Event

TIME TO RE-KONNECT

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Before inclusion and diversity were buzzwords, Boston’s Queen of Connection Colette Phillips was forging relationships across neighborhoods, aisles, and other barriers- both real and perceived.

On July 30, Boston’s savviest soiree-ers and supporters will gather at Big Night Live to celebrate her pioneering work and the contributions of her Get Konnected network at the 10th anniversary edition of A Taste of Ethnic Boston. 

Though Boston may be known for its Italian North End (which was originally a Jewish and African-American neighborhood) and its still somewhat Irish Southie, there are neighborhoods and flavors that are just as important that may not get the same publicity (at least not on other media platforms). Get Konnected is out to change that!

During this premiere showcase of Boston’s diverse dining destinations, chefs from all over the area will share their stories and their recipes in a celebration of culinary community.

As part of the decade-marking celebration, the event will include the naming of Get Konnected!’s Top 25 Ethnic Restaurants and Top 10 Chefs of Color in Greater Boston, most of whom get little recognition from most other media outlets. It will also kick off the first A Taste of Ethnic Restaurant Week in Boston, which will encourage diners to expand their restaurant repertoires with special meals and deals at participating venues.

In addition to supporting area chefs and eateries, Phillips’ event will again spread the wealth around by donating part of the proceeds from Get Konnected to The GK Fund, a nonprofit social impact fund dedicated to funding BIPOC entrepreneurs.

Boston is an incredibly diverse city. Especially as so much of the world is falling apart, it is surely time to Get Konnected. And if you can eat great food at the same time- all the better!

BY THE LIGHT…

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While many people rush to Vermont in the fall to watch the leaves change, there may be an even better reason this April!

Apparently, the upcoming eclipse will be visible throughout the Northeast Kingdom and right in the middle of it will be our friends at Snow Farm Vineyards. In fact, the Vineyard (which recently added a distillery!) will be hosting an eclipse party April 6-8!

In addition to offering limited-edition wines, the Farm will host local artists and artisans who will be crafting everything from pizza to pebble art and leading guests in dancing, oracle readings, and other flights of lunacy.

Speaking of flights, the tasting room will be open for those who wish to try the latest creations.

As the first commercial grape vineyard in the Green Mountain State, Snow Farm has become an example for how to use land effectively. As any fan can tell you, it is also a great place to find creatively-crafted wines and spirits, like their award-winning Snow White blend and Vidal Blanc, the VT fave Marquette, and my favorites – Fortress Red, Fox Hill Maple and Island Apple.

As their gin, grappa, and locally-sourced maple liqueur are still only available at the distillery, there is all the more reason to visit! And if the sun is out when you get there, enjoy a beautiful stroll around the 140 acres while you enjoy live music and sips of their ever-expanding line of delicious drinks. No matter when you come, there is always plenty of natural wonder to take in at Snow Farm! 

HOLI PARTY!

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The ancient Indian festival of Holi is March 24. Especially in this time of trial and trouble, it will be good to celebrate color and hope.

And who better to lead the festivities than the community-minded team at Shanti?

On March 30th from 2-6 PM, Shanti will partner with Roslindale Village Main Streets to host a Holi celebration at Rozzy’s historic and beautiful Adams Park. In addition to marking the Hindu holiday, the event will be an opportunity for people to create interfaith community with the help of music, dance, activities, and Shanti’s amazing food.

At the festival, there will be a trio of food vendors offering Shanti’s incredibly authentic (and delicious!) momo and mithai, street snacks like samosa and pakora and various types of chaat, all of which are sure to satisfy! There will also be plenty of Shanti’s refreshing mango lassi and the traditional Holi spiced milk drink Bhang.

While guests can dance to Holi music provided by a local DJ, there will also be dance performances by a team from Westford Academy and Bollywood dancers. At around 4:45, the traditional color display will be presented, bringing brightness to the darkening day and encouraging everyone to seek Shanti, which means “peace.”

In other Shanti-related news, the Dudley Café (which is also run by the Chowdhury family) will be selling my book on the Ivy League at the Cambridge location! So if you are or know a Harvard student who needs to fill up with delicious food or life-sustaining coffee, encourage them to take a fun study break with the help of Lions, Tigers, and…Bulldogs.

 

A MOVING MEAL

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The W Boston has long been a place to see and be seen.

Recently, however, they introduced a new dining option that is hard to take your eyes off of!

In partnership with TableMation Studios, the W now offers a three-course dinner menu that comes with three dimensions of immersive experience.

