12 Must-Eat Dining Events Happening in Boston in August

A boozy float made with Tillamook ice cream is on the Canopy Room menu during Melty Fest.

August 2-9

Melty Fest: Tillamook Menu Takeover at Bow Market

We’re quite partial to New England cheese, but there are some fine makers and mongers on the West Coast, too. Among them? The farmer-owners of Tillamook, a dairy cooperative based in Oregon. Tillamook is expanding eastward, and to celebrate its Boston launch, it’s sponsoring a week-long Melty Fest at Bow Market. Dairy-laden collaborations featuring Tillamook cheese and ice cream abound on menus throughout the quirky food hall: Think steak and cheese empanadas at Buenas, an old-fashioned vanilla affogato at Remnant Brewing, cheese pizza at Hot Box, banana split macaron ice cream sandwiches at Maca, and a boozy ice cream float at the Canopy Room. The menu items will be available through August 9, while Tillamook will also be in the house on Saturday, August 3, from noon-5 p.m. with samples.

Melty Fest, August 2-9, various times, Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, Facebook.

Forage cook Jean Melbourne is cooking up cuisine from his native Jamaica for a wine dinner this month. / Photo courtesy of Forage

August 6

Jamaican Dinner at Forage

Every Tuesday night, Cambridge restaurant Forage puts together whimsical wine pairings around a theme, with four-plus-course menus for both omnivores and vegetarians. Coming up this month are a few cool dinners, including a very special Jamaican dinner led by Forage line cook Jean Melbourne. “This dinner is an opportunity to give a voice and more creative freedom to our staff,” Forage owner Stan Hilbert says. Melbourne, who originally hails from Jamaica, is preparing dishes like a spicy white bean-coconut soup starter, jerk chicken or eggplant with rice and peas, a spiced dessert bun with rhum raisin ice cream, and more. Later this month at Forage, there’s a lobster dinner on August 13; and dinner with Satellites Imports, a small-scale wine importing company Hilbert started with his brother who lives in France (Aug. 20); and a rosé dinner to close out the summer on August 27. Tuesday night wine dinners are $65 and include four wines.

$65, Jamaican Dinner, Tuesday, August 6, Forage, 5 Craigie Circle, Cambridge, 617-576-5444, foragecambridge.com.

Onigiri and more is on the menu at Tanuki Taiyaki’s Tuesday night pop-up series at Buenas. / Photo courtesy of Rebekah Powers

Tanuki Tuesdays

On nights that the Buenas Maxi Kiosko at Bow Market is typically closed, Buenas owners Melissa Stefanini and Sebastian Galvez open up their tiny kitchen to friends in the industry. For the foreseeable future, that friend is Rebekah Powers, a Barbara Lynch Gruppo alum and the creator of Tanuki, a Japanese snack shack that popped up in Provincetown last summer. Beginning August 6, Tanuki Tuesdays are a twice-a-month occurrence at Buenas, where the two small and funky brands will collaborate on snacks like onigiri (stuffed rice balls, pictured) with quail egg and Buenas’ pebre sauce, binchotan-grilled chicken thighs, empanadas inspired by Japanese flavors, matcha cream puffs, iced green tea, and more. Tickets aren’t required, but to guarantee availability,  fans are encouraged to buy a $25 spot ahead of time which will include a bento box of snacks and sweets. Otherwise, snacks are available a la carte each Tanuki Tuesday until sellout.

Tanuki Tuesdays kickoff, August 6, 6-9 p.m., Buenas Maxi Kiosko, Bow Market, 1 Bow Market Way, Somerville, Eventbrite.

August 7

SRV Cicchetti Takeover: Buttonwood Chef Franciso Millan

Haven’t made it to Newton Highlands yet to taste why Buttonwood is Best of Boston-worthy? You should get on that. But in the meantime, Buttonwood is coming to you this month, Boston—with free snacks. The latest SRV cicchetti bar takeover features Buttonwood chef Francisco Millan, who is bringing a taste of his rustic menu, such as mussels escabeche toast with saffron aioli; a cloumage cheese dish with tomato, watermelon, and black olive; and more. Come for the gratis Buttonwood snacks, stay for the aperitivi and equally Best of Boston-worthy Italian food.

