Get your Tix's today!

We are just 7 days away from the "Festive Table" event at Shreve, Crump & Low on November 5th. Please purchase your tickets today! A fun night full of cocktails, bites, shopping and of course a wonderful Silent Auction and Raffle are in store....below are some of the great prizes you could win.

• An hour of interior design consultation from any of the 7 designers present at the event
• A five course meal prepared by a private chef in the comfort of your own home
(see http://simplicitychef.com/home/)
• A night out in the city for two, including a night's stay at the gorgeous Liberty Hotel
• A professional photo session with print credit - just in time for the holidays!
• An iconic Shreve, Crump & Low "Gurgling Cod" and Winston's floral display
(see http://www.shrevecrumpandlow.com/history/gurgling_cod.aspx)

Keep in mind, all ticket sale proceeds go directly to feeding the hungry and Shreve Crump & Low is generously donating 10% of all sales November 5th! So get your shop on!

Click here for more information or to purchase your tickets. THANK YOU!

Mark your calendars for November 8th!

and get ready to eat your heart out 2009!

Flat Black Coffee Co. ‘White Chrome 2009’: Aftermath

Boston’s 1st Annual Barista Throwdown







On October 24th, 6 independent café’s headed to Ashmont Hill, Dorchester to compete in front of a live and online audience of spectators for the coveted title of Boston’s 2009 ‘White Chrome’ Barista Champion.

During the daylong event, the public enjoyed complimentary beverages prepared by the competitors during the practice rounds as well as a cupping hosted by Flat Black’s master roaster and co-founder, David House. The public also attended informational discussions on Fair Trade, organic certification and espresso machine/brewer maintenance. Special guest, Billy Costa of NECN’s TV Diner, filmed a segment for the show to be aired in the near future. The day concluded with the winner announcement and celebration at neighboring Tavolo Restaurant. Over $2000 in donations were collected through T-Shirt and raffle ticket sales to directly benefit The Greater Boston Food Bank.

Local celebrity judges included;
Annie Copps, Food Editor for Yankee magazine
Allison Arnett, former Food and Restaurant Critic at The Boston Globe
Gerra Harrigan, Specialty Coffee Association of America (SCAA) Certified Judge evaluated each performance, including barista knowledge, the taste of beverages served, cleanliness, creativity, technical skill and overall presentation demonstrated by the competitors.

And the winners are...
1st Prize - Alison Novak of Simon’s Coffee Shop in Cambridge
2nd Place - Cheena Marie Lo of Ula Café in Jamaica Plain
3rd Place - Sydnie Loboda of Flat Black

"Taste of Masa" Coming up, next Tuesday!

Here is a sneak peak to Chef Philip Aviles "Taste of Masa" menu for Next Week!!! A choice of 3 apps/ 3 entrees & 3 desserts.... looks amazing and we wouldn't expect anything less!

First Course (pick 3):
Calamari and Octopus Avocado
fire roasted red bell peppers, lemon, smoked salt

Sweet Tequila Poached Bosc Pear con Chicharrones
chile pasilla “porto” glaze, goat cheese

Spicy Tuna Tartare with Jalapeno Soy-Ginger Vinaigrette
organic field greens, avocado mash and crispy totopos

Braised Short Rib Fried Tamales
manchego crema, drunken tequila figs

Entrees (pick 3):
Fire Roasted Corn and Yucca Chimichanga
cilantro avocado chimichurri, salsa roja picante

Dia De Gracias Stuffed Local Filet of Sole
apricot mole, jamon Serrano, chorizo, hot cherry pepper salsa, grilled

Sweet Cinnamon Braised Beef Short Ribs
sauce sangria, sweet yam and corn puree, smoked paprika beet sauerkraut

Masa’s Slow Cooked Chicken Breast A La Cervenza
chile puya tortilla sauce, white bean sopes, marinated mushroom salsa

Desserts (pick 3):
Caramelized Banana Diavlo Bread Pudding
vanilla caramel sauce, burnt sugar ice cream

Pumpkin Cheesecake
cranberry, raisins, port wine salsa

Mexican Ibarra Chocolate Flan

Selection of Ice Cream or Sorbet

Cabot Thanks Local Farmers & Consumers

Did you know the ‘World’s Best Cheddar” is made right here in our own backyard? Cabot Creamery Cooperative and its 1,200 local farmers across New England and upstate New York have together won every major taste award for their cheddar cheese –including the prestigious World Cheese Awards. Now, those same farmers are opening their doors to thank the public during Open Farm Sunday, on November 1, 2009 from 11:00 am – 2:00 pm.

