The patio at Church is one of my favorite places to go during the summer. You can almost always get a table outside and it has a more relaxed neighborhood vibe than some of the restaurants on the main drags of Boylston, Beacon or Lansdowne Streets.

Whether it's one of the 7 Deadly Sins or 4 Horsemen of the Apocalypse, there are plenty of cocktails to choose from. My favorite is Greed made with Hendrick's Gin, St. Germain, diced cucumber, and a pinch of white pepper and salted cucumber to garnish.

New chef, John Rush, took over the kitchen this past fall and he is doing great things with his summer menu. Every component of each dish is well thought out and always made from scratch with seasonal ingredients. The pierogies are a definitely a must-order!

Almost a year and a half since my first visit to Strip T's I finally made it back to Watertown to try out the lunch I'd been hearing so much about. The lunch menu is more sandwich-focused, along with some entree-sized plates, salads and appetizers. I was also happy to find some of the same menu staples from when Tim Maslow and Chef de Cuisine Jared Forman originally took over the kitchen - I have a feeling the Grilled Romaine salad isn't going anywhere.

The Strip T's experience is a delight from beginning to end. Every item on the menu is creative, unexpected and consistent while the quirky decor, old school bathroom, and friendly staff add to its charm. The only problem? I don't live in Watertown.

After trying some of Mei Mei's food at this year's Taste of the Nation event, I sought out their truck ASAP. That day they served a fantastic savory bread pudding and I had been hearing endless praise for their Double Awesome scallion pancake egg sandwich. (I know, right.) The sandwich lived up to its name to say the least, and everything else we tried that day was equally awesome. Behold...

The Mei Mei crew is in the process of opening a brick and mortar location in Audobon circle, and they are using Kickstarter to help raise funds to allocate towards their sustainable restaurant certification. Watch the video below or visit their Kickstarter page for more info.

Best of luck to Mei Mei in their new venture!

$2 Island Creek Oysters at Battery Park Patio every Thursday from 6-9pm starting June 6

Just in time for outdoor happy hour season, Island Creek Oysters will be doing two buck shucks on the patio at Battery Park Bar and Lounge from 6-9pm beginning this Thursday and continuing throughout the summer.

Time: 6-9pm
Location: 33 Batterymarch Street, Boston

Grilled Cheese Smackdown - June 11, 2013

Join Formaggio Kitchen and Kitchensurfing for a grilled cheese smackdown featuring four talented local chefs. Each contestant will prepare a soup and grilled cheese combo using ingredients selected from Formaggio Kitchen’s shelves. The winning soup and sandwich combo will be determined by event attendees and a panel of grilled cheese experts including James DiSabatino of Roxy's Grilled Cheese, Tripp, Formaggio Kitchen's domestic cheese buyer and YOURS TRULY! Hope to see everyone there!

Time: 7pm
Location: Formaggio Kitchen Annex at 67 Smith Place in Cambridge
Tickets can be purchased here for $55

Chefs in Shorts - June 14, 2013

Now in its 16th year (one of my personal favorite food events all year!) Chefs in Shorts brings together a group of the area’s top culinary talent who will fire up the grills and create their favorite dishes during this expansive outdoor, summer-in-the-city barbeque hosted at the Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center. Join some of Boston’s best chefs on June 14 for an evening of grill-offs, desserts, beer & wine and fun all to benefit Future Chefs, a local non-profit school-to-career program focused in culinary arts.

Time: 7pm
Location: Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center
Tickets can be purchased here for $70

Radius Alumni Dinner - June 13, 2013

After a spectacular 15 year run and countless accolades, Radius is closing its original High St. location. To celebrate the amazing talent that has worked in the kitchen over the years, Michael Schlow will host an Alumni dinner on June 13th with dishes from Gabriel Frasca (Straight Wharf, Ventuno and Provisions in Nantucket), William Kovel (Catalyst in Cambridge), Brendan Joy (SPQR in San Francisco), Paul Connors (Zelo and Bacio in Minneapolis) Mike Pagliarini (Giulia in Cambridge), Chad Burns (Farmstead Table in Newton), Kevin Walsh (Clio), Meghann Ward (Coppa), John Rush (Church) Leo Asaro (Via Matta) and PJ Waters (Radius, Via Matta and Alta Strada).

