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) On Tuesday, January 21, at 6:30pm, Chopps American Bar & Grill will be hosting a wine dinner with Lamber Rollat of Chapoutier Vineyard. The wine dinners at Chopps are always a delicious and fun time, and the wines sounds like they'll be quite interesting.

The Menu is as follows:
Reception
--Chef's Selection of Passed Hors D'Oeuvres
2017 Viognier Chapoutier ‘La Combe Pilate’, France
First Course 
--House Made Sausage Ravioli, Smashed Tomatoes, Parm
2012 Chapoutier Crozes-Hermitage Rouge ‘Petite Ruche’, Rhone, France
Entree
--Grilled Brandt Farms Rib Eye, Fried Polenta, Sautéed Spinach
2016 Chapoutier Chateauneuf Du Pape ‘‘La Bernadine’, Rhone, France
Vs.
2014 Chapoutier Hermitage ‘‘La Sizeranne’, Rhone, France
Dessert
--Chef Silvia's Chocolate Cake (Bittersweet Chocolate, Raspberries, Ganache)
2017 Chapoutier Banyuls, Rhone, France

Tickets are $85 per person (and include tax and gratuity). To make a Reservation, go to Eventbrite

2) In celebration of the Chinese New Year, Mandarin Oriental, Boston honors its Asian heritage with a selection of special offerings inspired by the Year of the Rat. Proceeds from several of the hotels promotions will be donated to support the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center, which is entering its 51st year in the Boston community in 2020.

Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea: Timelessly elegant and classically refined, the Mandarin Oriental, Boston offers an Asian-inspired Afternoon Tea in the comfort of the hotel’s Lobby Lounge. Exclusively available from January 1 to February 9, in honor of the Chinese New Year, the experience begins with a Champagne toast, followed by an aromatic presentation of five natural, loose leaf tea blends and a tiered Asian wheel adorned with an assortment of sweet and savory bites. For $78 per person, menu items include Bai Yu, Cucumber and Tofu Sandwich, Dan Ta, Egg Tarts, and more. 10% of proceeds will be donated to the Boston Chinatown Neighborhood Center.

Chinese New Year Afternoon Tea is served on Saturdays and Sundays only from 1pm to 5pm. Reservations are required and can be made by emailing mobos-lobbylounge@mohg.com.

Chinese New Year at Bar Boulud: Boston Guests born in the Year of the Rat (with valid identification) can enjoy a complimentary appetizer or dessert at Bar Boulud, the French-inspired bistro and oyster bar from chef Daniel Boulud, from January 24 to February 13. A Chinese New Year signature cocktail will also be available for guests wishing to “cheers” to the New Year. For reservations, please call (617) 535 8800

3) Encore Boston Harbor will celebrate Chinese New Year with a special menu at Red 8 and other festivities including a traditional dragon dance on the casino floor. Decorative red dragons will also be on display. Red 8 Executive Chef Ivan Yuen began his culinary career in Hong Kong and Shenzhen City in China, and he holds a diverse knowledge of regional Chinese cuisine, with plating and technique reflecting his roots and experience. The Lunar New Year menu at Red 8 crafted by Executive Chef Yuen was inspired by memories he had growing up with his grandmother and the traditions of the Chinese New Year. He has incorporated different ingredients that symbolize good luck, health and prosperity to honor the Chinese New Year.

The menu includes:
--Double Boiled Fish Maw Soup with Mushrooms (morel fugus, Chinese herbs, cognac) $68
--Lobster and Prawn Spring Roll (salty egg yolk, cilantro, sweet and sour sauce) $38
--Yu Sheng salad, “Lao Hei” (raw seafood, peanuts, sesame & plum vinaigrette) $68
--Princess Chicken with Jellyfish (slow poached, conpoy essence, scallion ginger dressing) $88
--Braised Pork Feet with Sea Moss (bean curd stick, lettuces, fermented red bean sauce) $68
--Abalone with Oyster Sauce (Yoshihama, flower shiitake, goose feet, braised jus) $388/Each
--Stir-Fry Sea Conch with Xo sauce (sugar peas, toasted cashew nuts, yellow chive) $88
--Bi Feng Tang Dungeness Crab (garlic, shallot, spicy salt and pepper) $98
--Wagyu Beef with Maggi Sauce (wok seared, roasted garlic, Sichuan capsicums) $388
--Billionaire’s Fried Rice in Cantonese Style (egg white, crisp gai lan, seafood delicacies) $58

WHEN: January 8 through January 31, 11:30a until late night
To make a reservation at Red 8, visit https://www.sevenrooms.com/reservations/red8ebh or call 857-770-DINE.

Sure, these dishes aren't inexpensive, but Chinese New Year is a time to splurge and some of these dishes are offering very rare ingredients, such as the Yoshihama Abalone. This is the first time I can recall that this type of Abalone is being offered in the Boston area.