Photo: jchong/Flickr
LOCAL BITES
Benefit for Japan
On Sunday, April 3rd, local restaurant chefs will be coming together to raise funds for the Japanese Red Cross Society after the tragic earthquake and tsunami last week and the ongoing nuclear disaster. Join six local chefs, including Jeff Nace of Neptune Oyster and Ting Yen of Oishii at Oishii in Boston, for a dinner starting at 5:30 p.m. Tickets are $100 and can be purchased by calling Oishii at (617) 482-8868. All proceeds will go to the charity.
Public Market
It is hard to keep a level head about the new Boston Public Market – this is exciting! Farmers Markets are fantastic, but the opportunity to buy local in once place all week?!! Keep up-to-date on the project at the MDAR webpage. The department is also offering a place to submit your comments and ideas on the public market HERE.
Crazy Close
Crazy Dough Pizza’s Doug Ferriman almost beat an Italian pizza master at his craft. Last week, Ferriman baked up a Shrimp BLT pie and a Pot Roast Pizza that earned him second place at the International Pizza Challenge in Las Vegas. Taste the slices that gave the Italian master a run for his money through the end of the month at the five Boston-area Crazy Dough locations.
New England Local
Spring is upon us, and Boston area farmers markets will be opening in just weeks – a few in April, many in May. In the meantime, if you are having difficulty finding a winter market convenient to you, consider traveling to New Hampshire. The Seacoast Eat Local Winter Farmers Markets offer a variety of dates in March and April in a number of towns that might just work for you.
Don’t be Picky
Parents of fussy eaters, read on! Authors Liz Weiss and Janice Bissex of “No Whine with Dinner,” a book about picky eating in children, spoke to Jane Dornbusch of Boston Globe with some great advice. One nugget, bound to be controversial: “full disclosure.”
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NATIONAL TREATS
Not a-lotta Caponata
Shelve your plans for eggplant parmigiana or caponata. A freeze in Florida, Southern California and Northern Mexico has sent eggplant prices flying high, said Debbi Snook of The Plain Dealer in Cleveland. A case that once cost about $20 is now running just under $70. The freeze also hit crops of tomatoes, zucchini and green peppers.
Creamy, Salty, Zesty
The French are known for their affinity for radishes with butter and salt. Without a doubt, it is one of the simplest, tastiest combinations and is highly underrated outside of France. Read all about it from Meredith Escudier at Culinate.
Go, Go, Gadget
If you’re a kitchen gadget junky, here’s more fuel to feed your obsession. Check out these ideas from the International Home and Housewares Show in Chicago, reported by Judy Hevrdejs of the Chicago Tribune. My favorite product: an herb planter that doubles as a charcoal grill.
In the Flesh
This is cruel, but I’m going to tell you anyway. You missed the lemon festival in Menton, France. Worse than that, you just missed the chance to see a giant sphinx made of citrus. Pictures will have to suffice. There’s always next year.