Now that it's finally nice enough to spend over an hour outdoors, here are some restaurant, chef and food events in and around Boston (just in time for tomato season)! Here's what we got coming up in June:

June 5th - Taste of Somerville: Featuring over 30 Somerville restaurants (which I personally have been obsessed with lately) there will be samples of food, wine, beer desserts and more. Tickets are $30 in advance and $35 at the door. All proceeds will go to RESPOND, Inc, New England's first agency against domestic violence. Find all info and tickets here.

June 10th - Hair Band Beer Brunch at Strip-T's: In a collaboration with High & Mighty Beer, Strip-T's will be serving three courses of food with High & Mighty pairings. It's $30 per person (which is great considering the amount I normally spend on brunch) and reservations are required, call 617-923-4330 to get yours. Seatings will start at 12pm and end at 5pm. Did I mention they will be blasting 80's hair band music the whole time?

June 10th - Boston Food Truck Festival: Located at the UMass Boston Campus Center, all of Boston's food truck fleet will be serving up their signature dishes. The best part is the $30 ticket gets you one portion from every truck, which is way better than paying individually and waiting in line for an hour. Find info and tickets here.

June 12th - Taste of Cambridge: In the 10th installment of this event, over 90 Cambridge restaurants will be participating with samples of food and drink. Located outside (!!) at Sidney Street and University Park Common in Central Square (rain date set for June 14th), tickets are $50 for general admission. Find event and ticket info here.

June 22nd - Chefs in Shorts: Friday night on the Waterfront with all your favorite boston chefs grilling up BBQ, I honestly couldn't think of anything better. Tickets cost $70, which include complimentary beer, wine, and culinary tastings. Find ticket and event information here.

Authentic Mexican is something you don't get enough of in these parts, but thanks to the addition of a new mobile nom-spot, finding tacos and tortas just got a little bit easier. The Taco Truck, which first originated in Hoboken, New Jersey back in September 2009, just launched its first truck here in Boston.

Expect the standard array of protein choices for the tacos (barbacoa, carnitas, chicken, fried catfish) along with some interesting vegetarian options as well, like fried avocado. The tortas (Mexican-style sandwiches) have similar options and come standard with white onions, pickled jalapeños, avocado, crema and black bean spread. There are also plenty of side dishes, Mexican sodas and salsa options to choose from!

Staying in the city and still looking for ways to spend this Memorial Day? How about getting together with good people and good food for a good cause?

In an effort to help one of the service industry's own, the Boston restaurant community will be hosting a fundraiser for Vinny Sapochetti on Monday, May 28 at the Hotel Commonwealth. Vinny, who has worked at the North End's Neptune Oyster for the past 5 years was recently in a terrible car accident. Suffering serious injury, he has since started his journey through speech, occupational and physical therapy. You can read more about him in this recent post on Server not Servant.

Tickets for the fundraiser, Vinny's Tip Jar, are being sold for $105, which grants you access to an open bar from 5pm-10pm along with complimentary food from some of the Boston's best restaurants. Think Toro, Eastern Standard, Neptune Oyster, Uni, Oleana, Russel House Tavern, Strip T's and more. There will also be a live auction and a raffle.
For a full list of participating restaurants and information on how to purchase tickets click here. It's a great way to spend an evening enjoying delicious food and libations in support of a great cause!

Due to the ridiculous success the Franklin Restaurant Group has seen from the pig roasts at Citizen Puplic House, they decided to introduce it at Franklin Cafe Southie as well. There are no private rooms at this spot, the high top table in the middle of the restaurant will serve as the setting for the pig roast but expect the same package at Citizen: a whole roasted suckling pig, family style seasonal sides, and a salad to start. All info can be found here.

It's a full on nose to tail experience, after the roasted pig is presented to the group, it is taken back into the kitchen and carved into various sections. The most exciting part of night was then the head was brought out carved into various sections, brain included. The chef and servers explain that the brain is best served spread out on toast, with a little lemon and sea salt. Think you can handle it?

They can only do one pig roast per day so make sure to book the pig roast in advance, reservations are on a first come, first serve basis.

152 Dorchester Ave.
Boston, MA

If you've ever found yourself wandering through Davis Square you've likely stopped by Dave's Fresh Pasta. The specialty wine & food retailer is your one stop shop for all things awesome -- handmade pastas and sauces, local craft beers, imported olive oils and wines, homemade sandwiches... the list is endless. They're also no strangers to offering up generous samples of deliciously unique snacks and artisanal cheeses. In short, it's the perfect place to get lost for a couple of hours.

Another perk? They've also got a great offering of wine tastings and cooking classes, which make for the perfect gift for any food-loving friend. The classes range in topics, and usually cost around $50. Meesh and I recently attended their Mozzarella Making class with a few friends, led by none other than Lourdes of Fiore di Nonno.

The class started off with some background information, including some history behind traditional mozzarella making, followed by some snacks, wine tasting, and then a chance to try our hand at making some of our own stuff. The two and a half hour class flew by, and everyone had such a great time, each leaving with containers full of their own homemade mozzarella. The attendees of the class ranged in age from as young as 10 up to 40+. Here are some photos from our experience there, one I'd highly recommend to anyone who's looking to explore their culinary interests in a fun, group setting.

Dave's Fresh Pasta
81 Holland Street
Somerville, MA
617-623-0867

Tatte Bakery & Cafe, best known for their cookies and cakes, recently opened up their second location in Kendall Square just last week. Just like the Brookline shop, the new place will be serving up an array of breakfast, lunch and dinner items seven days a week, along with a large spread of freshly made sweets including everything from cookies to cakes, jams, tarts and croissants.

