Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.
**********************************************************
1)  On Tuesday, October 11, The Melanoma Foundation of New England, a non-profit organization whose mission is to provide support and build awareness surrounding melanoma, presents: Shades of Hope, their their third annual gala at the InterContinental Boston. Bill Rodgers, a Marathon legend, will serve as the evening’s guest of honor for his extraordinary contributions to the cause. NECN’s TV Diner host and KISS 108’s Matty in the Morning Show co-host Billy Costa will auction off a series of luxury items including a one-week stay at Squaw Creek in Lake Tahoe, CA, an exclusive wine tasting in the comfort of one’s home, a five-night summer stay at a five-bedroom residence in Oak Bluffs, Martha’s Vineyard, and an opportunity to be TV Diner’s “Diner for a Day.”

This year, the organization will unveil an unparalleled golden-themed event in the Abigail Adams Ballroom where supporters will don cocktail attire and accents reminiscent of the precious metal to exhibit solidarity for the cause. The room will be decked in the glittering tone to illustrate nature’s brightest force as well as the
Foundation’s mission and will be complemented by golden-themed cocktails and treats. The Melanoma Foundation of New England will also introduce the Wall of Hope this year, an inspirational and interactive montage showing the many faces of those affected directly and indirectly by melanoma.

WHEN: Tuesday, October 11. VIP Reception: 5:30pm – 6:30pm. General Reception: 6:30pm
COST: VIP Reception: included in Silver, Gold, Platinum and Premiere Sponsorship packages
General Reception: $150 per person
HOW: To reserve tickets or sponsorship packages, kindly contact the Melanoma Foundation of New England at: (978) 371-5613, shadesofhope@mfne.org, or visit: www.mfne.org

2)  On Saturday, September 17 and Sunday, September 18, from 10am-4pm, all are invited to Smolak's Farm for a weekend of activities, including a chance to meet Johnny Appleseed who will be sharing his legendary tale and posing for photos in the orchards while helping children spread their very own apple seeds! The Bridle Path Orchard will be open to pick varieties such as Cortlands, Macoun, Golden Delicious, Imperial Red, Red Delicious, Northern Spy, Gravensteins, Macintosh and Mutsu apples, as well as Smolak’s very own varietal which are filled with various prizes from Smolak Farms Farm Stand & Bakery, and scattered throughout the farm. Entrance to the Apple Festival and apple-related activities are free for all!

After you’re done picking apples, families are invited to join in on the Children’s Farm Festival where you can visit the new animal petting area, take a hayride around picturesque farm, play with peers at the children’s play area, and ride a wide selection of rides that will be set up all weekend. Admission to the Children’s Farm Festival is free for adults, and children’s general admission begins at $3.00. Parking is free all weekend long.

3)  On Thursday, September 22, The Beehive will be hosting their second “Armenian Night” - featuring cuisine, libations and entertainment highlighting Armenian culture. It’s an evening with wide appeal for all with musical performances by the Musaner and Nor Quartet, and Armenian food specials prepared by Executive Chef Rebecca Newell such as deluxe mezze platters with assorted salads, char-grilled lamb chops with basmati rice and bean pilaf paired with apricot martinis to name a few!

This evening is brought to you in partnership with Hamazkayin-Boston, an Armenian educational and cultural society based in Watertown. It aims to nurture and celebrate the cultural heritage of the Armenian community in the Greater Boston Area by cultivating and promoting local, national and international Armenian artists and engaging the youth and young professional in local communities to raise interest and awareness toward and educational and cultural issue.

Performance Schedule: Yerevan Quintet from 7:00-8:30pm and Musaner from 8:30pm-12:00am

Musaner is a musical project directed by composer and pianist Ara Sarkissian. With regular performances at The Beehive, this uniquely evocative musical group encompasses original folk music compositions and arrangements from Armenia. Folk instruments from Armenia blend with the traditional language of a jazz band to create a new and original sound. While some compositions evoke the post-modernism of European composers, other arrangements rely on rhythmic and harmonic elements to stay close to the character of the original folk material. Performers include: Ara Sakissian/ Composer & Pianist; Ken Field/flute; Todd Brunel/clarinet; Daniel Bennett/saxophone; Martin Haroutunian/dap, zurna, pku, parkapzuk, duduk and shvi; Fabio Pirozzolo/percussion; Roberto Cassan/accordion; Bake Newman/bass; Gary Fieldman/drums.

