12 Must-Eat June Dining Events around Boston

Chefs Jason Santos, Karen Akunowicz, and Will Gilson are part of the beloved Taste of the Nation event for No Kid Hungry. / Photo courtesy of Share Our Strength’s No Kid Hungry

Taste of the Nation for No Kid Hungry

There are delicious events aplenty this and every season, but there are many people who in greater Boston who do not have enough to eat. More than 270,000 children in Massachusetts struggle with hunger, but you can step up to help. All proceeds from this awesome annual food festival go to the local branch of No Kid Hungry, a campaign by Share Our Strength to eradicate childhood hunger. Contribute while also eating your way around more than 60 participating restaurants, like Fox & the Knife, Milk Bar, Tasting Counter, Coppa, Whaling in Oklahoma, the Table at Season to Taste, and more. Food Network and HGTV star and designer Taniya Nayak hosts the event, and there will be craft cocktails, desserts, and more.

$100, Tuesday, June 4, 7-9:30 p.m., Cruiseport Boston, 1 Black Falcon Ave., Seaport, Boston, nokidhungry.org.

Photo courtesy of Terra

Terra Grill Takeover Party

No plane tickets necessary for this Italian-inspired garden party. In the vine-draped, third-floor Terra, executive chef Dan Bazzinotti has invited some of the city’s best chefs: Tony Messina of Uni, Cassie Piuma of Sarma, Sam De Los Santos of Eataly Boston, and David Punch of Sycamore are creating their own cicchetti on the restaurant’s wood-fired grill. The lively scene supports No Kid Hungry, with $1 per ticket sold going back to the non-profit, as well as $1 from each special cocktail sold. It will be hosted by Boston magazine’s very own food editor, Scott Kearnan, and will feature a live DJ and even a dance floor. Tickets include food, one glass of wine, and entertainment, with a cash bar available.

$95, Terra Grill Takeover Party: An Italian Summer Night with Boston’s Best Chefs, Thursday, June 6, 7-11 p.m., Terra at Eataly Boston, Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston, 617-807-7307, eataly.com.

Reelhouse. / Photo by Brian Samuels

Oyster Shucking Dinner

An essential summertime skill? Knowing how to shuck an oyster. Let chef Marc Orfaly teach you at his East Boston restaurant, ReelHouse, during this month’s oyster shucking series in partnership with Island Creek Oysters. This month features West Coast oysters. Tickets include a shucking lesson, plus two oysters on the half-shell, four oysters Rockefeller, and a Pernod and braised leek oyster roast with toasted brioche, as well as a white wine pairing.

$60, Tuesday, June 11, 6-8 p.m., ReelHouse, 6 New Street, East Boston, 617-227-4320, reelhouseboston.com, tickets.

The Whim dinner series takes over Wednesday nights at Smolak Farms. / Photo by Sarah Jordan

Smolak Farms’ “Whim” Dinner Series

Get out of the city for a meal under the stars. North Andover’s Smolak Farms brings back its Whim dinner series for the ninth season, every Wednesday evening this summer beginning June 12. New England’s best chefs—starting with the toques of JK Food Group’s Toro, Coppa, and Little Donkey—take it outside to a rustic setting under a tent, to prepare a multi-course meal using farm-fresh produce. Paired wines, beer, and non-alcoholic beverages are available for an additional cost. The series continues through August 28, with appearances by chef Will Gilson (Puritan & Co.), Ned Grieg (Woodman’s of Essex), Tyler Kinnett (Harvest), Daniel Gursha (Ledger), and more. Check out the full lineup here.

$85, Whim Dinner with JK Food Group, Wednesday, June 12, 6-8 p.m., Smolak Farms, 315 South Bradford St., North Andover, 978-682-6332, smolakfarms.com.

