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 Valentine's Day, consider the ArtBar at the Royal Sonesta Boston, where Executive Chef Brian Dandro has crafted an extensive four-course Valentine’s Day menu exclusively for the evening.

For the First Course, you have three options, including Local East Coast Oysters, Roasted Winter Vegetable Bisque or a Cheesy Valentine's Salad. For the Second Course, you also have three options, including Winter Squash Empanadas, Lamb Rillette, or Jumbo Lump Crab Cake. For the Third Course, there are four options, including Pork Shank, Surf & Turf, Mushroom Risotto, or Half Buttered Poach Lobster. And for Dessert, there are also four options, including Premier Cheese Plate, Chocolate for Two, Grand Marnier Creme Brûlée, or La Marca Champagne Float.

To toast the evening, the chef has also crafted a special signature cocktail, The Love Bite - a combination of Ketel One Ohranj vodka, Malibu Coconut Rum, Peach Schnapps, fresh limes, and cranberry juice with a strawberry garnish.

The price for this Valentine’s Day Prix-Fixe Menu is $65 per person, and it will be available from February 13-15. To make reservations, please call 617-806-4122

2) On Sunday, February 23, starting at 5:45pm, Puritan & Company’s Chef/Owner Will Gilson and Pastry Chef Brian Mercury bring back OverKill 3 which will feature ten Boston-area chefs, five savory and five pastry, that will each prepare a dish as part of a ten-course blowout. All proceeds will benefit Lovin’ Spoonfuls, a nonprofit dedicated to facilitating the rescue and distribution of healthy, fresh food that would otherwise be discarded throughout Greater Boston, MetroWest, Hampden County, and beyond every weekday. During each course, the chefs will introduce themselves and speak about the dish they have prepared.

Chefs confirmed to participate include: Will Gilson and Brian Mercury of Puritan & Co., Tracy Chang of PAGU, David Bazirgan of Bambara Kitchen & Bar, Meghan Thompson of SRV, Dee Chin of Big Heart Hospitality, Sophie Gees of Oleana, and Kenny Hoshino of Alden & Harlow, Waypoint and Longfellow Bar and a couple more surprise chefs!

Seats for this event are very limited, and tickets are available for $100 at Eventbrite.

3) On February 15 & 16, from 11:30am-3pm, guests at Zuma Boston will get a taste of their Miami location's special brunch service. The Brunch package ($65 per person) will include full access to two buffets – a hot buffet, featuring items from the robata, and a cold buffet, featuring sushi & sashimi offerings – as well as one entrée per person and Zuma’s signature, towering dessert platter to share. Zuma’s resident talent, DJ Tao, will be spinning both days from 12:30-4:30pm.

Sample items from the two-hour buffet package include Maki, a selection of Sushi & Sashimi, Robata skewers and roasted vegetables. There also will be cocktails and limited a la carte starters and additional entrees available for purchase separately.

To make reservations, please call 857-449-2500

4) Harvest Chefs Tyler Kinnett and Pastry Chef Josh Livsey invite guests for the 5th Annual Harvest Winter Party benefiting Furnishing Hope MA, a charity committed to helping those transitioning out of homelessness. On Sunday, March 1, from 6pm-9pm, break out the flannels and pompom hats and join the team at Harvest for a winter lodge-themed party on the heated patio. Sip on Maker’s Mark cocktails and Harpoon brews while enjoying the Harvest ice luge, shot skis, food from Chef Tyler Kinnett and Pastry Chef Joshua Livsey, a charity raffle, and music from DJ Ryan Brown.

Tickets are $55 per person and include food, two drink tickets, and full access to all the party perks. A portion of each ticket, as well as the proceeds from the raffle, will benefit Furnishing Hope of MA, an organization committed to helping families transition out of homelessness and create homes from themselves. Tickets can be purchased on Eventbrite.