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.
******************************************************
1) Kane’s Donuts is teaming up with Dorchester Brewing to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day with a special limited-edition treat. The DBco Cobblestone Stout Donut will be available from Thursday, March 13, through Monday, March 17, at all Kane’s Donuts locations: 120 Lincoln Avenue in Saugus, 1575 Broadway (Essex Landing) in Saugus, and 90 Oliver Street in Boston’s Financial District as well as Dorchester Brewing’s Tap Room on Saturday, March 15th.

Made in collaboration with Dorchester Brewing, the DBco Cobblestone Stout Donut features Kane’s light and airy yeast dough topped with a rich glaze crafted from reduced Cobblestone Boston Dry Stout, blended into Kane’s Signature Honey Glaze, and finished with festive St. Patrick’s Day sprinkles. 

"As a proud Massachusetts business, we love celebrating our local roots by collaborating with fellow New England makers and incorporating locally sourced ingredients whenever possible," said Maria Delios, Owner of Kane's Donuts. "Our partnership with Dorchester Brewing brings together two beloved traditions—craft beer and donuts—just in time for St. Patrick’s Day festivities."

The Cobblestone Stout offers an excellent all-day pub session beer for malt lovers. Pouring deep, dark black with a creamy tan head, Cobblestone is roasty coffee-chocolate on the nose, with dark chocolate and coffee roastiness following to a dry, slightly-roasty-bitter finish. With an ABV of 4.9%, Cobblestone pairs perfectly with the sweetness of a donut.

”At Dorchester Brewing Company, we love collaborating with fellow local businesses to come up with a unique offering and even better when it’s something tasty like donuts made with our beer," said Matt Malloy, CEO and Co-Founder of Dorchester Brewing Company. “Community partnerships and engagement are some of our core values and we’re so thrilled that the DBco Cobblestone Stout Donut will be representing the best that Boston has to offer in donuts and beer!”

2) On Monday, April 7, at 6:30pm, Abe & Louie’s will welcome Greg Brewer, owner of Brewer-Clifton Winery (Los Olivos, CA), to the Back Bay for a night of interesting wine pairings. Founded in 1996, Brewer-Clifton wines reflect the geographic, geologic and climatic uniqueness of California’s Santa Rita Hills appellation in Santa Barbara County. Founder and winemaker Greg Brewer has spent the entirety of his three-decade career dedicated to crafting cool-climate chardonnay and pinot noir from this finite stretch of land.

Brewer will team up with Abe & Louie’s executive chef, Mark Mariano, to present a best of land-and-sea menu designed for the cuisine and wine to balance brilliantly. During the reception, the 2022 Brewer-Clifton Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay will be complemented by the chef’s selection of passed hors d’oeuvres. The first course is tuna carpaccio with crème fraîche, cured egg yolk and Ossetra caviar paired with the 2021 Brewer-Clifton "3D" Santa Rita Hills Chardonnay. Moving to the entrée, oenophiles will sip two standouts from the collection – the 2022 Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir and a 2022 "Machado" Santa Rita Hills Pinot Noir – while indulging in prime NY strip steak with truffled ricotta gnocchi and brown butter creamed spinach. For dessert, there’s a pistachio olive oil cake with blackberry compote and mascarpone served alongside Heitz Cellar’s Ink Grade Port.

COST: $185 per person (does not include tax or gratuity)
Reservations required in advance via Tock. This event is reserved for ages 21+ with proper ID.

3) Tonno Gloucester, located in downtown Gloucester, hosts a ‘Godfather’ Themed Wine Dinner on Tuesday, March 25th, at 6pm. The feast, fit for a mob king, features the iconic wines of Francis Ford Coppola’s esteemed Inglenook Estate, as well as an array of dishes and wines that pair well with five scenes from the movie. From Sicilian cannoli to tomato sauce with sausage, food plays a dynamic and symbolic role in Francis Ford Coppola’s epic mob drama. Tonno will take you back to different scenes in the movie where food played an integral part in the ‘Godfather.’

The ‘Godfather’ themed wine dinner’s five courses are listed below:
Opening: Sophia Sparkling Rose
1st Scene: Antipasto of baby gem lettuce, soppresata, provolone, artichoke hearts, hardboiled egg, radish, pepperoncini, roasted pepper, marinated mushrooms, olives, heirloom tomatoes, garlic, olive oil, and basil. Served with 2020 Alta Mora Etna Bianco.
2nd Scene: Lasagna with bechamel & tomato, Italian sauage and plum tomato sauce “Michael… you never know, you might have to cook for 20 guys someday.” Paired with 2019 Edizione Pennino Zinfandel.
3rd Scene (choice of): Veal marsala “try the veal…It’s the best in the city…” with mushroom and mashed potato OR Grilled Swordfish, potato, olives & capers. Both will be served with 2017 Inglenook 1882 Cabernet Sauvignon.
Final Scene: “Leave the gun. Take the cannoli” Orange ambrosia “The Wedding Cake” paired with Anisette.

Tickets to the five-course dinner and wine pairing are $175 per person, including tax and gratuity, and can be purchased by visiting Tonno Gloucester’s Resy.