Combining 3D animation and state-of-the-art 4K projectors above each table, each course is accompanied not just by the W’s impeccable service but also by characters that chat and interact with diners and dance to their own original score that should appeal to Swifties and seniors alike.

The 90-minute digital dinner theater follows Chef Nya on a culinary world tour that ends in spectacular fashion at the Eiffel Tower.

In real life, W’s Executive Chef Garrison Cossu offers such far-flung favorites as crispy Ahi tuna tempura, seared filet mignon with black garlic honey, braised beef sachetti with curried carrots, and a sweet sabayon with berries and macaron that will make diners feel as if there were really in France!

To up the Parisian panache, guests can add wine pairings for an additional fee. For many, however, the trip and the tastes are enough to make their head swim.

Younger travelers can enjoy fried mac & cheese and fried chicken and their own fun drinks like a raspberry and citrus Blue Lagoon.

Special diet substitutions are available with advanced notice, so it is a great trip for any age and appetite.

ANOTHER WINIKER WINNER

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As anyone who listens to our spots or who just knows me knows, I will travel pretty far to hear the Winiker Brothers.

They have been dear friends to both Jordan and myself for decades and are the go-to call not only when we want the best music for any event but when we want support for our lives in general or just for a meal.

That is why I hope to be at Neroli in Westwood on April 4, when the Brothers will make their delicious debut at their latest venue.

In addition to convincingly playing everything from Tony Bennett to Taylor Swift, Bill and Bo and their cohort of top bandmates have also played everywhere from the old and new Gardens to the White House, so you can always be sure of a great night of music when they are on the bill!

At Neroli, the Winiker’s music will complement an equally impressive bill of fare that includes their signature bruschetta with Stracciatella and roasted baby heirloom tomatoes, arancini with brain-healthy and satisfying saffron risotto, three-meat meatballs, salumi and cheese boards, freshly-layered lasagna, lobster ravioli, and other traditional Italian fare served with New England flair.

If you can’t make it that night, they are open Tuesday through Sunday with Sunday brunch and a special Sunday supperclub to help you get ready for the week ahead. If you can’t make it in at all but still want great food, Neroli also offers a take-out market and catering so they- like the Winikers- can get you exactly what you want for your next big event.

GRAZIE, SETH!

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Seth Greenberg has long been known as the man behind Mistral, Mooo, M80, and many more massive hits.
This spring, he will make his latest splash on the banks of the Charles River when he opens MonteVerdi at the Four Diamond Royal Sonesta Hotel in Cambridge.

Turning the German into Italian, MonteVerdi pays tribute to the Greenberg’s family’s time near Venice, where Seth’s late father owned a clothing factory and where his mother was dubbed “Signora Monteverdi.” 

Combining views of the Charles with flavors of the Po and Tiber, MonteVerdi will also bring together the titanic (and locally-spourced) talents of former Ashmont Grill and Rendezvous Chef Christian Ellis, Serafina Back Bay and Verb Hotel manager Jared Hall, and Seth’s favorite designer, Petra Hausberger of Somerton Park Interiors.

Greenberg’s menu is apparently going for the “less is more” philosophy that is the mark of great Italian cooking. With flatbread pizzas and freshly-made pastas to locally-sourced seafood, a new edition of legendary chef Gordon Hammersley’s roast chicken, and an amazing homemade sauce, MonteVerdi will offer everything your Nonna did…and more! 
Opening just as the weather warms, Monteverdi will not only offer an al fresco raw bar but also one of the largest terraces in town, making it the perfect place for a beautiful brunch, a dreamy dinner, or an Italian-inspired evening. This is such a scoop that there is not even a website yet, but you can try www.sonesta.com.

A NEW GEO-SPACE FOR JAZZ

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With the passing of local lions like Fred Taylor and Eric Jackson, the Boston Jazz scene has not been what it once was.

Even though the great rooms like the Savoy and Pauls’ Mall are long gone, there are still holdouts like Sculler’s and Wally’s keeping the Berklee-fed Boston sound alive.

Recently, a new space opened in the offices of a company that knows space!

Feldman Geospatial has been supporting the physical structure of cities and towns for over 75 years.

Now, with the opening of the Jazz Nights series at Long Live Beerworks (which is housed at 152 Hampden Street in Boston), the Feldman team will bring more soul to their structures than ever.

Long Live has made its own mark with its Black Cat double IPA, Rox Pils Italian Pilsner, Coffee Cake Bites Imperial Stout, and new varieties coming on all the time. With their locally-crafted brews inside and locally-sourced murals and food trucks, the Feldman series is homegrown through and through. And throughout the new music series, the music will be as well!

