Baby it's [Still] Cold Outisde!

To ward off the dreary, cold weather and celebrate the fact that it's "National Clam Chowder Day", I suggest that you put on your comfy clothes, bundle up and head out into this endless rain and treat yourself to a great steamy cup of chowder.

New England clam chowder is typically made with potatoes, onion, bacon, flour and clams. And, while we all inherently know that adding tomatoes to clam chowder is strictly forbidden, a seldom known fact is that in Maine introduced a bill to legislature in 1939 bill making tomatoes in clam chowder illegal!

Here are some of the places we think do it best:
Barking Crab
http://www.tiny.cc/barkcrab

Legal Seafood
http://www.tiny.cc/legsea

Rose Wharf Sea Grille
http://www.tiny.cc/RWSG

Calling all Pancake Lovers!

Tomorrow, Tuesday February 23rd is National Pancake Day! Pancake Day, historically known as Shrove Tuesday is the last day before Lent and always falls 47 days before Easter. How did Shrove Tuesday and Pancake Day come to be related you may ask... many people take the opportunity to indulge themselves on foods forbidden during Lent on Shrove Tuesday i.e., pancakes, because they contain fat, butter and eggs!

So whether or not you practice Lent, you deserve to indugle yourself tomorrow! Because we know IHOP just won't cut it, here are some mouth watering pancake options for you here in Boston:



Taj serving 6:30am - 11:30am
http://tinyurl.com/tajcafe

Henrietta's Table serving 6:30am - 11:00am
http://tinyurl.com/henritab

Jer-Ne serving 6:30 - 11:30
http://tinyurl.com/jernepancakes

Panificio serving 8:00am - 11:00am
http://tinyurl.com/panificio

Plaza III closes its doors & Anthem's open Spring 10'

As Plaza III says good bye to its 13 year residence in Faneuil Hall, The Briar Group plans to resurrect a new version of Anthem. The new Anthem plans to open in May with a menu that includes more sandwiches, flatbread pizzas and lots of New England flavors, with entrees in the mid- to high-$20s. The space, which can accommodate several hundred diners on two levels, will sport an urban look and a warmer greenhouse space.

Lyons eatery on Boylston, Christopher Coombs new restaurant Deuxave. & Six Burner

According to the Herald, Patrick Lyons plans to convert the shuttered Vinny T’s of Boston on Boylston Street into the Back Bay Social Club... Can't wait to see what the Restaurant & nightclub king has in store for us!

dbar Executive chef Christopher Coombs will open Deuxave in the Back Bay this Summer catering to the Back Bay Neighborhood & serving afforadable fair.... we are hoping similar fare to what he is currently serving up on Dot Ave. but whatever road he goes we are sure it will be good.

and walking by the mall the other day, we noticed that Firefly is now Six Burner. Hum... when did that happen? Still under the same ownership, Six Burner serves up comfort food at modest prices.

There is a "Situation" in Harvard Square

Please tell us this is a limited special??? Though it sounds all too appetizing, Bartley's has crowned a new burger "The Situation" after a cast member from MTV's Jersey Shore...!

The Situation burger:

a burger with hot cherry peppers and chili served with fries.

Building Healthier Lives with Dinnerfest

On Sunday, February 28th stock up on restaurant gift certificates and dining packages in the name of charity at the Boston Living Center's annual DinnerFest fundraiser at Vlora Restaurant.

Bid on one or more of Boston's most popular restaurants for a fun evening out with your friends. All proceeds from Dinnerfest will support the Boston Living Center's comprehensive nutrition, education and wellness programs for people living with HIV/AIDS.

For the second year in a row, Celebrity host Billy Costa from NECN's TV Diner will auction off an opportunity for two to appear on "Diner for a Day" as a restaurant reviewer. Have your 15 minutes of fame!

Restaurants that have donated multi-course dinners include 28 Degrees ~ Abby Park ~ Antico Forno ~ Avila Restaurant ~ Bistro 5 ~ Blue Ginger ~ Brasserie JO ~ Clink ~Club Cafe ~ Flash's Cocktails ~ Flora ~ Gaslight Brasserie du Coin ~ Ginger Park ~ Golden Temple ~ Grill 23~ Harvest ~ Kouzina ~ La Morra ~ Laurel Grill & Bar ~ Maggiano's ~ Mike and Patty's ~ Mistral ~ Mooo ~Morton's The Steakhouse ~ Myers & Chang ~ No. 9 Park ~ o ya ~ Parker's Restaurant at Omni Parker House~ Picco ~ Post 390 ~ Rendezvous in Central Square ~ Sanctuary Tapas ~ South End Buttery ~ Stanhope Grille~ Stephanie's on Newbury ~ Stephi's on Tremont ~ Teatro ~ Terrace Restaurant at Suffolk Downs ~ Terramia Ristorante ~Tremont 647 ~ The Bristol Lounge ~ The Fireplace ~ Turner Fisheries ~ Union Bar & Grille

Tickets for the festivities, which include hors d'oeuvres and a cash bar, cost $20 apiece. Pick up your tickets online or by calling 617.236.1012.

Swine and Wine at COCHON 555

Back from a long break...W2E just heard COCHON555 will be retuning to Boston on Sunday March 28th! Yes, it is over 1 month away but this event is one of the coolest, most original competition Boston has seen since, well I don't know what, but trust us its not your average food and wine snore feast.

Local chefs this year include:

TONY MAWS – Craigie on Main
JAMIE BISSONETTE – Toro
MATTHEW JENNINGS – Farmstead
BARRY MAIDEN – Hungry Mother
JOSEPH MARGATE - Clink

Find out more at COCHON555 and see if current "Prince of Pork" Farmstead's Matt Jennings will be able to keep his crown on March 28th.