For nearly two decades, Chef Jeff Fournier has quietly established his reputation as one of the area’s most creative and confident chefs. From his famed watermelon steaks and cookies and milk palettes to the bold paintings with which he decorates his pair of popular Newton eateries – 51 Lincoln (www.51lincolnnewton.com) and Waban Kitchen (www.wabankitchen.com) – “Chef Jeff” combines his own French-Armenian heritage and with culinary explorations from Asia to Italy to Latin America. Throw in training from such legendary colleagues as Hans Rockenwagner and Lydia Shire and the best of what local farmers and purveyors have to offer, and you have the fixin’s for one heckuva dining experience!
Many who come to 51 Lincoln are happy to stop at a familiar seat at 51 Lincoln’s invitingly eclectic butcher block bar or take their place amidst the warm and friendly buzz in the main dining room. At either of these areas, they can enjoy such Fournier faves as Cambodian-style Napa cabbage salad with almonds, Thai basil, and sweet chili vinaigrette, herb-roasted chicken under a brick with sugar pumpkin puree, pan-seared Brussels sprouts, and Cipollini onion, pan-seared Allen Brothers ribeye steak with Beluga lentils, crispy mushrooms, fried egg and pickled celery, or Chef’s famed Bolognese (which is also readily available through Door Dash for those who want his home cookin’ at home), or selections from the always-freshly cured (in a nearby case) charcuterie and cheese selections (all of which are available with 51’s homemade bread and signature spreads). Recently, however, many guests have somehow been able to walk past all that and find their way downstairs to what may be Fournier’s most enticing offering- The Tasting Room!
In this intimate cellar (which also holds much of the restaurant’s impressive wine collection, as well as a flat-screen tv for families or companies that wish to impress friends, clients and guests with a memorable meeting space), individuals, couples, and groups of up to 20 assemble for a two-hour showcase of color and flavor that impresses on every level. With a menu that changes monthly (in order to ensure freshness of ingredients and ideas), there is always sure to be something intriguing on the menu for those who wish to step outside of their culinary comfort zones. Even so, while Fournier uses the space to satisfy his adventurous spirit, each of the five courses can be adapted to fit any food proclivity or preference and to ensure that an evening in the Tasting Room is both satisfying and comfortable. From “ahh”-inspiring amuse bouche to delectable desserts, every course is presented with friendly flair by 51’s locally-sourced staff of helpful hosts and bursts forth with flavors that play together symphoniously. Among the recent recipes have been cauliflower and leek soup, tomato toast with dehydrated corn and tomato foam, kale salad with walnuts and candied garlic, basil and cucumber panna cotta, coddled egg with polenta and farm flowers, rabbit and truffle roulade with purslane, brandy-basted quail with chestnut puree, and raspberry and pear galette, all served on rustic platters that have also been made by local artisans.
To accompany any of your dining delights, 51 offers an equally expansive selection of beverages, including such fun-loving fizzies as the Walk in Walden (bourbon, shrub, mole bitters, and lemon zest), Cactus in Bloom (tequila, lemon, vanilla, elderflower, and apple cider dust rim) or the “cocktail of the moment,” which has included such satisfying sips as the Pickled Martini (featuring 51’s homemade pickling liquid), as well as beers ranging from three-buck cans to tony taps from New England and all over. The ever-enhancing wine list includes a pair of hand-picked features, a handful of Coravin options, and reds, whites, and bubbles by the glass or bottle. There is also a curated collection of reserve wines (served by people who know the vintners by first name!) for extra special occasions.
No matter where you sit or what you have at 51 Lincoln, you are sure to enjoy a night of creativity, hospitality, and delicious-ity that you will not want to end. Thanks to the Tasting Room, you now have more reasons to visit and to return again and again.
51 LINCOLN STREET
NEWTON HIGHLANDS, MA 02461
617 965-3100
www.51lincolnnewton.com