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) The Tasting Counter, one of the best restaurants in the Boston+ area, is holding an Alsatian Wine Dinner on Sunday, December 8, at 6pm. The special guest will be Lyle Railsback of Kermit Lynch Wines, and the wines will be from the renowned estates of Albert Boxler, Meyer-Fonne and Domaine Ostertag. I'm a big fan of Alsatian wines and highly recommend this event.

This wine dinner will kick-off their new Sunday dinner services, featuring a special tasting menu inspired by these wines from one of central Europe's most unique terroirs. Each course will be paired with wines from the famed estates, and in some instances, side-by-side pours will allow you to experience an in-depth understanding of the flavor of Alsatian wine. You can purchase tickets here.

Tasting Counter is also holding a New Year's Eve dinner on Tuesday, December 31. There are 3 dinner seatings available, at 4:30pm, 7:00pm, AND 9:30pm. Tickets are still available but they will go fast so book your reservation here quickly.

2) On Saturday, December 7, at 6pm, thousands of festive party goers will gather for the 17th annual Celebration for Kids – a holiday gala of the ages. Hosted by Rodman for Kids at the Seaport Hotel and World Trade Center. Celebration for Kids features gourmet tastings from over 70 of Boston’s best chefs, live entertainment, a colossal holiday shopping gallery silent auction and an exciting live auction with priceless items and experiences. A great party with a greater mission, Celebration for Kids raises crucial funds and brings people together to brighten the lives of at-risk youth throughout Boston and beyond.

Guests at the Celebration for Kids will eat, drink, dance and be merry as they feast on fare prepared by the chefs from such notable restaurants as the Smoke Shop, Abe & Louie’s, Davios, Wahlburgers and more, and enjoy performances by the World Premier Band, local children’s choir, Roaming acappella group, and other fantastic performers. With a massive silent auction in the Holiday Shopping Gallery and thrilling live auction, guests will get the chance to bid on over 500 priceless dining and sports experiences, vacations of a lifetime and other one-of-a-kind sought after items. Celebration for Kids raises more than $1 million each year and attracts guests from throughout Massachusetts, including notable Bostonians and celebrities including Mark Wahlberg, Bobby Orr, Denis Leary, Lenny Clark, Donnie Wahlberg, Rob Gronkowski and Julian Edelman.

Celebration for Kids was founded by the late Don Rodman, whose passing in August left behind an inspiring legacy through Rodman for Kids - an umbrella charity that raises funds through corporate sponsors, foundations, individual donors, and events for 45 affiliated charities and youth focused social-service organizations that support at-risk children. This year’s event will undoubtedly stand as a tribute to the many lives Don and Rodman for Kids have brightened since inception.

Tickets to the 17th annual Celebration for Kids are available starting at $250 and are available here.

3) Boston Harbor Hotel will present the 31st Annual Boston Wine Festival featuring expertly paired wine dinners by Executive Chef Daniel Bruce. Chef Bruce and Boston Harbor Hotel have invited renowned winemakers from around the world to Boston for this one-of-a-kind celebration of food and wine. The festival is the nation’s longest running wine and food pairing series, kicking off with the Grand Opening Reception on Friday, January 10, 2020 and continuing through Friday, March 27, 2020.

Presenting sensational dinners hosted by the world’s most renowned winemakers, the 2020 Boston Wine Festival offers a stellar lineup of wineries including Opus One, Ramey Vineyards, Vineyard 29, Chappellet, Les Domaines Barons de Rothschild and many more of the best wineries and top personalities from the world of wine. Attendees can choose from numerous seminars to learn more about the winemaking process and the festival’s very popular themed dinners including the Battle of the Cabernets, Meritage Madness, Old World/ New World Pinot, as well as Uncorked for a Cause – an evening partnering with Share our Strength to benefit the No Kid Hungry campaign – hosted by designer and personality, Taniya Nayak. The walk-around style event features wines from around the world with small plates from Chef Bruce and a show-stopping wine wall auction to benefit Share our Strength and the fight to end hunger and poverty. The celebrated Boston Wine Festival welcomes back local wine expert long-time hosts including local wine expert, Howie Rubin as well as critic and writer, Matt Schaffer.

“For over three decades we’ve been welcoming some of the most renowned winemakers in the world and emerging talent to the Boston Wine Festival and this year is no different,” said Boston Harbor Hotel’s Executive Chef Daniel Bruce. “There’s always something new to explore at the festival, whether it’s your first year joining us or your 31st. My menus have always been created by tasting the wines first then developing a menu based on the flavor profiles. Every wine we’re presenting has its own story, so it allows us to create a unique menu for each dinner that really celebrates the fantastic wines and winemakers who create them.”

Tickets are available for purchase here and you can check the Full Schedule here. Guests who purchase tickets for any 2020 Boston Wine Festival event now through December 31, will be entered to win a one night stay in the John Adams Presidential Suite; a once in a life time opportunity to experience the most luxurious suite in Boston at Boston’s only five-star waterfront property. The winner will be announced at the Uncorked for a Cause event on February 28.

Attendees of the 2020 Boston Wine Festival are encouraged to take advantage of a special room rate of $275, based upon availability.