Time 7pm
Location: 8 High Street, Boston
Tickets can be purchased for $150 by calling 617.426.1234 to save a table

Also at Radius: Last Supper, Last Call closing night on June, 29th - Chef Michael Schlow will be serving up a feast of favorite dishes and he doesn't want any alcohol to be left on the shelves after close!

Edible art instillations? I can't think of a better way to spend a Sunday. And that's precisely what's taking place on this upcoming Sunday, June 2nd when 6 Boston Chefs team up with 6 local artists for an event of wildly creative proportions.

Presented by Chef Louis DiBiccari (of Tavern Road) and the Boston Center for adult education, Create 2 aims to unite and celebrate the worlds of culinary and visual arts, with proceeds from the event to benefit the Fort Point Artist Community. 6 chefs, including Michael Scelfo (Alden & Harlow), Jason Cheek and Jade Taylor (Supper Y'all), Brian Young (Citizen Public House), Alex Crabb (Asta), Steven "Panda" Oxaal (B&G Oysters) and Karen Akunowicz (Myers & Chang), will be challenged to create a composition based on the subject matter of six local artists featuring Mike Hammecker, Kevin Stanton, Nick Z, Matt Demers, !ND!V!DUALS Collective and Brian Gordon. The result? Artwork worth eating, worth drooling over.

Sunday, June 2nd, 2013; 2pm - 5pm at Boston Center for Adult Education. For additional information & to purchase tickets click here.

Barcelona Wine Bar has been up and running in the old American Craft space in Washington Square, Brookline for about five months now. The Spanish restaurant has a well-received tapas selection, vast wine list, and an entire menu devoted to sherry. With around forty tapas to choose from, deciding what to order (especially in a small group) is no easy task. From two visits, here are the dishes that I consistently enjoyed the most, hopefully this makes things a little easier on your next Washington Square date night!

The whipped sheep's cheese is like a more smoothly textured creamy ricotta. Both the cheese and the slice of bread served with it are addicting.

Barcelona Wine Bar does a really nice job with this classic Spanish dish. The aioli and the zesty red sauce are well portioned strike a nice balance in flavor and texture.

This was my favorite dish at Barcelona. The tender and perfectly cooked steak would have been great on it's own, but the truffle vinaigrette adds just the right amount of earthiness and acidity.

1700 Beacon Street
Brookline, MA 02446

It's no secret that anything wrapped in prosciutto will automatically be a crowd pleaser at any dinner party or event. This recipe takes that into consideration and also takes advantage of this season's gorgeous asparagus. For lack of an available grill, I roasted the asparagus for ten minutes at 400 degrees--but grilling would have been my first choice. The best thing about this recipe is that it will take you no longer than 20 minutes to prepare and serve - enjoy!

Roasted Prosciutto Wrapped Asparagus with Provolone
Ingredients
- 1 bunch asparagus, trimmed
- 1/2 lb prosciutto, thinly sliced
- 1/4 lb sliced provolone

Directions
- Preheat oven to 400 degrees
- Wrap each piece of asparagus with one slice of provolone then one slice of prosciutto as evenly as possible
- Roast for 10-15 minutes depending on size of the asparagus
- Serve!

Swimsuit season is just around the corner, but with so many food events on the horizon getting in shape may be tougher than originally anticipated. Everything in moderation, right? See what's in store for Boston this month.

Saturday, May 4: Food Truck Throwdown Another New York versus Boston rivalry is put to the test this Saturday as food trucks from both cities compete in a series of competitions to see who will be named reigning champ. Stop by the Greenway from 11am - 9pm for live music, celebrity judges and plenty of food.

Saturday, May 4: The Great Cupcake Crawl

Visit the finest cupcake bakeries Boston has to offer on this 2.5 hour walking tour where you'll have the chance to taste the city's best. The crawl doesn't explicitly tell you where you'll end up, but their clues offer up some helpful hints. If you're known to have a sweet tooth, this is the food event for you.

Thursday, May 9: Lobster Roller

For only $15 you can help support Future Chefs and see who makes the best Lobster Roll. The New York & Boston chefs behind Kitchen Surfing will show off their killer lobster roll recipes to see if Boston really is home to the best Lobster Roll. Event starts at 6pm.

