Nine Must-Eat January Dining Events in Boston
From deeply discounted wines from the Troquet cellar, to a Rialto redux.
A deeply discounted “Wine Table” is ready for perusal at Troquet on South. / Photo provided
Wine Table at Troquet on South
The Leather District wine bar is cleaning out its cellar to begin 2019, and oenophiles reap the benefits with bargains. Throughout the month of January, owner-sommelier Chris Campbell will cull his Wine Spectator-awarded cellar for bottles with damaged labels, say, or the last bottle of a particular case, to add new selections to the Wine Table every day. So fair, discounted bottles have included 1996 Dehlinger Pinot Noir from Octagon Vineyard for $30, originally listed for $99; a $40 bottle of 1967 Chateau Talbot St. Julien, a full $100 of its original list price; and a 1970s Chateau La Mission Haut Brion of unknown vintage for $125. The deal must be enjoyed in the Troquet dining room, and reservations are welcome.
107 South St., Boston, 617-695-9463, troquetboston.com.
Chef Michael Scelfo is opening Longfellow Bar. / Photograph by Toan Trinh / Styling by Laura Dillon for Best of Boston 2017
Cicchetti Takeover with Michael Scelfo
Chef Michael Scelfo is getting ready to open Longfellow Bar in Harvard Square, where he’ll serve inventive finger foods and geeky cocktails. Bostonians can get an early taste of the new snacks—gratis—at SRV’s first Cicchetti Takeover of 2019. The menu of free snacks will include cotechino (an Italian sausage) “pigs n blankets” with black truffle honey and Dijonaise; chicken-fried sweetbreads with taramasalata ranch dressing; and more.
Wednesday, Jan 9, 5:30-7:30 p.m., SRV, 569 Columbus Ave., Boston, 617-536-9500, srvboston.com, Facebook.
Koji at Commonwealth
OurCookQuest and Commonwealth chef de cuisine Nicco Murature are hosting another educational seminar on the Japanese culinary staple. Koji is used in a variety of ways at Commonwealth, including to marinate its fried chicken thighs. “It makes them more tender, and increases the umami factor in a number of dishes,” Murature says. The day-long lesson will expound on its versatility—and include a koji-inspired lunch.
$120, Saturday, Jan. 12, 10:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m., Commonwealth Market & Restaurant, 11 Broad Canal Way, Kendall Square, Cambridge, Eventbrite.
Deep Cuts Deli’s “Big Trouble in Little Boston” – Roast Beef, Asian Slaw, Kewpie Mayo, Pepper Brioche Bun / Photo provided
Deep Cuts Deli Pop-Up at Lamplighter Brewing Co.
With Deep Cuts Deli, local music promoter and restaurant industry vet Ian McGregor envisions “a wholesome deli” by day, and “an artists’ sanctuary” by night showcasing bands, movies, and visual art. Catch the forthcoming deli’s latest pop-up this month as part of Lamplighter Brewery’s robust calendar of culinary events. Deep Cuts is bringing beer cheese dip and two sandwiches to Cambridge: Big Trouble in Little Boston, a pepper brioche bun loaded with roast beef, kimchi slaw, and kewpie; and the Banzo, a vegan garbanzo meatball sub with marinara.
Friday, January 18, 6-9 p.m., Lamplighter Brewing Co., 284 Broadway, Cambridge, Facebook.
Brewed for a Cause
A few local breweries are teaming up in Concord to support area veterans affected by homelessness. In conjunction with the nationwide Black Ale Project, Saltbox Kitchen’s on-site brewery, Wormtown Brewery of Worcester, Everett’s Bone Up Brewing, and Lexington’s Moon Hill Brewing will pair various beers with a five-course winter menu by Saltbox chef Ben Elliot.
$115, Saturday, Jan. 19, 6-9 p.m., Saltbox Kitchen, 84 Commonwealth Ave., Concord, 978-610-6020, saltboxkitchen.com, Tickets.
