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) Boston Chops and resident advance sommelier Nick Daddona invite wine lovers and wine novices alike to upcoming "Sip with a Somm" monthly wine classes at Boston Chops' South End location. Kicking off on Saturday, May 11th, the fun, informative series will focus on a different wine category each month and include eight sips, three paired bites, and conversation with Daddona for only $39.

The "Sips with a Somm" summer schedule includes:
Saturday, May 11th at 4 p.m.: California and Beyond (Cabernet & Chardonnay)
Saturday, June 8th at 4 p.m.: Sparkling South End (Champagne & Sparkling Wine)
Saturday, August 10th at 4 p.m.: Rosé Day! (Rosé around the world)
Saturday, September 14th at 4 p.m.: For the Love of Pinot
As an added bonus, wine class attendees looking to stay for dinner will receive 15% off their food bill beginning at 5 p.m.

Tickets are $39 plus tax and gratuity, and can be reserved by calling (617) 227-5011 or online at www.bostonchops.com/events.

2) On Thursday, May 9, from 6:30 PM to 9:30 PM, Puritan & Co. will host a special dinner with Channing Daughters Winery from Long Island.

Believe it or not, Long Island is celebrating 45 years of wine-growing. The first vines were planted in 1973 by Louisa and Alex Hargrave (Peter, our wine director) enjoyed his first bottle of Hargrave Chardonnay in 1984). What used to be predominantly potato and sod farms along with some orchards, is now a bustling vineyard area with its first two AVAs (American Viticultural Areas) established in 1985.

Christopher Tracey is part of the latest wave of boutique, naturally inclined winemakers finding their wines on some of the best wine lists in New York and along the east coast. First as a member of the Channing Daughters Wine Club, he became more and more involved in winemaking and is now a partner. We have served a number of his wines over the last couple of years and each has met with tremendous success…especially his rosés, making this a perfect opportunity to taste some of the most dynamic wines produced on Long Island.

The Menu is as follows:
2017 Bianco Pétillant Naturel, Long Island 
Snacks from the sea to start: local oysters, baked clams, scallop crudo, king crab
2018 Merlot Rosato, North Fork of Long Island
Chickpea-fried soft shell crabgreen chickpeas, parsnip hummus, cucumbers
2017 Sauvignon Blanc “Mudd Vineyard” North Fork of Long Island
Fava bean saladshaved artichokes, green herb dressing, serrano ham
2016 Vino Bianco, Long Island
Grilled chicken terrinepreserved lemon, parsley-fennel salad, black pepper cracker
2017 Rosso Fresco Long Island
Roasted suckling pigmorels, celery root, heirloom carrots
2014 Meditazione Long Island
Robiola, apricots, pistachio, rhubarb

Tickets cost $95, and you can purchase them on Eventbrite.