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) For the holiday season, Osteria Posto, in Waltham, will be opening for Lunch, starting on Monday, December 2. Lunch will be available from Monday to Friday, from 11:30am-2pm. Osteria Posto is one of my favorite Italian restaurants and I always look forward to the holidays, when they re-open for lunch. It's a great place to dine while you're out holiday shopping, or if you stop there to buy a gift certificate. The lunch menu usually includes Pasta, Pizza and more. I'll definitely be dining there for lunch next month. Maybe I'll see you there too.

2) Anthem Kitchen & Bar, tucked into the heart of Boston’s historic Faneuil Hall is bringing the basic back for a Friendsgiving Brunch perfect for any crew.

On Sunday, November 17, from 9am – 3pm, celebrate the friends you’re thankful for without the usual Friendsgiving hassle of cooking, cleaning, and hosting. Join Anthem as they celebrate their first ever Friendsgiving Brunch. Gather your favorite friends and enjoy delicious fall food and drink favorites, including:

Pumpkin Pie French Toast
Autumn Spiced Pancakes
Apple & Sweet Potato Hash
Maple Bacon Cornbread Cupcakes
Hot Mulled Cider
Iced Pumpkin Spiked Latté
Hot Buttered Rum

Along with these special menu items, Anthem’s full brunch menu will be available.

Make your reservation by calling (617) 720-5570

3) On the first Thursday in December since 2009, The Concord Cheese Shop here has taken delivery of an oversized wheel of Crucolo cheese, shipped from its producer in northern Italy. On Thursday, December 5 at 3:30 PM sharp, the tenth annual parade will kick off at the corner of Main and Walden streets in Concord’s downtown. Early arrival is recommended. Parking in town is free.

Festivities surrounding the cheese’s arrival in Concord have grown exponentially, and currently include:
• A flatbed truck rolling the cheese down Walden Street
• A marching band
• A live cow
• Costumed militiamen with bayonets
• Synchronized dance routine by Concord Academy teens
• Kids for Krucolo – toddlers in strollers
• Hundreds of Italian flags waving
• Proclamation of Crucolo Day in the Town of Concord
• Ceremonial splitting of the cheese for photo opps
• Generous cheese sampling for all
• Local merchants offering specials and sales

Crucolo is a mild asiago fresco made from cow’s milk. In years past, the Cheese Shop has welcomed it in 400 lb. wheels; the entire wheel is generally Sold Out within 10 days. This year’s wheel is 1,000 lbs., and will be available for a limited time only.

4) The days 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 $18 and $42 (and market price for Stuffed Lobster), are inspired by the 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 Diavolo, a Baccala “Two-Ways” plate uniting fried baccala and a baccala salad dressed with pickled vegetables, chili peppers, oil and lemon, as well as Stuffed Calamari and Razor Clams served with cherry tomatoes. Other highlights include Clams Oreganata, Branzino, and Stuffed Lobster (MP), and additional menu items may be added based on availability of the freshest seasonal ingredients. 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 p.m. to 10 p.m., Friday, December 20 through Tuesday, December 24.
Reservations are recommended and can be made by calling 857-277-1895