Wednesday, August 7, 5:30-7:30 p.m., SRV, 569 Columbus Ave., South End, Boston, 617-536-9500, srvboston.com.

The patio at dbar becomes a rosé garden oasis this months. / Photo courtesy of dbar

Rosé Garden Party at dbar

Before summertime winds down, head out to the dbar patio for this annual celebration. Expect live music, passed appetizers, and pours from more than a dozen different bottles of rosé, with wine reps on site to guide this pretty-in-pink tasting. Tickets include all food and wine pairings.

$55, Wednesday August 7, 7 p.m., dbar, 1236 Dorchester Ave., Dorchester, 617-265-4490, dbarboston.com.

(L to R) Andrew Taylor and Ryan Mallinson of Eventide Fenway are taking over the kitchen at Fool’s Errand / Photo courtesy of Eventide Fenway

August 13

Fool’s Errand Chef Takeovers: Eventide + Elle Simone

We know. Now that Eventide’s world-famous brown butter lobster rolls are in the Fenway, it can be hard to head anywhere else. But what if Eventide’s James Beard Award-winning chef Andrew Taylor was cooking at one of the neighborhood’s hottest new bars? That’s a reality on August 13, when Taylor and Eventide Fenway chef Ryan Mallinson take over the kitchen at Fool’s Errand for the night. Stay tuned for menu details—and for menu details about the August 27 takeover with talented America’s Test Kitchen food stylist Elle Simone. For every chef takeover at Fool’s Errand, exclusive menu items are available a la carte all night long.

Chef Takeover with Eventide, Tuesday, August 13, 5-11 p.m., Fool’s Errand, 1377 Boylston St., Boston, foolserrandboston.com.

The Top 20 finalists are ready to sizzle at Battle of the Burger 2019. / Photo courtesy of Boston Magazine Events

August 14

Battle of the Burger

When top restaurants turn out for the Battle of the Burger, you win. Boston magazine’s 8th annual cookout cook-off features tip-top patties from 20 fan-voted favorites, including Wheelhouse, Lincoln Tavern, Pauli’s, Boston Burger Company, Wahlburgers, and more. Taste through the competition while enjoying the sounds of the Hot Mess Band and DJ Ryan Brown. There will be bites beyond burgers (save room for dessert) and plenty to drink, too—and the whole night is hosted by chef Tiffani Faison, Boston magazine food editor Scott Kearnan, and radio personality Jason Rossi of WAAF and WEEI. Check out the full lineup of burger battlers, and get your tickets to the party of the summer.

$59.25-$129, Wednesday, August 14, 7-10 p.m. (6 p.m. VIP), Flynn Cruiseport, 1 Black Falcon Ave., Seaport, Boston, bostonmagazine.com.

San Francisco pop-up Pinoy Heritage is bringing this lamb empanada and more Filipino fare to Cambridge this month. / Photo courtesy of Bambara Kitchen & Bar

August 16

Pinoy Heritage: A Western Pacific-Eastern Atlantic Pop-Up

An award-winning San Francisco pop-up is bringing the flavors of Filipino cuisine to Bambara Kitchen & Bar. Chef Francis Ang is a Food & Wine award-winning pastry chef who worked with Bambara chef David “Baz” Bazirgan on the West Coast. Now, with his wife, Dian, and chef-partner Danica Aviles, Ang operates Pinoy Heritage, a pop-up shop which endeavors to show the evolution and diversity of Filipino cuisine through the lens of California produce. “Coming back from a devastating typhoon in the Philippines, chef Baz encouraged us to organize a fundraiser for those impacted by the typhoon,” says Ang, who calls Bazirgan a mentor. “We created an all-Filipino menu that turned into a huge success. It opened our eyes about the possibility of cooking our own food. Here we are in year three, and hoping to open a restaurant soon.” In Cambridge, their four-course, family-style menu will feature their National Lamb Jam-winning dish of lamb empanadas; roast suckling pig with sisig fried rice and summer bean adobo; and more. Tickets also include a cocktail reception with passed appetizers; wine pairings and other cocktails will be available for an additional cost. There will be two seatings for this family-reunion feast: one on Friday night, and one on Saturday.