Attention, hop heads: Bissell Brothers from Portland, Maine, are popping up at the Trillium Garden. / Photo by Gene Buonaccorsi / Trillium Brewing Company

Bissell Brothers Tap Takeover at Trillium Garden

Better get in line now, beer fans. Portland, Maine favorites Bissell Brothers are popping up in Boston for one day only, bringing a half-dozen beers down to the Trillium Garden on the Greenway for a classic tap takeover. Get ready for the Substance, Bissell’s flagship IPA; the double IPA Nothing Gold, Precept German-style Pilsner, and more. It’s free to attend, and beers are pay-as-you-go.

Friday, June 14, 2-10 p.m., Trillium Garden on the Greenway, Atlantic Avenue and High Street, Boston, Facebook.

Photo courtesy of the Wakefield Estate

Dogwood Beer Garden

Milton’s historic Wakefield Estate is celebrating its annual dogwood bloom this year with a pop-up beer garden by Turtle Swamp. Beer on draft from the Jamaica Plain brewery will pair with grilled bratwurst, live music by a local blues-rock outfit, Electric Standard; kids’ activities, farm animals to visit, garden games, and more—all in the midst of the property’s 300 iconic dogwood trees. Tickets are required in advance, and include your first beer, plus a raffle ticket to win a pint glass and a $25 gift card to the brewery. All proceeds support the estate’s outdoor environmental education programs, and kids can attend for free.

$20, Saturday, June 15, 1-4 p.m., Wakefield Estate, 1465 Brush Hill Rd., Milton, 617-333-0924 x22, wakefieldtrust.org, Facebook.

Jared Forman of Simjang and Deadhorse Hill is cooking in Boston one night this month. / Photo by Stephen Phillips

Meat and Three: Jared Forman

Whaling in Oklahoma’s biweekly open-flame barbecue series continues this month with Portland chef Chris Gould of Central Provisions on Monday, June 3, and Worcester’s own Jared Forman on June 17. The chef-owner of Central Mass. hotspots Deadhorse Hill and Simjang, Forman will bring different flavors to the South End this month: He’s exploring Southern Italy for his Meat and Three menu. Tickets include a grilled protein plus three sides; snacks, desserts, and beverages are available for an additional cost.

$30, Meat and Three with Jared Forman, Monday, June 17, 6-9 p.m., Whaling In Oklahoma, 647 Tremont St., Boston, 617-266-4600, whalinginoklahoma.com, tickets.

Photo courtesy of Puritan & Co.

Fifth Annual Rosé Rumble

Nothing basic about this pink wine lineup: The pros at Puritan & Co. are curating the best rosés from around the world. Learn about the juice with tastings and discussion, and pair it with unlimited bites by chef Will Gilson. There are two, separately ticketed sessions, and everything is included in the ticket price.

$80, Wednesday, June 19, 6-8 p.m. or 8-10 p.m., Puritan & Company, 1166 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge, 617-615-6195, puritancambridge.com, tickets.

Two dozen chefs team up for the ChefsFeed Indie Week dinner series this month at Pagu. / Photo by Kate Thompson

ChefsFeed Indie Week: Boston Dinner

ChefsFeed, an online platform for culinary inspiration, is taking its show on the road with its first-ever stop in Greater Boston. The traveling dinner series, called Indie Week, brings together 24 talented chefs for an epic, 12-course dinner, and it’s taking over Pagu for three nights this month. Alongside local talent like Peter McKenzie (Haley.Henry Wine Bar), Jamie Bissonnette (JK Food Group), Rebecca Arnold (Whole Heart Provisions), and more, national-known toques including Brandon Rosen (Top Chef Season 16) are collaborating on 12 dishes inspired by Boston and responsible sourcing. Tickets include the full feast, taxes, and gratuity, as well as wine pairings. Check out the full lineup of chefs for the Thursday, Friday, and Sunday dinners here.

CFIW Boston, Thursday, June 20 and Friday, June 21, 6:30 p.m., Sunday, June 23, 6 p.m., Pagu, 310 Massachusetts Ave., Cambridge, chefsfeedindieweek.com.

