Photo: Terence S. Jones/Flickr
LOCAL TREATS
Help Allston, One Bite at A Time
The 14th annual Taste of Allston will be held this Saturday, June 25th, 12pm to 3pm. The event highlights local restaurants and will feature cuisine from dozens of countries representative of Allston’s ethnic communities. Guests can sample fare from local chefs, bid in a silent auction and enjoy live music. Proceeds benefit Allston Village Main Streets.
Help at the Farmers Market
Reminder: Cambridge Center Farmers Market is featuring a how2heroes live cooking demo each Wednesday of the summer. This weekly event brings different local chefs to the market to demonstrate how to prepare tasty, innovative dishes with your newly-purchased produce. Next Wednesday, William Kovel, head chef at the highly anticipated Catalyst, will visit the Kendall Square market.
More Truck Eats
Hungry Bostonians, rejoice! Last week the City Council announced that food trucks would be given access to more than 20 new sites across the city. The ordinance makes locales by Boston University, the South End and the Back Bay truck-friendly for the first time. Read more, and make suggestions for other desired locations.
Eating Well at Smolak Farms
Every Wednesday from June 29th to August 24th, Smolak Farms in North Andover is hosting Whim, an outdoor summer dining experience. Each week a different New England chef will prepare a local feast from the farm’s produce. In collaboration with Edible Boston, Gilt City, and New England Cooks, the night features a prix fix menu, a farm tour and hayride. For tickets, visit Gilt City.
Warring Rosés
Bostonians who drink pink are in luck. In addition to Eastern Standard Kitchen’s “Drink Pink!” program, Toro is hosting a War of the Rosés this summer, featuring a monthly rotation of vintage Spanish blends. This month a ‘battle’ will ensue between a Rioja Garnacha, a Bullas Monastrell and a Penedes Merlot/Cab/Syrah blend — all 2010s. Don your armor.
Rising Cone Costs
Economic and environmental factors have caused food prices to rise worldwide. The Boston Globe reports that even the price of ice cream has been affected, noting a significant cost increase at several Boston joints, including Toscanini in Cambridge. Check out this fascinating profile on inflation’s effect on their ice cream.
NATIONAL BITES
Updates from the Classic
The Food and Wine Classic in Aspen took place earlier this week, bringing the greatest chefs in the world together for three days of dining and drinking in scenic Colorado. Highlights included special sessions with Mario Batalli, Thomas Keller and Tom Colicchio, as well as varied demonstrations and wine tastings. Here’s what you missed.
Pesticides Are Here, Too.
Last week the Environmental Working Group released the 2011 Shopper’s Guide, including this year’s “Dirty Dozen,” an index of produce which, when tested, had the most pesticide residues. Apples led the list, followed by celery and strawberries. Unfortunately, even the organic label isn’t sufficient to avoid potentially harmful chemicals. Learn more here.
Cook’s Clothes with Giada DeLaurentiis
Giada DeLaurentiis may star in her own show on the Food Network but, on the side, she entertains a great deal at home. In an article from this week’s Wall Street Journal, DeLaurentiis shares wisdom about how to host and what to wear, giving guidance to cooks who want to feel comfortable and sophisticated in and out of the kitchen. !!!