$60, West Meets East, Friday, August 16 and Saturday, August 17, 7 p.m., Bambara Kitchen & Bar, 617-868-4444, 25 Edwin Land Blvd. (at the Kimpton Marlowe Hotel), Cambridge, bambara-cambridge.com, Eventbrite.

Scenes from the 2018 Fermentation Festival. / Photo courtesy of Boston Public Market

Boston Fermentation Festival

Tempeh, kombucha, sauerkraut, pickles, kimchi, beer—it all starts with something funky. The seventh annual free celebration of all things sour returns to the Boston Public Market, with more than two dozen exhibitors sampling and selling fermented food and drinks. There will also be a “kraut mob” sauerkraut-making demonstration, a libations lounge, and a full schedule of speakers including local chefs, clinicians, and more fermentation experts. Check out the full schedule of activities—the event is free and open to the public.

Sunday, August 18, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., Boston Public Market, 100 Hanover St., Boston, bostonferments.com.

Rise for RAICES Block Party

Eat sweet treats, drink beer outside, and raise money to help seek justice for the families detained at the border. That’s the agenda for this block party at Lamplighter Brewing Co., which is hosting a sidewalk beer garden, a bake sale with some of the coolest bakeries around (Flour, Vinal, Breadboard, Blackbird Donuts, Mamaleh’s, Sofra, Gracenote, and more), and an ice cream party with treats from Gracie’s, Honeycomb, and La Colombe Coffee. The afternoon extravaganza will also feature a raffle with prices ranging from Coolidge Corner Theatre movie tickets, to gift cards from local restaurants like Oleana, Forge Bakery, Hojoko, Rebel Rebel and many more, a CSA share from Family Dinner, Red Sox tickets, art by local Laurel Greenfield, and so much more. Sounds like an incredible day, for an incredibly important cause. All funds raised will be donated to the Texas-based non-profit Refugee and Immigrant Center for Education and Legal Services.

Sunday, August 18, 2:30-8:30 p.m., Lamplighter Brewing Co., 284 Broadway, Cambridge, Facebook.

Chef Jason Santos photo provided / Chef Jason Santos photo provided

August 27

Patio Pig Roast with Chef Jason Santos

For its first summer season in Allston, the cool patio at Casa Caña is hosting a series of guest chef-led pig roasts—and this month’s is Jason Santos of Buttermilk & Bourbon, Citrus & Salt, and Abby Lane. (Previously announced guest chef Cassie Piuma had to pull out of the event.) The blue-haired celebrity chef’s style will imbue the all-you-can-eat menu, and the Latin-leaning bar will be making cocktails all night long. Tickets include food, live music, and entry into a raffle—and 100% of proceeds go back to childhood hunger-fighting non-profit No Kid Hungry.

$25, Tuesday, August 27, 6-8 p.m., Casa Caña, 1234 Soldiers Field Road, Allston, 617-415-5402, casacanaboston.com, Eventbrite.

Julia Child-inspired hors d’oeuvres from a past tribute dinner at Puritan & Co. / Photo courtesy of Puritan & Co.

August 29

Julia Child Dinner at Puritan & Co.

For the sixth annual dinner in tribute to the most influential home cook of all time, a star-studded lineup of pros is teaming up on a feast inspired by Julia Child’s classic recipes. Chef Will Gilson and his Puritan & Co. team will welcome Jamie Bissonnette (Toro, Coppa, Little Donkey), John daSilva (Chickadee), Michael Serpa (Select Oyster Bar), Peter McKenzie (Nathálie, Haley.Henry Wine Bar), Kelcey Rusch (Spoke), and Brian Mercury (who just left Oak + Rowan to help Gilson launch his next Cambridge project). Tickets include all food and carafes of wine on the communal tables. Secure yours now, then stream episodes of The French Chef to get psyched for this annual celebration. Bon appetit!

$110, Thursday, August 29, 6-9 p.m., Puritan & Company, 1166 Cambridge St., Inman Square, Cambridge, 617-615-6195, puritancambridge.com, Tickets.