Earlier this month I finally made it to East Boston to check out the famous Rino's Place. I've heard about the classic Italian dishes and insane portion sizes many times from friends, chefs, and of course, Guy Fieri. The old school spot is so small and so crowded, people used to spend the two hour plus waits outside, regardless of temperature. Now, thank god, they own a new place across the street called Primo e Dopo, which is perfect for a drink and an appetizer before Rino's or a coffee after dinner. It does get dangerous though, two hour waits equal up to a lot of glasses of wine.

You have to expect to devote your entire night to the East Boston experience, we got there around 9 on a Friday night and didn't eat until around 11. Afterwards I doubt you'll want to do anything but go home and lie down, the food coma is inevitable.

Here's what we tried...

Rino's was every bit worth the trip, the wait and the round trip cab fare. It was not only some of the best classic Italian food I've had in Boston, but in my entire life. All the pasta is homemade and the sauces and technique are every bit authentic. You will over eat, it's impossible not to. Even with the lack of self control you may experience in the face of homemade pasta, you will still have leftovers for a week.

Rino's Place
258 Saratoga St.
East Boston, MA 02128

Two months after the mid-february opening of Blue Dragon, I finally made it down to Fort Point to check out Ming Tsai's new spot. Officially dubbed an Asian Gastropub, the menu offers a mix of modern asian small plates, dim sum and noodle dishes that run the gamut from Bahn Mi sandwiches to Panko fish and chips. Blue Dragon is much more affordable and casual than its Wellesley-based counterpart, Blue Ginger, most small plates priced between $7 and $12.

Here are some favorites from the dinner menu...

Keep in mind Blue Dragon doesn't take reservations. It was packed to the brim when I went on a Thursday after work, so be prepared to wait for a table. They are also open for lunch, which might be less crowded than the after work rush. Blue Dragon is also closed on Sundays.

324 A Street
Boston, MA 02210

When I first heard about the details of Mooo's new brunch menu, I got slightly overwhelmed with excitement. I've had dinner there once before and it was a truly memorable experience with standout dishes - one of which was the dumplings that also appear on the brunch menu. The other, beef wellington. Starting mid March, Mooo now serves brunch every Sunday from 8am to 2pm. Their sister restaurant, Mistral, has been famous for its brunch for years and judging by Mooo's elaborate menu, live music and free valet offering, it seems to me they are looking to make a similar mark in the Boston brunch scene.

Here are some highlights from Mooo's brunch...

1. Bloody mary flight.

Yes, that exists.

2. Cinnamon sugar brioche.

This comes before the meal even starts.

3. Tator tots.

Served with the burger with sunny side egg on top.

4. The kobe dumplings.

It wouldn't be Mooo without them. And dumplings for breakfast are always allowed.

5. This french toast.

Complete with a bruleed banana.

See what I mean?

Happy Marathon Monday!

Ever since I tried the homemade hot Italian pork sausage from the butcher at Whole Foods, I've been incorporating it into a number of different recipes. Anything you cook it with soaks up the spice and essentially eliminates the need for additional seasoning. Of all the experimenting I've done, nothing was easier and a better match for the hot sausage than a simple pasta dish with pappardelle egg noodles and broccoli -- which just so happens to be in season now. In 15 minutes you have a dinner for four and the only additional ingredient you'll need is some garlic, olive oil and grated Parmigiano Reggiano cheese to finish it off.

Start by boiling the water for the pasta. In a separate pan, heat a little extra virgin olive oil, whole garlic cloves and cook the chopped sausage. 2-3 links is more than enough.

Once the sausage cooks for a few minutes, add chopped broccoli stems. Once the stems are at a desired softness / crunch, add the chopped heads. The stems take longer to cook than the heads so separate them in advance for best results.

Once the pasta is al dente, add it to the pan and cook for another minute or two. The broccoli heads and pappardelle egg noodles only need to cook for a few minutes - so try to time everything up just right.

Serve with plenty of cheese.

Kendall Square's Area Four is hitting the streets this Monday with a brand new custom designed food truck. The truck will have a similar sustainable american menu but with a more tightly focused offering. Their featured new menu item, piadini, basically a mobile version of Area Four's famed pizza (flatbread wrap type thing) will be available in four or five rotating varieties for breakfast and lunch.

