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) Kingston Cuts, Lounge & Grill, specializing in classic Steak Frites, has opened at 25 Kingston Street in Boston. Kingston Cuts is "founded on the principle that topnotch food and service shouldn’t have to bankrupt the customer." Kingston Cuts General Manager Everett Strauss says, “I wanted to open a place that people could visit frequently—without going into hock. Less expensive doesn’t have to mean lesser ingredients and a less attentive waitstaff.”

The centerpiece of the Kingston Cuts menu is a trio of butchered-in-house, Angus Steak-Frites weighing in at 10, 14, and 22-ounces and ranging in price from $16 to $34 dollars. Each steak is accompanied by dressed greens and a mound of Original Fries, cooked crisp in beef lard. A ground-daily burger ($15) is a half-pound patty of New York sirloin, flank, and ribeye and will be available only as long as the day’s supply lasts.

Kingston Cuts has a large selection of Dinner Salads, including Grilled Romaine ($12), with bacon, cherry tomatoes, onion and house made Bleu Cheese dressing and a Baby Kale Mediterranean ($12), with black olives, chick peas, and feta. Sandwich lovers are sure to swoon over the triple cheese Grilled Cheese ($14) served on sourdough bread with creamy tomato soup and truffle fries. You can customize a bowl of Ritz Cracker and Panko crusted Macaroni and Cheese ($15) made with a blend of mozzarella, cheddar & gruyere cheese, available with chicken, falafel, or steak. They also offer Jumbo Lump Crab Cake Sliders.

North Shore born and bred Chef Gary Yanko began his career in the hospitality industry as a bar back and bartender at Mohegan Sun Casino & Resort in Connecticut. He has run the kitchens of various pubs & restaurants; honing his skills and developing a flair for hearty, down to Earth fare.

Kingston Cuts has many cocktail offerings, including a Pink Aloe cocktail with house infused gin, raspberries and cucumber, or a citrusy Limoncello Collins. For a nightcap to end your meal, consider their Espresso Martini with Grey Goose Vanilla Vodka, espresso and chocolate bitters, or perhaps the House Barrel Aged Manhattan.

2) I've found another reason why I really want to dine at the new Simcha, their Taco Tuesday. Chef Avi Shemtov has created an array of Tacos Arabes (Arab tacos). “Tacos Arabes capture the essence of Simcha,” said Shemtov. “Our goal is to tell the global journey of the Israeli people through our food and few dishes tell that story better than tacos Arabes.”

Tacos Arabes were a 20th-century creation in Puebla, Mexico introduced to the region, according to local legend, by Lebanese immigrants. The immigrants took the flavors and ingredients beloved in their own culture and turned them into tacos befitting local Mexican tradition. Arab tacos were born!

The Tacos Arabes will be served on half-shells of the restaurant’s house-baked pita, and will sell for $2 each on Taco Tuesday (5 p.m. to 9 p.m.). During the rest of the week, they will be available at regular prices ($4 to $8 each).

Some of the Tacos Arabes include:
Braised beef tacos – short rib, blue cheese aioli, harissa, sumac onions, zesty labneh
Smoked white fish tacos – branzino, pickled vegetables, farmer’s cheese, cilantro
Vegetarian tacos – roasted vegetables, fried chickpeas, tahini, carrot-top zhoug
Coriander sausage tacos – crumbled house-made sausage, blistered tomato, mango habanero slaw, feta