Photo: Visit Hillsborough/Flickr
LOCAL BITES
Grab a Slice
According to Bonny Wolf, “Weekend Edition Sunday” food commentator, cupcakes are dead, but pie is alive and kicking. January 23rd is national pie day, so jump on the trend at Le Cordon Bleu’s Boston location where the cooking school will be offering a pie making extravaganza cooking demonstration and open house January 22nd. Admittance is free, but reserve your spot before the event by calling (888) 394-6222.
Waste not, Want not
Goodbye fuzzy strawberries in the back of the fridge. A new application for the iPhone helps you save your Apple and eat it too. “Consume Within” lets users enter food items along with where the item is located. The app tells you daily what items will be expiring in the next three days, theoretically helping cut down waste. The full app costs $2.99 from iTunes, but a lite version that stores four items is available for free.
Fried. Chocolate.
Every foodie has a restaurant or event s/he is unwilling to share. This was one of mine, but here’s something to butter you up. Forgive me South End chocolate lovers. Lee Napoli, owner of ChocoLee in the South End, fries up ganache-stuffed, glorious beignets to order – but only on weekends. Napoli’s shop is tiny, so be prepared for a short wait. And, please save me one. Call her shop at (617) 236-0606 for more information.
Will Travel for Wine
Join 17 chateaux owners for a celebration of Bordeax wines in New York City January 27th at La Soiree des Grands Crus. Don’t be frightened away by this event’s “grands” ticket price, it also includes the chance to participate in The Breitling wine challenge. Here you could win one of nine great prizes in this blind tasting including Double Magnum bottles—that’s three liters of fun. January 27th, tickets are $185 per person, or $250 for early access.
Here Fishy Dishy
In what is called an effort to counter “misinformation” about fish sustainability, Legal Sea Foods is hosting a Blacklisted Seafood Dinner January 24th at the Park Plaza. The Boston Globe’s restaurant critic Devra First wrote on January 11th that this event has angered sustainability advocates. That seems to have been the purpose. The Culinary Guild of New England’s website said, “the four course meal will be designed to provoke discussion on the topic by incorporating so-called ‘blacklisted fish.’ ” See for yourself for $110, but due to the popularity, be ready for a wait list.
Manzo d’Italia
The now-famous Italian butcher Dario Cecchini, praised by Jamie Oliver and featured in Heat by Bill Buford, is coming to Boston and he’s bringing Bessie. Using a quarter side of locally-raised beef, Cecchini, owner of Antica Macelleria Cecchini in Prazano, Italy, will demonstrate the art of butchery at Southborough’s Tomasso Trattoria on January 25th. There will be two demos at 6 p.m. and 6:45 p.m. for $25 each, and a dinner following, $128 plus gratuities and tax.
NATIONAL TREATS
Feeding Fido
The New York Times writes how some pet owners are choosing to feed their pets fresh homemade food using ingredients like giblets and cabbage. Finally, an activity for ambitious people with too many chicken necks on their hands.
China’s Feast
The release of this week’s White House dinner menu for Chinese President Hu Jintao included lobster, steak and apple pie. Read a discussion and full menu here from The Huffington Post.
Cookie Ottoman
It probably won’t pop up in the next issue of House Beautiful, but isn’t it lovely? The Los Angeles Times introduces us to the cookie ottoman. Perfect for those with an extra $1050, a sweet tooth and lack of seating.
Tawny, not Ships
Is it just for the end of a meal? Get to know your ports with the Chicago Tribune.