• Niman Ranch prosciutto with handmade mozzarella and arugula
• Muffuletta with hot capicola, mortadella, salami, pepperoni, ham, Swiss cheese, sharp provolone and house-made olive spread
• House-smoked Cape Cod bluefish with pickled onions and parsley
• Roasted mushroom, fontina and gremolata
• Braised grass-fed beef short rib and horseradish aioli
• Butternut squash, caramelized onions and ricotta

Here's where you can find them:

Monday
Breakfast: Dewey Square Park Plaza
Lunch: Dewey Square Park Plaza

Tuesday
Breakfast: Dewey Square Park Plaza
Lunch: Rowe’s Wharf

Wednesday
Breakfast: Dewey Square Park Plaza
Lunch: Rowe’s Wharf

Thursday
Breakfast: Dewey Square Park Plaza
Lunch: Rowe’s Wharf

Friday
Breakfast: Dewey Square Park Plaza
Lunch: Chinatown Park

Sunday
SoWa Open Market, South Boston

In September the first ever food tourism conference will be coming to Providence, Rhode Island - but they need your help. Taste Trekkers, organized by Seth Resler (the same guy who brought both Boston and San Francisco the wonderful world of Mystery Meet) has launched a Kickstarter to raise funds for the event. With just a few days left, they still have a bit of a ways to go.

Watch this video to learn more about the weekend event and visit their Kickstarter here if interested in donating.

Chef Chris Coombs (dBar, Deuxave) is having a very eventful 2013! His third restaurant opened in the South End last week and he was named one of Forbes 30 under 30 in the food category. The new concept, Boston Chops, is an 'Urban Steak Bistro' serving modern versions of steakhouse classics including a variety of offal dishes, raw bar appetizers and homemade sauces.

The former Banq and Ginger Park space on Washington St. hasn't had much success in the past, but Coombs seems to have a knack for turning former flops into instant successes - Deuxave also opened in what was thought to be a jinxed location. On two different trips to Boston Chops, the place has been packed to the brim on both a weekend night and weeknight last week, so it seems to be off to a very successful start.

Here is some of what you can expect from the menu...

1375 Washington St.
Boston, MA 02118

There's plenty of them out there. Here's a celebration of some of our favorites in Boston. The sweet, the savory, the overly-indulgent heart stopping, jaw dropping, stomach ache inducing delights that almost make it worth the extra calories.

It may send you straight into cardiac arrest, but it's amazing in taste, texture and stature. The Big Party from Boston Burger Company includes a beef patty, wrapped in bacon, deep fried in beer batter, and topped with mayonaise, ketchup, and a little bit of spicy.

No Boston-based cheese-lovers life is complete without frequent visits to Barbara Lynch's Butcher Shop for some cheese sampling. The rotating specials always offer plenty to be desired. I say skip dinner and go for a varied selection paired with the Steak Tartare and a side of Pickled Vegetables.

Area Four may be a great place to post up and eat pizza, but it's also home to one of my favorite brunch dishes. The Hot Mess, is exactly that! An iron skillet stuffed with potatoes, cheddar, veggies, house sausage, bacon, pepper relish, and two fried eggs.

O Ya is a mecca of mouthwatering food and these Eggs & Legs taste even better than they look.

Ending things on a sweet note with the Tollhouse Cookie Dough Sundae from Will Gilson's Puritan & Company , this blob of tollhouse cookie dough comes dipped in chocolate, served over vanilla ice-cream and topped with a spoonful of maraschino caviar. If there's one place to be sure you save room for dessert, it's this one.

What may be even more exciting than the new music venue that just opened in Harvard Square, The Sinclair, is the new restaurant that opened along with it. Between the gastropub-style Michael Schlow menu, fantastic cocktail program by Dave Werthman of West Side Lounge and a kitchen that's open til 1am, The Sinclair restaurant is so much more than just a pre or post concert meeting spot, it's a dining destination in itself.

After a number of visits to the Sinclair I've tried almost all of the small plates. That is definitely your best bet when meeting up for a quick snack and a drink with friends. Here are some of my favorites (plus one dessert for good measure):

Not pictured: the Kale Salad with golden raisins, sunflower seeds and crispy parsnips that never seems to last long enough for its photo op.