Visitors will experience the family traditions and local flavors that are Cabot Cheese when Cabot Creamery Cooperative farmers “open their barn doors” for Open Farm Sunday. Guests of all ages are invited to meet the farmers, see their cows, join in barnyard activities and of course sample Cabot Cheddar Cheese!

A list of Cabot Cooperative farms across Massachusetts, Vermont, Maine, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, and Connecticut are available here: www.cabotcheese.coop.

For those who can’t make it on November 1, Cabot Creamery Cooperative has created a virtual ‘Open Farm’ where the public can visit the some of Cabot family farmers online at www.OpenFarmSunday.com.

Get Ready for....

November 3rd....More to come!

Tomorrow @ Flat Black Coffee

Join Billy Costa tomorrow afternoon for the 1st Annual "Barista Throwdown." from 2-9pm at Flat Black Coffee Company, 1906 Dorchester Ave, in Dorchester. There will be a lounge next store at Tavolo, with live video, espresso demos, brew demos, fair trade and organic presentations. Admission is free, but a $10 donation to the Greater Boston Food Bank is suggested. There will be raffles, including 2 Celtics tickets!

Here is the line up;

2:00pm - 4:00pm
* Barista practice rounds – Free Lattes!

3:30pm – 5:00pm
Demos and Discussions
* Fair Trade / Transfair
* Baystate Organic Certifiers
* Flat Black Coffee Tasting – Free Coffee!
* Rancilio espresso machine demos
* Fetco brew machine demos
* Greater Boston Food Bank

5:00pm – 7:00pm
* First Round Barista Competition!
* Celebrity Judges
* Coffee Knowledge, Latte Art, Signature Drinks
* Lights, Cameras, Action! Live Streaming Video @ www.ustream.tv Event Lounge @ Tavolo’s

7:30pm – 9:00pm
* Final Round of Competition! Awards Ceremony @ Tavolo’s
* Sponsored by Vargas & Vargas Insurance

Contact Jeff for more information (617) 694-2284

It's Pie in the Sky Time

More than a fundraiser, Pie in the Sky fosters community spirit and engages the public in the mission of Community Servings -- Eastern Massachusetts' free home-delivered meals and nutrition program for the critically ill.

Each November since 1993, Boston's best restaurants, bakeries, caterers and hotels donate thousands of pies that over 350 volunteers then sell to family, friends and colleagues. Each pie costs $25, providing a week's worth of hearty home-delivered meals to a Community Servings' client and a tasty Thanksgiving treat to the buyer.

Here is How it works;

Step One
Over 150 Bakers throughout Greater Boston bake and donate thousands of apple, pecan, pumpkin and sweet potato pies. Over 350 Pie Sellers take orders from their family, friends and coworkers in the weeks before Thanksgiving. Buyers can also buy pies and make financial contributions to Community Servings by visiting pieinthesky.org

Step Two
75 volunteers gather at the Greater Boston Food Bank for our annual Box Party to label 13,000 pie boxes in just 3 hours. Groups of volunteers then head out to deliver bundles of pie boxes and pie tins to each of our 150 bakers.

Step Three
Volunteers pick up the donated pies from pie bakers across the Greater Boston area and deliver them to "Pie Central" -- the Park Plaza Castle in the Back Bay. It takes a lot of space and manpower to organize 10,000 pies!

Step Four
Pies are then shipped to over 45 public distribution points in Boston and the surrounding suburbs. Happy pie buyers retrieve their pies on the day before Thanksgiving at their preselected pick-up location.

Step Five
Pie Buyers enjoy their Thanksgiving celebrations. Thanks to their generosity, Community Servings' clients sit down to lovingly prepared home-style meals -- on Thanksgiving and every day.