Melissa Stefanini and Sebastian Galvez of Buenas are celebrating one year of their Bow Market store with a very special party. / Photo by Ella Rinaldo

A Buenas Wedding

Bells are ringing at Bow Market—and you’re invited. To celebrate the first year of their Maxi Kiosko at Bow Market, the couple behind Buenas Latin Foods—Miami natives Melissa Stefanini and Sebastian Galvez—is throwing a very special party. Bow Market vendors and other culinary friends are making the menu; expect all-you-can-eat bites from chef Louis DiBiccari of the forthcoming Create Gallery and Bar, and Rachel Miller of the Nightshade pop-up, plus wines selected by Lauren Friel of Rebel Rebel, and an exclusive Parlor Ice Cream Co. flavor made just for Buenas—and there will be flan. Upstairs in the Canopy Room, Chickadee bartender Jay Cool is mixing up Miami-themed cocktails. Florida producer Millionyoung will do a set in the courtyard, and Vinyl Index’s DJ 7L is spinning tunes, too. Plus, love is in the air: Witness a real-live wedding ceremony officiated by Rick Jenkins of the Comedy Studio. Yes, really. Congratulations to the Buenas lovebirds!

$60, THE EVENT: A Buenas wedding to celebrate one year at Bow Market!, Friday, June 21, 5-10 p.m., Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, tickets.

The Boston Pickle Fair returns with a bunch of briny goodness. / Photo by Melissa Ostrow

The Boston Pickle Fair

This next event is kind of a big dill. The third annual Boston Pickle Fair returns to the Seaport in celebration of all things briny. More than 20 local and national vendors will be there with samples, including Grillo’s Pickles, Mamaleh’s, Maitland Mountain Farm, and more. There will be pickly products like fried pickles, pickle ice cream, and even a beer: Down the Road Beer Co. is bringing back its Grillo’s collaboration, Sam-Sam the Pickle Man sour ale, as part of the 21+ beer garden during the festival. There will be country fair-style games and more family-friendly activities, plus live music, and new this year: an indoor “pickle lounge.” The home-pickling contest returns during the morning session. Tickets include entry, pickle samples, access to the beer garden and pickle lounge, and live entertainment. Additional food, beverages, and pickle products are available for purchase.

$20, Saturday, June 22, 10:30 a.m.-1:30 p.m. or 2:30-5:30 p.m., Innovation & Design Building, 21-23-25 Drydock Ave., Seaport, Boston, bostonpicklefair.com, tickets.

Chef Lucho Martinez Burelo of Mexico City’s Emilia restaurant has is cooking two guest dinners in Boston this month. / Photo courtesy of the JK Food Group

Emilia Pop-Ups

A taste of Mexico City is coming to Boston. Chef Lucho Martinez Burelo, the chef-owner of acclaimed Mexico City restaurant Emilia, is cooking at both Uni and Toro this month. On Wednesday, June 26, he’s preparing an exclusive, 10-course meal to be served in Uni’s intimate lower sushi bar. The $140 tasting menu will feature dishes like shima aji and hamachi sashimi with fermented crimini mushrooms and ponzu juice; uni toast with black beans and pico de gallo; miso corn soup; and more, with an optional $55 wine pairing add-on. On Thursday, June 27, it’s a more casual, tapas-style experience at Toro, where Martinez Burelo is serving up signature dishes like uni toast, glazed oyster rice, black cod with black garlic, and more alongside the regular Toro menu. No reservations accepted at Toro, even for this special night of a la carte service. Limited reservations for his Uni menu are available throughout the night; to reserve your seat, email info@uni-boston.com.

Emilia x Uni, Wednesday, June 26, 5:30-10 p.m., Uni, 370A Commonwealth Ave., Boston, 617-536-7200, uni-boston.com, jkfoodgroup.com.

Emilia x Toro, Thursday, June 27, 5-10 p.m., Toro, 1704 Washington St., Boston, 617-536-4300, toro-restaurant.com, jkfoodgroup.com.