The Sinclair is great for a number of occasions. The downstairs bar area has communal tables that are perfect for drinks and a snack, and the upstairs dining room provides a better setting for dinner. Did I mention they also have brunch? What's not to love about this place?

Something about cold weather makes me crave Asian food, and apparently I'm not the only one. Beginning this weekend, local Chefs Marc Orfaly of Pigalle and Tiffani Faison of Sweet Cheeks Q will be taking over the private Townhouse room at Met Back Bay with Asian inspired menus celebrating the Year of the Snake. That means dim sum, ramen, pork buns, wok noodles, Sapporo, sake and everything in between.

Orfaly will be cooking this Friday Feb. 22nd and Saturday Feb. 23rd and Faison will be cooking the following weekend, Friday March 1st and Saturday March 2nd. There will be two seatings each night at 6 and 9pm. Tickets are $50 per person which includes 3 courses - buy tickets here.

Even though our fun blizzard weekend has officially ended, there is no better time than Monday to start thinking about mid-week wintery cocktails. I know you probably ate and drank all weekend, but after two days of commuting back and forth in this post-Nemo slush, you're going to want a drink. It's science. Since I am no cocktail expert myself I consulted with Jon of Beantown Drinks for some cold weather cocktail suggestions from a trusted local source. This is what he came up with, and what you should be drinking this week:

1. Spiced Apple Bourbon Fizz

- 2 oz Spiced Apple Bourbon Whiskey*
- 1/2 oz Domaine de Canton ginger liqueur
- 4 oz Fresh apple cider
- Top with Seltzer (or any sparkling water)
- Garnish: Apple slice, fresh thyme sprig, cinnamon stick and fresh cranberries

Fill mason jar or pint glass up with ice. In a separate glass, add bourbon, ginger liqueur and apple cider together with no ice. Give the mixture a quick stir and then pour over the ice in your glass. Top with seltzer water and add garnish.

*This drink is really good with a straight bourbon whiskey, but is even better with an infused spiced-apple bourbon -- recipe for homemade infusion here.

2. Hot Whiskey (aka Hot Toddy)

- 2 oz. bourbon or Irish whiskey
- 4 oz. boiling water
- 1 barspoon honey (optional)
- 1/4 oz fresh lemon juice (optional)
- lemon wedge with cloves inserted and cinnamon stick for garnish

Combine all ingredients in a warmed mug and stir to combine. Garnish. Full post here.

3. Milk Punch

- 1.5 oz bourbon
- 1 oz milk
- 1 oz half-and-half
- 2 tbsp powdered sugar, sifted
- dash vanilla extract
- grated nutmeg and cinnamon stick for garnish

Combine milk, half-and-half, and sugar in a pint glass; stir to dissolve sugar. Add bourbon, 1 cup cracked ice; cover with a shaker and shake for 20 seconds. Strain into a highball glass full of ice and sprinkle nutmeg over top. Full post here.

Find Jon on twitter @BeantownDrinks

I hope everyone had enough time to stock up on food for the weekend. Given the mad house that was Whole Foods yesterday I will assume a lot of cooking will be taking place between now and Sunday. If you don't have your recipes planned out yet, here is some winter cooking inspiration from some of my favorite bloggers.

1. Italian Sausage, Potato, And Kale Soup by Megan of Delicious Dishings

2. Coffee Braised Short Ribs by Dan of The Food in My Beard

3. Mushroom, Leek and Chicken Sausage Savory Bread Pudding by Simply Life

4. Aztec Hot Chocolate by A Beautiful Mess

5. Smoked Gouda and Pumpkin Mac and Cheese by Bianca of Confessions of a Chocoholic

The vast majority of restaurants in Beacon Hill haven't changed their menu in decades. That's okay for classic places like Paramount or Toscano who are usually packed with both locals and tourists regardless, but classic isn't necessarily what all Beacon Hillers are looking for in a local restaurant, especially in a city that's going through somewhat of a food revolution everywhere else. That's why The Tip Tap Room was an instant success when it opened in June. It gave younger residents a much needed haven for craft beer and exciting food.

The same Beacon Hill outdatedness goes for brunch, and once again Brian Poe and The Tip Tap come to the rescue. As of early January, Tip Tap is now serving brunch, and giving yet another much needed update to the Beacon Hill dining scene. The menu is, as all Poe menus are, a little wacky. He takes classic dishes and spices them up with inventive ingredients and unexpected combinations of sweet and savory.

