Photo: Seelensturm/Flickr
LOCAL TREATS
A Shipment of Summertime
On Friday August 19th at 1pm, the Big Gay Ice Cream Truck, which has been hugely influentual in the New York City food truck scene, will pay a visit to Adrian’s Restaraunt in Turo, MA for a one day Pop Up Ice Cream Shoppe event. MA residents are in for a real treat because Doug Quint, the truck’s creator, will be on hand with some of his most popular flavors. Don’t wait too long to get a cone of your own: the event ends when the ice cream runs out.
Beer Is Good, Better with BBQ
Maine Beer Company’s David Kleban is visiting the patio at Eastern Standard on Sunday, August 21st, 6pm, for an end-of-summer barbecue. Chef Jeremy Sewall (Collaborating Executive Chef, that is) is preparing a menu which features a whole roast pig with summery sides to go along. The $50 evening includes a family-style dinner and three beers. Call 617.523.9100 to make a reservation.
You Say Tomato…
A reminder! The 27th Annual Massachusetts Tomato contest is coming up on Monday, August 22nd, at City Hall Plaza in Boston. The event is organized by the Massachusetts Department of Agricultural Resources, New England Vegetable and Berry Growers Association and Mass Farmers’ Markets. Farmers from across the state compete in four categories: slicing, cherry, heirloom and heaviest. Come celebrate this quintessential summer vegetable.
Food Truck Fame
The folks from Roxy’s Grilled Cheese in Boston are taking their gooey sandwiches to the national stage. They’re competing in the The Great Food Truck Race on the Food Network with Tyler Florence, aiming to beat out seven other food trucks for national culinary glory. Tune in Sundays at 9pm to show your support for one of Boston’s best restaraunts on wheels.
Food and Wine: Better Together
On Sunday, August 28th, 7-9 pm Lineage head chef Jeremy Sewall (also of Eastern Standard) will pay a visit to Urban Grape in Chestnut Hill for a chef’s pairing night. Sewall is preparing hors d’oeuvres to highlight some of the local MA harvest, and TJ Douglas, Urban Grape’s owner, will select wine pairings. The tasting costs $15, reserve a spot by emailing hadley@theurbangrape.com.
Serious Fluff
On Septmber 24th from 3 to 7pm, the annual “What the Fluff” festival returns to Somerville. The event honors Archibald Query, the marshmallow spread creator, with an all-day event that includes goodies like rice krispie treats, whoopee pies, and BBQ fare. There will also be VIP guests on hand, including Brady Bunch alum Susan Olsen and astronaut Rick Lennihan.
Get Your Farm Report Here
The August/September edition of MDAR’s Farm & Market Report is in. This report is a convenient, reader-friendly way to stay informed about industry-related happenings throughout Massachusetts, including public events. In this issue, news about the fledgling MA Food Policy Council; the Boston Public Market, MA Harvest for Students Week, and more.
NATIONAL BITES
Mango in Manhattan
This month the United States lifted its ban on the incredibly popular Pakistani mangoes. The first shipment reached New York City this weekend and, following the laws of supply and demand, the fruit wasn’t cheap (around $100 for a box of six). Prices are expected to drop within the coming weeks, however, as the rest of the 2,000 boxes arrive. Read more about the fruity news in this week’s Wall Street Journal. Meanwhile, this article just in from the blog-o-sphere.
Farm Labor and the Food We Eat
This week the New York Times explores how illegal labor is affecting the food industry with six opinion articles by community farmers, economists and immigration experts. Learn more about how questions of immigration and labor are effecting the food we eat.