Nor Quartet plays a contemporary take on traditional Armenian and Bulgarian folk melodies organized by modern jazz musicans Karen Kocharian and Ara Sarkissian.

WHEN: Thursday, September 22. Live Music from 6:30PM-1:00AM, Food & Drink from 5:00PM-2:00AM
INFO: No Cover charge, Cash Bar, Reservations Recommended by calling 617-423-6969

4)  From October 15-16, American Seasons on Nantucket celebrates the 3rd annual Hogtoberfest, a weekend-long culinary event centered on butchering and eating a whole, locally raised heritage-breed pig. Chef Michael LaScola of Nantucket’s American Seasons and Chef Matt Jennings of Providence’s The Farmstead and La Laiterie head back East to prep for Hogtoberfest, a Nantucket weekend of pure porcine pleasure. Armed with Berkshire-Tamworth pigs hand-raised on Nantucket’s The Faraway Farm, Michael and Matt (a three-time Cochon 555 champ) deliver a celebration designed to induct amateur pork fans into the ranks of true connoisseurs. The weekend itinerary includes:

Saturday, October 15: 
‘This Little Piggy’ Carving Demo – 10am, $15
Enjoy a back-of-house demo, led by Michael & Matt, on butchering an entire pig from snout-to-tail. Each low-on-the-pig cut earns a place on American Seasons’ dinner menu throughout the weekend.
Beer Master Class – 1pm, $25
Brewmaster Jeff Homer of Cisco Brewers demonstrates how pork & beer is truly a match made in heaven with a tasting that pairs craft brews with pork delicacies.
‘All Things Pork’ Dinner – starting at 5:30pm
Pig out on a range of pork specials during dinner service along with wines from American Seasons’ 500+ all-American wine list, including hard-to-find small production wines by the glass, as well as bottle-only artisan beers and pork-inspired cocktails.

Sunday, October 16
‘Three Little Nantucket Pigs’ Cocktail Hour – starting at 5:15pm, $15 ($10 with dinner ticket)
Sip a sampling of Three Little Piggies – Nantucket-inspired cocktails like the ACK Mojito, Cranberry Bog Martini and Raised in the Fog – made with Bully Boy spirits from Boston’s first craft distillery. Cocktails are paired with pork-packed hors d’oeuvres.
‘Ode to Pig’ Dinner – starting at 6:30pm, $110 ($120 with cocktail hour ticket)
Michael & Matt join forces to create a hog-heavy five-course dinner (plus snacks!). Each dish is paired with craft beer and selections from American Seasons’ extensive, all-American wine list.

RSVP: Please call 508-228-7111 for reservations, times and pricing. Space is limited.

Thursday Sips & Nibbles

I am back again with a new edition of Thursday Sips & Nibbles, my regular column where I briefly highlight some interesting wine and food items that I have encountered recently.
**********************************************************
1) The Massachusetts Affiliate of Susan G. Komen for the Cure will present the Third Annual Chefs for the Cure event on April 7 at 7:30pm at the Viking Center in Westwood.  At this event, you will be able to sample culinary delights from some top notch local chefs, including: Jose Duarte of Taranta, Peter Dexter of ONEBistro, Jarrod Moiles of BOKX109 American Prime, Joanne Chang of Myers & Chang, Keenan Langlois of Union, Christopher Robins of Gaslight, Denise Baron of Burton’s Grill, Derek Barragan of Del Frisco’s, and Nicole Coady of Finale Desserts. There will be wine to drink, a raffle and a silent auction, all which will benefit breast cancer research.

General Admission is $100 per guest and includes admission to the tasting of featured Chefs and one complimentary entry for the raffle. VIP Admission is $150 per guest and includes VIP Cooking Demo at 6:30pm by Chef Annie Copps, admission to the tasting at 7:30pm and two complimentary entries for the raffle. Space is limited to 50 guests.