Here are some highlights from The Tip Tap Room's Tipsy Brunch:

I apologize in advance for this hunger-inducing photo, but the Lamb Bocadillo from a recent visit to Tres Gatos in Jamaica Plain is just too amazing not to share.

All the food we tried that night was great, but nothing stood out more than the mini lamb burger on a homemade potato roll topped with chimichurri and crispy shallots. It's one of those dishes you wake up thinking about the next day. The burger patty itself was tender and juicy, and the potato roll was the perfect vessel to contain all the juices without falling apart. The chimichurri added a fresh herbal note and the shallots gave it a crunchy texture.

I could have eaten three of these myself. Bravo, Chef Marcos!

Tres Gatos
470 Centre Street
Jamaica Plain, MA 02130
(617) 477-4851

It's Baaaaaack! The 2nd Annual Chili Cook Off is just days away and we couldn't be more excited. Giving us another reason to flock to the Fenway area--besides those absurdly delicious biscuits at Sweet Cheeks--Church will be hosting area restaurants on Saturday, January 26 from 1pm - 4pm as they battle it out to see who will be named the King of Chili, or Queen. Tickets are only $15. That means $15 to try seven servings worth of Chili. Quite the bargain if you ask me. You can grab yourself one here and we'll see you at the Cook Off next week!

South End newcomer Cinquecento has been up and running at 500 Harrison for about about six weeks now. If the lively Thursday crowd was any indication, the South End is making fast friends with its new neighbor. The interior was completely transformed into a dimly-lit Roman trattoria clad in brick, vintage art and dark accents. The main bar is upstairs now changing the whole dynamic of the old Rocca space.

The Italian menu offers many classics that are done up a little fancier than their old world counterpart. You won't find any North End size potions here, Cinquecento shows a little more refinement. My first impression left me feeling like it's going to be a popular place for drinks and a quick bite. Especially because wine can be ordered by the glass, half, carafe and carafe so you don't have to commit to a full bottle of wine. There are also a ton of non-pasta options on the menu, so keeping it light is not nearly as difficult as it is at most Italian restaurants.

Here is some of what you can expect from Cinquecento.

Wine - Gavi di Gavi

Highlights of the experience were the wine options, Parmigiano dessert and the bolognese. A half carafe is the perfect way for a party of two to try more than one wine. Low lights were the chocolate dessert which was a little too rich for my tastes, and the veal appetizer.

Has anyone tried any other dishes?

Cinquecento
500 Harrison Ave.
Boston, MA
617-338-9500

Time is of the essence during the holiday season. Whether you're hosting a party or just cooking for your family, chances are you have a million things to do and very little time to do it. Here are some quick dishes that will impress guests, taste delicious and add some color to your spread.

1. Tomato Mozzarella Basil Toothpicks - If someone says they don't like the combination of tomato, mozzarella and basil, they're lying. It's a fact, this combination is welcomed at all times. Putting the ingredients on the toothpick makes it easy to eat and adds a touch of sophistication.

Image source.

2. Pretzel M&M Treats - With only three ingredients - m&m's, hershey kisses, pretzels - and only a few minutes in the oven, these are extremely cheap and easy to make. And there's just something about that salty/sweet combination makes them insanely addicting. Recipe here.

Image source.

3. Soufflés - Don't worry, I'm not telling you to make a soufflé from scratch, we'll leave that to the experts. Lucky for us, many of the Whole Foods in the Boston area carry Chef Yves' Souffles - frozen pre-made souffles that come in five different sweet and savory varieties. Just pop 'em in oven.

4. Prosciutto Wrapped Anything - Think of it as a modern take on a holiday ham. Melon, cheese, asparagus, it all works. Just head over to any specialty food store (South End Formaggio and American Provisions are personal favorites) and pick up their thin cut Prosciutto di Parma.

Image source.

5. Homemade Salsa - salsa is a crowd pleaser at any time of the year, and it looks festive too! I recently discovered The Pioneer Woman's recipe for Restaurant Style Salsa and I make it at least once a week. Soula's Salsa is another great option if you don't have time to cook!