne-lovers, available by the glass and bottle there is Ferrari Brut ($15; $70) and Moët & Chandon ($25; $100).

For reservations, please call (617) 303-7300

3) Matt Light and Rob Gronkowski are teaming up with Chef/Restaurateur Steve DiFillippo to raffle off a chance for one lucky fan and guest to win this once-in-a-lifetime trip to see the New England Patriots take on the Los Angeles Rams at Super Bowl LIII in Atlanta

Former New England Patriots Offensive Lineman and three-time Super Bowl Champion, Matt Light has teamed up with current New England Patriots Tight End and two-time Super Bowl Champion Rob Gronkowski to raffle off the ultimate Super Bowl trip to benefit The Light Foundation and Gronk Nation Youth Foundation as well as The Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston Children’s Hospital and the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, ME.

Chef/Restaurateur Steve DiFillippo, owner of the Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, is also joining forces with the duo to offer up this incredible fan experience. The Grand Prize winner will receive two tickets to Super Bowl LIII game against the Los Angeles Rams on Sunday, February 3rd in Atlanta, Georgia.

The raffle winner and guest will enjoy flights to and from Atlanta, a two-night stay at a hotel, dinner at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse and score seats to the Super Bowl LIII game to cheer on the Patriots as they face off with the Rams on Sunday evening.

Raffle tickets are $1 each at www.gronkraffle.com. Proceeds will benefit the Light Foundation, the Gronk Nation Youth Foundation, The Greater Boston Food Bank, Boston Children’s Hospital and the Barbara Bush Children’s Hospital in Portland, ME.

The Big Game Raffle includes:
GRAND PRIZE: (2) tickets to the Super Bowl LII on February 3rd Patriots vs. Rams at Mercedes-Benz Stadium – 6:30P.M. Kick-Off
Roundtrip Flights for (2) to Atlanta, Georgia
Hotel accommodations for (2) at Hotel Indigo in downtown Atlanta on Saturday, February 2nd and Sunday, February 3rd
(2) Tickets to the Taste of the NFL’s Party with a Purpose event in Atlanta, Georgia on Saturday, February 2nd
(2) tickets to the NFL Pregame Party on Sunday, February 3rd
Dinner for (2) at Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse to use at any location

WHEN: Raffle Entry Deadline: Friday, February 1st, at 2:00pm ET.
Drawing Date: Friday, February 1st, 2019. Playoff Raffle Series Experience: Sunday, February 3rd, 2019; Kick-Off at 6:30PM.