I attended last year's event and it was my 2010 Favorite Charitable Food Event.  I stated that it was a "Overall, a top notch event for a great cause."  I will be attending again this year and hope to see some of my readers there too.

2) Held May 18-22, the Nantucket Wine Festival (NWF) celebrates its 15th anniversary.  Presented by Nantucket Combined Charities, this festival will once again celebrate world-renowned wines paired with top notch cuisine against the backdrop of some of the island’s most beautiful and historic locations, including the White Elephant Hotel. The White Elephant is the beautiful waterfront headquarters of the Festival, provides an elegant setting for many of the events.

“Part of the reason for the Festival’s success is Nantucket’s reputation in the industry as home to a large concentration of fine restaurants, so it is a very important market for wine,” said Denis Toner, NWF Founder. “Over the past 15 years, I have spent considerable time seeking out quality wineries from around the globe—the entire point of the NWF is to emphasize quality over quantity. We’re not the biggest, but I think we’ve proven over the years we are among the most selective, offering our guests the kinds of one-on-one winemaker opportunities that simply aren’t possible at other food and wine events.”

Highlights of the 2011 Festival include the Luncheon Symposium program, featuring an hour-long tasting and discussion, followed by a four-course luncheon of exquisite food paired with the wines of the participating vignerons. The symposia include: Burgundy Roundtable (hosted by The Nantucket Golf Club), California Classics (hosted by the Brick House Bistro), American Beauties (hosted by American Seasons). Also, the pièce de resistance at this year’s Festival, the Saint-Emilion First Growths Tasting and Luncheon (hosted by the Great Harbor Yacht Club), gives attendees an unparalleled opportunity to sample 12 premier grand cru Saint-Emilion wines, all handcrafted in Bordeaux and presented by the featured vintners.

This year, the festival has named Tim Mondavi of Continuum Estate as “Luminary of the Year.” First presented three years ago, the Luminary of the Year award recognizes an individual whose work has had a profound effect upon the landscape of wine and food.

The Harbor Gala (May 19), held at the White Elephant Hotel, will feature over 30 stations, each with a winemaker or winery representative and a restaurant chef whose cuisine is chosen to match the wines. Some of the notables who will be in attendance: George Sandeman of Sandeman Port, Tim Mondavi of Continuum Estate, the ubiquitous Todd English, Ray Coursen of Elyse Winery, one-star chefs Cyril Renaud of Bar Breton in Manhattan and Cesare Casella of Salumeria Rosi in Manhattan, the prince of pork—Matt Jennings of La Laiterie in Providence, Raimund Prum of SA Prum, Dominique Demarville, Cellar Master of Veuve Clicquot, and many others.

The Celebrity Chef & Winemaker Auction Dinner (May 21), held at the White Elephant, will benefit the Nantucket Historical Association. Featuring the culinary skill of Brooke Vosika of Four Seasons Hotel Boston and the wines of Veuve Clicquot Ponsardin and Newton Vineyards, the auction will include one-of-a-kind wine and lifestyle items such as trips to California and Burgundy, as well as unique collections of large-format bottles, many signed by the winemaker.

The Grand Tasting (May 21 & 22) will offer more than 200 wineries with samplings of hors d’oeuvres, including artisan breads and cheeses, smoked meats and seafood, Nantucket shellfish, and tapas and delicacies, will emphasize the important relationship between food and wine. Other highlights include wine-related art and glasswork, and fascinating exhibits.

The Ticket Package available this year is the Grand Cru Package (a $825-$905 value for $750)
Includes: Access to all three Grand Tasting sessions
Access to Saturday morning Early-Admission VIP Reception at the Grand Tasting (available to package purchasers only)
Ticket to the Opening Night Reception
Ticket to the Harbor Gala
Tickets to two Wine and Food Seminars (based on availability)
Laminated personalized NWF entry pass
2011 NWF poster signed by artist Kerry Hallam
NWF hat

Tickets to the Grand Tasting are sold by session, starting at $85. There are three sessions: Saturday, May 21, from noon-2pm and 3-5pm, and Sunday, May 22, from noon-3pm. You may combine sessions for a discounted price. Ticket prices increase as of April 1, 2011. No one under 21 admitted; proper ID required. For a complete listing and price information for all events please call the Nantucket Wine Festival at (508) 228-1128 or visit us on-line at www.nantucketwinefestival.com for constant updates.

