Thursday, June 27, 2024

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I'm back again with a new edition of Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I highlight some interesting, upcoming food and drink events. I hope everyone dines out safely, tips well and are nice to their servers.
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1) This Independence Day, City Tap House is hosting a two-day Backyard BeerBQ. On July 3rd (from 4pm-12am) and 4th (11am-7pm), City Tap is teaming up with Jack Daniels and Sam Adams to bring a taste of Americana to Fort Point. Hot from the grill, there are specials including a Freedom Frank ($14), a grilled beef ‘dog topped with bacon, Colby jack cheese, jalapeños, relish and mustard served with hand-cut fries; Red White & BBQ ($25/35), a half- or full-rack of slow-cooked BBQ pork ribs with pineapple coleslaw and hand-cut fries; and the Stars & Stripes Sampler ($33), a combo plate of two All-American burger sliders, a half-rack of BBQ pork ribs and a Freedom Frank complete with corn on the cob and potato salad. To sip, there’s Liberty Lemonade ($15) – a frozen lemonade topped with Jack Daniels – and Sam Adams American Light ($7 per 10oz/$10 per 14oz), a newly released lager made with all American ingredients.

Give into your competitive side with giant Jenga, Connect 4, corn hole and Plinko (the latter that will score you Sam Adams’ t-shirts and koozies) while DJ Liz Ladoux mixes top-40 and American-themed classics late-night on Wednesday. Make sure to guzzle those Sam Adams American Lights because with every pour, you’ll be entered to win prizes – a branded boombox or a sling chair – over the two days. From the Jack Daniels crew, swizzle those Liberty Lemonades because one whiskey-loving loyalist will take home a Yeti cooler filled with a JD grilling kit, their signature smoking chips and more.

Cost: Complimentary admission. Specials available at a la carte pricing.

2) Located in Chestnut Hill, XOXO Sushi Bar is introducing newcomers to their summer menu. Executive Chef Kegan Stritchko’s new creations feature fresh and rare sea treasures, as well as the best from land, while infusing quintessential seasonal ingredients.

COLD:
Hamachi Aburi - green apple zu, pickled green apple, green apple relish, shiso, basil oil
Salmon & Pineapple - pineapple nuoc cham, charred pineapple, compressed green papaya, Thai chili, chili oil, micro cilantro, candy garlic
Tuna & Watermelon - compressed watermelon, parmesan cheese, basil powder, candied quinoa, fumet gel, lime gel
HOT:
Pork Belly Bao Bun
- Taiwanese steam bun, crispy pork belly, sweet chili miso, yuzu kosho, micro cilantro
Negi Toro Crispy Rice - crispy sushi rice, chopped toro with scallion, shiso, ponzu
Leche de Tigre - white fish ceviche, cilantro, avocado, soy paper
ROBATAYAKI:
Shiitake Mushrooms
- braised in nikiri
Tako - sous vide octopus skewer
DESSERTS:
Hojicha Corn
- hojicha ice cream, corn ice cream, parmesan coconut terrine, coconut lemongrass sauce, milk popcorn 
Pink Lantern - coconut tuile, pink peppercorn-cardamom gelato, strawberry gel, palm sugar meringue, shredded coconut shrimp, basil blossom, freeze-dried strawberry

3) Seth Greenberg, a Boston restaurant and hospitality professional, has officially opened Monteverdi at 40 Edward H. Land Boulevard in Cambridge (The Royal Sonesta Boston). Monteverdi features both "traditional and contemporary Italian dishes with cutting-edge cocktails and a carefully selected wine list." 

Initially, dinner will be served seven days a week, then in the weeks to follow the team will be adding weekend brunch, lunch and an al fresco raw bar. This is Christian's inaugural MENU, he will be adding more in the days and weeks to come. Monteverdi’s Chef Christian Ellis worked under Steve Johnson at Rendezvous and Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley’s Bistro for many years.

Monteverdi's dinner menu features fresh pastas including a rigatoni bolognese, linguine vongole, gnocchi and bucatini. The menu also features a variety of other dishes including a bone-in pork milanese, pan roasted salmon, truffle polenta, grilled bistecca, a grilled branzino and a roasted chicken. The roasted chicken is uniquely personal for Ellis as it is inspired by Hammersley’s Bistro. The chicken is topped with a demi-glace and served with roasted cipollini, fondant potatoes, roasted cipollini and fondant potatoes. Other menu items include flatbread pizzas featuring classic Italian cheeses such as mozzarella, ricotta and taleggio on housemade tomato sauce, sophisticated salads and seafood appetizers that complement the incredible outdoor raw bar. The brunch menu features classics such as poached eggs, french toast, pancakes and so much more.

The wine list features eclectic wines from around the world, including wines from Australia, France, the U.S. and of course, Italy. Monteverdi also offers a set of classic craft cocktails with a modern twist.

About the Name: Seth grew up in Miami but his late father owned a clothing factory in Italy, 20 minutes outside Venice. When his parents visited Italy, his dad worked, and his mother immersed herself in the culture by enrolling in Italian classes. “Greenberg” roughly translates to Monteverdi (green mountain) in Italian, which earned her the class nickname “Signora Monteverdi.” Monteverdi pays homage to Seth’s mother.

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