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) Here are some of the current Specials at The Painted Burro, with locations in Davis Square, Harvard Square and Brookline. 

• The Taco Take Down: Every Tuesday night, you can enjoy five 4" tacos for $15. Choose from any taco on their menu including new tacos that will only be available on Tuesdays!  
• Bottomless Brunch: Available Every Saturday + Sunday. Sides, Desserts and Drinks are not included.
• Mucho Monday: Available every Monday night, featuring all-you-can-eat favorites that bring the heat and the value. Entrees, Desserts and Drinks not included.

2) Xenia Greek Hospitality today announces their Greco Truly Greek eateries are now serving gluten free pita. The addition of the new gluten free pita stays true to Greek tradition. The pita has a great texture with no filler ingredients, just gluten-free goodness. The gluten free pita is made by Marinos Kosmas gluten free bakery in Greece. The ingredients are: water, rice flour, tapioca flour, sugar, greek olive oil, yeast, salt and everything is fully organic. No preservatives. Greco’s gluten free pitas are also celiac safe when prepared on their charcoal grill.

The following pitas are gluten free, and guests can always customize their own combinations to be stacked, sauced and wrapped to perfection.
Pea Protein + Hummus – Plant-based never tasted so bold—pea protein kebab with garlicky skordalia, hummus, and roasted vegetables
Classic Pork + Tzatziki – A Greek OG: tender pork gyro wrapped with creamy tzatziki, fresh veggies, and hand-cut fries.
Truly Greek Chicken – Juicy chicken gyro with honey mustard, classic toppings, oregano, and crispy fries—flavor in every bite.
Lamb + Pepper – Slow-roasted lamb gyro with smoky pepper paprika, feta crumbles, and fries—rich, hearty, and totally Greek
Greek-Style Burger – Juicy bifteki patty loaded with spicy feta, fresh veggies, and fries

The gluten free pita is now rolled out at all locations: Newbury Street, Seaport, Milk Street, Hub Hall and Burlington Mall. The DC location in Georgetown is also serving the gluten free pita, and the second DC location in Union Market will be opening soon.

3) Cupid has his sights set on XOXO Sushi Bar in Chestnut Hill this Valentine’s Day weekend. From February 13-15, Chef Kegan Stritchko will present a multi-course jukusei omakase tasting menu utilizing XOXO’s advanced in-house dry-ager and jukusei technique – “aging” in Japanese, where fish used in sushi is salted or soaked in vinegar then matured for several days – that features local and rare sea treasures designed with indulgent and intriguing flavor profiles.

For three nights, February 13-15, the jukusei omakase experience will be showcased over 11-courses ($175 per guest): an Island Creek oyster with leche de tigre and dill; hirame usuzukuri with yuzu dashi, candied quinoa and lemon zest; madai and shima aji nigiri; chef’s choice of five pieces of sashimi; hiramasa and Ora King salmon nigiri; chawanmushi with savory egg custard, snow crab and ikura; bluefin tuna and akamutsu nigiri; a negitoro handroll with bluefin tuna belly, scallion and shiso; grilled langoustine with miso butter, kimchi and chili oil; A5 wagyu beef tartare with black garlic, caviar and taro root; and a dessert of Thai chili chocolate ice cream with chocolate ganache and cranberry gel.

Reservations are recommended via OpenTable.

4) Chef-Owner Peter Wang’s Dumpling Café in Boston’s Chinatown is ringing in the Lunar New Year with Double the Dish—a lineup of Buy One, Get One offers that upend traditional restaurant pricing. Why wait until Chinese New Year on February 17? The offer is available now through the end of February, with more than half of the takeout menu offered BOGO, exclusively for online, pickup, and delivery orders. BOGO menu items range from $6 to $30.

Buy One, Get One menu items include Chef Peter Wang’s popular, award-winning dishes such as his Taiwan-style pan-fried dumplings, roasted duck buns, and award-winning mini juicy buns (aka soup dumplings), along with General Gau’s chicken, scallion pancakes, braised beef brisket noodle soup with spinach, twice-cooked pork, and steamed beef-and-cabbage dumplings. Virtually every soup, noodle, and fried rice selection on the menu is available BOGO. And that’s as close to free food that you can find.

Food is at the heart of Chinese New Year, with many dishes symbolizing health, prosperity, and family togetherness. With this once-in-a-lifetime promotion, Dumpling Café Chef-Owner Peter Wang thanks Boston for its continued support and invites the city to celebrate the Lunar New Year the most delicious way possible—by sharing great food. He wishes all Bostonians Kung Hei Fat Choy (Happy New Year).