3) To celebrate St. Patrick's Day, from March 14th through 20th, Chef Poe of Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake will be serving special Irish dishes, including the following:

--Irish Onion Soup (Grilled Onions in Guinness and Veal Broth with an Irish Cream Crouton & Dubliner Cheese) Cup: $6 Bowl: $10
--Shepherd’s Carpaccio  (Seared with Cayenne, Garlic, Mustard and Peppercorn with Roasted Root Vegetable & Spring Pea Salsa in cauliflower & parsley vinaigrette and a dollop of fluffy colcannon) $9
--Corned Duck & Cabbage and Corned Beef Tacos (One Corned Duck Taco and One Corned Beef Taco – both with Potato & Parsley, Braised Cabbage, in Crisp Spinach Tortillas and Cahill’s Irish Porter Cheese Sauce) $11
--Gaelic Mixed Grill (Skillet Seared Dry Aged Petit Tenderloin of Beef with a Shot of Bushmills, Irish Butter Creamed Spinach, with Corned Beef & Cabbage Infused Potato Dumplings) $22
--Steel Cut Oatmeal & Irish Coffee Crème Brulee (Brooklyn Brewery Black Chocolate Stout & Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with an Oatmeal Cookie Crisp)  $6

4) Chef Antonio Bettencourt, of 62 Restaurant & Wine Bar in Salem, offers up some creative and delicious Italian cuisine but his culinary roots actually began in regional French cuisine. Working with Chef Amanda Lydon, first at Metro Brasserie and then at Upstairs on the Square, where he served as the executive sous chef to both Lydon and Chef Susan Regis.  

On Sunday, March 27, from 6:30PM-8:30PM, Chef Bettencourt will return to his culinary roots as he presents “Bienvenue au 62” a special Burgundy wine dinner in partnership with the French Cultural Center of Boston and Destination Salem. The three course food & wine pairing will take guests on a virtual gastronomical journey to the French culinary hub. Guests can learn more about French culture with information provided by the French Cultural Center, and for those new to Salem, MA, Destination Salem will be providing information to guests about what’s on tap this spring and summer for the seaside town.

This 3-course dinner includes all paired wines and is $75 per person + tax and gratuity. Reservations are required by calling (978) 744-0062.

MENU
First Course:
Seared sea scallops, haricots verts, warm hazelnut vinaigrette and lamb’s lettuce
Domaine William Fevre 2009 Chablis Champs Royaux Chardonnay
Second course:
Crispy pork trotters avec persillade, toasted baguette et moutarde
Domaine Heritiers Comte Lafon 2008 Macon Villages Chardonnay
Third Course:
Cote de Boeuf, sauce marchande au vin, wild mushrooms
Domaine Philippe Roty 2007 Cotes de Nuits Villages Pinot Noir
Fromage:
Assortment of cheese and accoutrements
Domaine Bouchard 2006 Savigny Les Beaune Pinot Noir

5) The Beehive presents their 4th annual St. Patrick’s Day festivities on Thursday, March 17th, from 5pm-2am.  The claim from inside the ‘hive’ is that while there will be plenty of surprises, this will not be your typical Irish fest. “No green beer…but what we are planning is a sophisticated evening of amazing Irish comfort food and authentic, world-class, Irish entertainment for a mature audience,” said Co-Owner, Jack Bardy. And “authentic” is the key word! The Beehive has landed the stamp of approval again for this year’s event from the Boston Irish Tourism Association. “We’ve been more than happy to get involved with The Beehive and their annual St. Patrick’s day festivities, and we’re looking forward to the amazing food and festivities planned!” said Michael Quinlin, President and Founder of the Boston Irish Tourism Association.

