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)  Continuing the monthly A Taste of Italy tour, A Tavola has unveiled the September region: Tuscany. From September 5-29, 5pm-10pm, Chef Vittorio Ettore will take guests on an educational and culinary tour through this region of Italy which also happens to be his hometown. He will explain his techniques and inspirations throughout the meal, giving his guests not just a taste of Tuscany, but also a complete culinary experience of his past.

"Vittorio was born in Tuscany to an Italian father and Venezuelan mother, and for the beginning of his life he grew up in Tuscany on a modest sized yet sustainable farm where rabbits, goats, chickens, and pigs grazed the land alongside small crops of items like fava beans, peas, tomatoes, herbs, peaches, apples, and figs. It was the way that his father had been raised, s3 he was eager to instill this same tradition in Vittorio and his siblings. The family was far ahead of their time, or perhaps we are just returning to basics now, in terms of farm raised and preservation. For instance, they fed their baby pig and raised him until September and October when they would then kill the pig and make their own charceuterie of salumi, prosciutto, pancetta, and capicola. They also preserved their produce, such as tomatoes. This heavily inspired Vittorio’s cooking style, and A Tavola’s September menu showcases these roots while incorporating his local produce."

"Simplicity is central to the Tuscan cuisine, and this will be exemplified through Vittorio’s menu. He will bring guests back to square one and back to his roots, with classic, rustic Tuscan food. His upbringing of sustainable farming, preservation, and sourcing locally has heavily inspired the menu, which consists of:"

Gnudi
Lobster, Corn and Homemade Ricotta Dumpling with Wright-Locke Farm Heirloom Tomatoes
2010 Castello di Montauto, Vernaccia di San Gimignano Toscana
Anatra in Porchetta
Boneless Whole Roasted Duck with Prosciutto, Sage and Kimball Farm Peach “Mostarda”
2008 Tenuta di Castiglioni, Tuscan Blend
Ficattola
Fresh Baked Black Mission Figs, Pastry Crust and Zabaione Gelato
2005 Frescobaldi ‘Pomino’ Vin Santo

The pre fixe Tuscany menu is $45 per person, with optional wine pairing for an additional $20.
Reservations are welcome by calling 781-729-1040

2)  Chef/Owner Joe Cassinelli is introducing an extensive new section of Antipasti on the Pizzeria Posto dinner menu. Starting on Friday, September 7 guests can now enjoy a larger selection of antipasti, over 20 different choices. The new items are meant to encourage sharing and sampling for parties of any size that want to experience various dishes and flavors at a reasonable price ($3-$9).

Beloved classics, such as Nonna’s meatballs) and Lemon Arancini (one of my personal favorites), you will find new additions such as Fried Green Tomatoes, Polenta Fries, Lasagnette, and Grilled Octopus Salad. For those who are a bit more adventurous and want to push the boundaries of their taste buds, items like Beef Tongue Pastrami Bruschetta and Trippa all’Amatriciana are other options. And be sure to order the Rosemary Sea Salt Bread.

If you have not been to Pizzeria Posto yet, this is the perfect time to check it out. It receives my highest recommendation.

3) On Saturday, September 22, Seaport Hotel celebrates the start of the autumn season with a one day only Pig Roast and special BBQ menu. Chef Robert Tobin will be roasting a pig on TAMO Terrace and serving up a menu full of fall favorites.

Menu items include:
Pork Sandwich
“Roll your own” Taco Bento Box
Braised Pork Cheeks
Roasted Pork Platter

All menu items will include potato salad, cole slaw and an array of sauces (including chimichurri, KC style BBQ, Carolina Style BBQ, sweet chili, spicy plum, buffalo and mole).

TAMO bar and Terrace will serve lunch and dinner while Aura restaurant will serve dinner only.

4) Amidst a week dedicated to fashion The Beehive, located in Boston’s South End, flips the script as they host Undressed: Fashion Burlesque at 8pm on Wednesday, October 3, in partnership with Boston Fashion Week and Moët & Chandon.

As part of Boston Fashion Week’s Fashion Trail, The Beehive and Boston Fashion Week invite guests to take a break from watching clothes on the runway, and instead watch them being taken off at this sultry burlesque performance. From 8pm-12am, one of New York City’s busiest burlesque performers Calamity Chang, also known as “The Asian Sexsation,” will be joined by the tango and flamenco inspired Medianoche and quintessential pin-up queen Bettina May for “Undressed” a mid-week fashion break which will prove that even during fashion week, you don’t have to be dressed to impress.

While the girls will take the stage at 8pm, guests are encouraged to make it “dinner and a show” as Executive Chef Rebecca Newell serves her eclectic fare from The Beehive’s menu from 5pm-12am. All evening show-goers can sip on bubbly from sponsor Moët & Chandon, and toast to fashion week with a special Moët & Chandon cocktail.

No cover charge, cash bar. To make reservations for dinner and a show, please call (617) 423-0069