Visit Pie in the Sky for more information

Mark your calenders for Oct. 30th

Join Billy Costa for a fantastic evening at the Home Sweet Home dessert tasting competition to benefit the Cambridge Housing Assistance Fund on October 30th at the Cambridge Hyatt Regency from 7:00 - 11:00 PM.

Dance to rockabiliy sounds of The Love Dogs and vote on the best desserts from some of the area's top dessert chefs including Burdick's Chocolate, Finale Desserterie, Zephyr on the Charles, Henrietta’s Table, L’Espalier, Tremont 647/Sister Sorel, Rosie’s Bakery, Hungry Mother, Toscannini’s, Kickass Cupcakes, the Cambridge School of Culinary Arts, Sandrine’s Bistro, Sweet Bakery & Dessert Bar, the Middle East, Christina's Ice Cream, Carberry's Bakery, and the Temple Bar.

October 30th
Cambridge Hyatt Regency
7:00 - 11:00 PM.
Dessert tasting and dancing Presidential tickets are $50
& VIP tickets including port tasting are $75.

Buy your tickets here

One Dollar on One day at Legal Sea Foods

"Taste of Gaslight" aftermath

first course...

...second course...

...dessert!!!


WHAT A GREAT NIGHT!

p.s. the communal tables at gaslight are great for hosting a get together with friends & family :)

"Taste of Gaslight" Tonight!

Here is a sneak peak to Chef Robins "Taste of Gaslight" menu for tonight!!! A choice of 3 apps/ 3 entrees & 3 desserts.... looks like we will be skipping lunch to save room for these 9 delicious tastes! YUM can't wait!

Apps- (pick 3)
Shaved Beet Root Salade
with Toasted Walnuts, Watercress, Red Onion, Dijon & Crème Fraiche

Steak Tartare
with Croutons and Aioli

Gaslight Salade
with Haricots Verts, Bacon Lardons and Roasted Onions

Tarbaise Bean Puree
with Marinated Olives and Flatbread

Fried Mussels a la Greque

Entrée-(pick 3)
Roasted Salmon Filet
with Garlic Braised Escarole and Lemon Confit

Steak Frites
with Bearnaise or Maitre D’Hotel Butter

Poelee Espagnol
with Pan Roasted Cod, Shellfish, Chorizo and Sauce a l’Amouricaine

Assiette au Thon
with Seared Rare Tuna, Caponata, Piperade and Warm Flatbread

Tagliatelle
with Roasted Radicchio, Bayonne Ham, Lemon Confit & Fondue Boucheron

Dessert-(pick 3)
Chocolate Beignets
with Crème Anglaise

Crème Caramel
with Almond Cookie

Apple and Caramel Cake
with Vanilla Ice Cream

Mousse au Chocolat
with Orange and Almond Tuile

Frangipan Tart
with Candied Hazelnuts and Cranberry, Lemon Compote

Dessert Showcase 2009!

On Saturday September 26th, The Long Wharf Marriott in Boston held the Annual Dessert Showcase! More than 1,200 individuals streamed in to nibble, sip, and savor the region's best in desserts, chocolate, and more. The main event featured dozens of pastry chefs, confectionaries, live demos and more. Door prizes and charity raffles included Dozens of restaurant offers, private tastings, Red Sox & Bruins tickets & Pair of tickets to the glamorous CTF Gala. An event for all ages. This one will be penciled in on the w2eat calenders for years to come.

Dining Awards are out... presented by STUFF

Best Italian-Food Trend; dante, restaurantdante.com

Best Brand Extension; Ten Tables, tentables.net

Hummer-to-Mini Smart Downscaling Award (tie); Bina Osteria, binaboston.com

Most Surreal Bathroom Experience; CLINK, libertyhotel.com

Best Gluten-Free Menu; Myers and Chang, myersandchang.com

Best Vegetarian/Vegan Fine Dining (tie); UpStairs on the Square, upstairsonthesquare.com

Best Salads for Salad Haters (three-way tie); Stephi's on Tremont, stephisontremont.com

Bistro Authentique Award; Petit Robert Bistro, petitrobertbistro.com

Most Overlooked Dinning Destination; Dorchester (ie. Ashmont Grill ashmontgrill.com/Tavalo tavolopizza.com)