One of the many St. Patrick’s Day surprises at The Beehive will be a special performance by Matt and Shannon Heaton Celtic Review. Both have an Irish folk pedigree that started with sessions in Chicago pubs and was refined by the masters in Dublin. Voted “Female Musician of the Year” by the Irish American News, Shannon is one of the strongest fiddle players in the USA. Together, they will turn this Irish city upside down!  Opening the show will be the sweet voice of Sheila (The Plummer) Linnehan, straight from Ireland.
In addition to serving the regular menu, Chef Rebecca Newell has created several à la carte specials including: Corned Beef & "Cabbage" Flatbread with Sauerkraut & Cheese, Finaan Haddie Smoked Fish & Chips with Malt Vinegar Aioli & Slaw and Grilled Lamb Chops with Colcannon Mashed Potatoes just to name a few.  Dinner reservations recommended, no cover charge, both the upstairs and downstairs bars will be open for service.

13th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival

Over the past 12 years the Nantucket Wine Festival has become one of the country’s most celebrated and prestigious wine and food events. Situated within the heart of downtown Nantucket, and attended by world-renowned winemakers, chefs and celebrities, the 13th Annual Nantucket Wine Festival takes place May 13-17.

Highlights include:

· Expansion of last year’s tremendously popular luncheon symposium program. The equivalent of a graduate course in advanced wine philosophy, the symposia features an hour-long tasting and discussion, followed by a luncheon of exquisite food paired with the wines of the participating vignerons.

· Sultans of Sonoma Coast: San Francisco Chronicle Winemaker of the Year Ehren Jordan will be joined by two other star winemakers, David Hirsch and Andy Peay, as they explain the attributes of California’s hottest new viticultural region, the Sonoma Coast.

· The Nantucket Historical Association Auction Dinner, held at the White Elephant Hotel and featuring the culinary talents of Daniel Bruce of Meritage at the Boston Harbor Hotel, who is celebrating 20 years of winemaker dinners at the Boston Wine Festival, and the king of all Spanish wine, Jorge Ordóñez of Fine Estates from Spain, the winner of last year’s Luminary of the Year award. The auction is always exciting and this year promises even more excitement as the centerpiece of the auction will be an 1870 Barrister’s bottle of Chateau Lafite Rothschild, considered by man to be the finest example of pre-phylloxera claret.

· Towle’s Hill, a one-man show by former Nantucketer Mark Kenward, which chronicles over 150 years of history at one of California’s oldest wineries, Gundlach Bundschu in Sonoma.

· The Nantucket Wine Festival has been famous for the number of great winemakers who visit us in May, and this year’s array of winemakers is absolutely stunning, featuring many of the best talents in the world of wine. Ehren Jordan, owner of Failla Vineyards and the San Francisco Chronicle’s Winemaker of the Year; Ray Coursen, owner/winemaker of Elyse Vineyards and the winner of the NWF’s 2009 Luminary of the Year award; Jean-Luc Pépin, Directeur Commercial, Domaine Comte Georges de Vogüé; Jean-Charles Thomas, Head Winemaker, Maison Louis Latour; John Kolasa, General Manager, Château Rauzan-Segla and Château Canon; Rob and Maria Sinskey, owners, Robert Sinskey Vineyards; Jorge Ordóñez, president and founder, Fine Estates from Spain and the winner of the NWF’s 2008 Luminary of the Year award; Jim Clendenen, owner/winemaker of Au Bon Climat.

· The Festival’s signature event, The Grand Tasting, will be held for the 3rd year at the historic Nantucket Yacht Club

Located on Nantucket Harbor, the White Elephant Hotel serves as NWF’s home base and hosts many of the Festival’s events, including The Charity Gala, The Celebrity Chef and Winemaker Auction Dinner and the majority of Wine & Food Seminars. The White Elephant is a Nantucket “grande dame” and is the center of our activities. Events are also held at locations throughout the island, including restaurants and private homes.

The Festival is attended by over 150 wineries from countries throughout the world, each typically represented by the winemaker or vineyard owner. Celebrity chefs from Boston, Nantucket, Providence, Newport, Austin, New Jersey and New York lead seminars in wine and food pairing, perform cooking demonstrations and mingle with attendees. The Nantucket Historical Association and the Nantucket New School are the Festival’s charity partners and the beneficiaries of over $145,000 in 2008 alone.

For a complete description of all events, attendees, lodging and ticket packages and price information, contact the Nantucket Wine Festival online or by phone at (508) 228-1128.