From Alex Alvera and Mango Blue to Gonzalo Grau and Plural to the core Boston Jazz trio known as The Fringe, Jazz Nights will bring Grammy winners and garage band heroes together in open-ended nights of music, beer, food, and local culture.

The Boston Jazz scene may have changed, but if new offerings like Jazz Nights at Long Live presented by Feldman Geospatial are any indication, it is alive and well!       

GREEK REVIVAL

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As it was once called the Athens of America, it makes sense that Boston is at the forefront of the Greek revival that appears to be running through the restaurant space like an Olympic (or Boston) marathoner.

And while many popular places have followed, the Farm Grille & Rotisserie in Newton and its sister store, Greek International Market in West Roxbury, have been leading the pack for over 25 years.

Whenever I want to get my Greek on in a fresh and friendly flash, a visit to the Grille always fits the bill(e). But when I want to get the authentic ingredients that make this family-run restaurant and caterer so great or to explore the larger realm of Hellenistic hunger helpers, the Market has all I need….and MORE!

In addition to freshly-imported Greek spices and wines (including Retsina) to imported meats and other prepared foods (including their famed octopus salad!), as well as hand-crafted cheeses and Greek yogurt, an olive bar and enough olive oils and Greek pastries for the Spartan army, the Market offers honey-based health and beauty aids, toys and gifts, and customized gift baskets that are perfect for any occasion. 

Speaking of occasions, the Market has an Aegean Sea-full of fish and a farm-full of plant-based options that are perfect for Lent or just for eating healthy! And Proprietor Katerina Iliades recently debuted a line of children’s clothing for communions and baptisms that will be on display at a VIP fashion show on March 23 at the Maliotis Center in Brookline!

Everyone seems set on catching the healthy and delicious Mediterranean diet train. As is true of so many other things, we in Boston are ahead of the curve, thanks in great part to the Iliades family and their great pair of places to eat.    

L’CHAIM

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Now I get to talk about two of my favorite food-related things – Michael’s Deli and beer!

As anyone who follows us knows, one of our favorite friends in the industry is Steve Peljovich of Michael’s Deli in Brookline. Not only does he have the best corned beef and other deli favorites around, but he gives more back to the food community and the larger community and almost anyone else around.

On April 7 from 3 to 5 PM, Steve will be participating in a special Relay for Life event at Exhibit A Brewing taproom and gallery in Framingham.

Relay for Life raises money for cancer research. Proceeds from this event will benefit both the American Cancer Society and the Boston Hope Lodge, which houses cancer patients as they go through their difficult treatments.

What makes the event all the better is that Steve’s gastronomic co-conspirator will be none other than Ivan Pulecio of Hearth Pizzeria in Needham, who is also on the podium for restaurant industry mensches.

Steve and Ivan have faced more than their fare shares of health challenges, but they keep coming back and giving back more and more!

Add the creatively handcrafted beers from Exhibit A and live music from Alison Keslow and The Earthtones to the great food from Michael’s and Hearth and this should not be just a great fundraiser but a great time.

AND it’s for a great cause too!

https://bit.ly/raise-a-pint2024

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EFFIE-N GOOD!

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As I have been bringing my book on the Ivy League and my live author interview series to more venues (such as the Needham Library, where I will be interviewing everyone’s favorite radio host, Jordan Rich, on April 30), I have had to find more snacks to bring for my guests to enjoy as they linger to buy books and talk with the authors.

That is why I always have boxes of Effie’s Homemade on hand!

Based on the traditional Nova Scotian oatcake, these family recipe-based, hand-crafted cookies and crackers (ahem- “biscuits”) are made in Dorchester, MA and available all over (including at my book events!).

From their original Halifax-helped oatcake and European-inspired rye biscuits to their hearty and historically-accurate corn cakes and stone-ground wheat pecan biscuits, Effie’s are perfect for wine and cheese parties, mini PB&Js or just straight out of the box. There are also recipes at https://effieshomemade.com to inspire your next sensational snack!

For those with a taste for sophisticated sweetness, Effie’s also offers aromatic almond biscuits, bold and snappy ginger biscuits, brain-boosting walnut biscuits, and decadent cocoa biscuits.

No matter which you pick, all of their biscuits come in giftable boxes and samplers and many are also available in individually-wrapped two-biscuit servings that are just right for a satisfying snack or something special to share

While becoming a loyal customer is not hard, Effie’s even offers a reward program for those of us who enjoy their wonderful wares on a regular basis!

Come be a guest at my author events and you too will have that opportunity!

In the meantime, use MattsMeals20 to get 20% off at https://effieshomemade.com/