Photo provided by Eataly Boston
Eataly Boston’s Winter Wine & Cheese Fest
The Back Bay’s Italian food emporium is bringing back this cozy, cheesy tasting event this month (among other wine-and-cheese events). A $60 ticket includes tastes of more than 15 cheeses and salumi and dozens of wines from Italy and New England. The stations are set up all around the store, and hosted by industry experts ready to drop knowledge on the artisanal offerings.
$60, Wednesday, January 23, 6-8 p.m. OR 7-9 p.m., Prudential Center, 800 Boylston St., Boston, Tickets.
Taste of Eastie
East Boston’s largest charity dining event returns for its 23rd year in support of East Boston Main Streets. It’s a one-night chance to try all of the vibrant culinary neighborhood’s best bites, from dozens of local Italian, Latin, Asian, and American restaurants. Tickets include all food and live entertainment. The night also features a raffle and a wine pull, plus a cash bar for wine and beer.
Thursday, Jan. 24, 6-9 p.m., Hilton Boston Logan Airport, 1 Hotel Dr., East Boston, Eventbrite.
The Aussie burger, and the full Australia Day menu at KO Pies at the Shipyard. / Photos provided / Photos provided
Australia Day at KO Pies
Chef Sam Jackson is currently on holiday until January 9 and has yet to announce a date for his Down Undah pie shop’s annual celebration of Australia Day. But with the January 26 holiday landing on a Saturday this year, we’re saving the date. After all, 2019 will be the last year to celebrate with the Aussie himself, as Jackson plans to move away from Boston this year and may close KO Pies for good (or sell it to a new owner). The day-long party typically features menu specials like a loaded Aussie burger topped with grilled onions, pineapple, beetroot, and a fried egg; mini pavlova and custard tarts; and more.
Boston Harbor Shipyard, 256 Marginal St., Building 16, East Boston, 617-418-5234, kocateringandpies.com.
Chef Jody Adams at the late, great Rialto. / Photo by Matt Kalinowski for “Food For Thought“
Rialto Pop-Up Dinner at Porto
Making the decision to close a restaurant can be heartbreaking, bittersweet, or feel long overdue—but just because a beloved place shutters doesn’t mean its soul is gone forever. Case in point: Chef Jody Adams—now behind Trade, Porto, and three locations of Saloniki—is bringing back a menu of Rialto favorites, including the slow-roasted duck, and hot chocolate crema cake, for one weekend only. The first night is already sold out, but there are still tickets available for a Sunday night seating. “A day does not go by that I don’t hear someone saying, ‘I love your other restaurants, but it’s not the same.’ There’s a powerful community I built of staff,” says the James Beard Award-winning chef. Expect to see some of those people in the house, including Rialto’s last chef de cuisine, Peter McKenzie, who’s now at Nathalie Wine Bar; and its final general manager, Kyung Lee, who now oversees Chatham Bars Inn.
$175, Sunday, Jan. 27, 6-9 p.m., Porto, Ring Road, Boston, Eventbrite.
Cookbook Signing with Chef Diane Kochilas
To celebrate both her newest book and the second season of her public television show My Greek Table—which premieres locally on Saturday, Jan. 12 at 2:30 p.m. on WGBH—chef Diane Kochilas is hosting a party at Committee. Kochilas is the Seaport ouzeri‘s consulting chef, as well as an award-winning cookbook author, TV host, and Greek food authority. The chef will sign copies of her newest book, My Greek Table: Authentic Flavors and Modern Home Cooking from My Kitchen to Yours, during the meet-and-greet. Committee chef de cuisine Theo Tsilipanos will be serving up bites from the new cookbook, like avocado taramosalata, phyllo-wrapped feta with poppy seed crust, stuffed baby eggplant, and more. The event is free to attend, but please RSVP via email.
Thursday, Jan. 31, 6-8 p.m., Committee, 50 Northern Ave., Boston, 617-737-5051, committeeboston.com.