With a small outdoor patio, along with plenty of counter space and communal seating it's a great place to post up and linger for a bit while enjoying Israeli inspired food items courtesy of chef-owner Tzurit Or. Open as early as 7am and closing up around 10pm on most days, it's sure to become one of my favorite go-to's in the neighborhood, with enough variety to satisfy almost any food craving. For menu items and updates, check out their blog and be sure to get your hands on some of their mouth-watering sweets asap.

Tatte Bakery & Cafe
318 Third Street
Cambridge, MA
617-354-4200

I've been finding myself in Davis Square more frequently since the openings of Saloon and Five Horses Tavern, and now with another recent addition to Davis, The Painted Burro, I don't see why I shouldn't just move there and get it over with. The Painted Burro is a funky taco bar with a Mexican street food-esque menu. They serve tacos, over 100 varieties of tequila, interesting tequila and mezcal-based cocktails, mexican beers, ceviches, and tons and tons of tortilla chips with plenty of dips to choose from.

Be forewarned, the place is LOUD, so don't expect a quiet romantic dinner. It's much better suited for dinner with friends on a Friday or Saturday night. You'll have to yell at the person sitting across from you in order for them to hear you, but that ends up happening after a few cocktails regardless.

Here's some of what the Painted Burro has to offer...

As goes with every new restaurant, there were hits and misses. Highlights of the meal were the queso fundito, which was fantastic, the ceviche, and the chorizo taco, which was surprisingly easy to eat with the egg. The salsa had a tropical flavor, which isn't really up my alley (I'm more of a tomato salsa purist), and I thought the fish taco could have used more spice.

Overall we had a fun time, The Painted Burro is definitely worth the trip to Davis.

After a short hiatus, Mystery Meet is returning for a special one-evening event this Tuesday...and we're hosting! Come join us at the secret location for an epic 4 course spring feast that will probably blow your mind.

If you're unfamiliar with Mystery Meet, it's a foodie meetup at a secret location. You try to guess the restaurant from the clues below, buy a ticket, and the location will be released Monday before the event.

Clues:

1. Mystery Meet's return will be hosted by Just Add Cheese.
2. We serve bites and beats 7 days a week.
3. We didn’t start the fire, but we certainly survived it.
4. People come to see the Baby Jesus on Sundays.
5. Seven of our cocktails can be "deadly"

Any ideas?

Buy tickets here.

When: Tuesday, May 8th 7pm
Where: ??
How much: $40 (includes food, tax, and tip)
What else: bring cash for drinks

Shoot us an email at ChowDownBeantown@gmail.com with any questions.

Hope to see you Tuesday.

Are you completely obsessed with spring produce? Do you find yourself staring at the wall of greens in your supermarket, going through your mental recipe roladex pondering the best way to use them all? Me too. Around this time of year no one should have to choose between asparagus, ramps, lemon, parsley or peas. This recipe uses all of them.

My favorite part about this risotto is the lightness in flavor and texture. With tons of lemon and bright springy flavors the result is the polar opposite of a heavy winter dish, which we have all had quite enough of in the last few months. I avoided using cream and butter as well, to keep the post risotto food coma to an absolute minimum.

I combined my favorite elements of two different spring risotto recipes from Food52 for this one. The first, and main recipe baseline, was this spring risotto recipe (originally from Gourmette NYC). Aside from the cheese (which is a given) it's on the healthier spectrum of risotto recipes. Since I love lemon and parsley, I used those elements from this spring risotto recipe (originally from Rasberry Eggplant) subbing in meyer lemons for traditional lemons because they're sweeter. Normal lemons would do just fine, though.

Spring Vegetable Risotto

Ingredients:

Heard of the Afro-Cuban street food pop-up restaurant Barrio yet? They've been keeping a pretty low profile but tickets are finally open to the general public for this Saturday's event! The location hasn't been announced yet, but the guest chef has. This time around chef Wheeler del Torro will be cooking with Matt Drummond of Brasserie Jo.

If you wanted to make a day out of it, earlier that day Wheeler is hosting the official premier party for the world premier screening of "Time Zero: the last year of the Polaroid film," an official selection of the 10th annual Boston Independent Film Festival.

For ticket information, interested parties can contact rayna@kitchntable.com. The location of the event will be released to ticketed guests on the eve of the events.

My last visit to Jamaica Plain was Grass Fed and glorious after visiting the new burger bar on Centre Street, which recently opened where Bon Savor once was. Located just a few doors down from its sister restaurant, Ten Tables JP, Grass Fed is the fourth nom-venture for owner Krista Kranyak.

The casual eatery specializes in organic grass fed burgers, ground fresh daily and served up on a buttered bun until 11pm, seven days a week. There's no shortage of toppings, perfect for modifying your masterpiece, and double stacking is always an option.

The Cali Burger, topped with avocado, onion, pepperjack cheese and aioli, was an instant favorite.

The veg-friendly establishment also offers up a mean Chickpea Burger, while other menu items include a variety of salads, poutines, sandwiches and sides, along with a selection of "adults only" milkshakes spiked with booze.

The Onion Rings were another must, fried in a heavy batter which held up crunch until the last bite.

While seating is limited, there's plenty of standing room and counter-space available. The long list of local beers and unique wine selection is definitely a draw, while the staff is so friendly it's easy to find yourself settling in at the bar and socializing for a bit. The milkshakes are un-real (especially the salted caramel) and will likely be the death of me come bikini season, but in the grand scheme of things, death by boozy milkshake doesn't sound all that bad.

Grass Fed
605 Centre Street
617-553-2278

Earth day is about to be upon us and everyone is using the annual holiday as an opportunity to celebrate our glorious home that is planet Earth. And while I don't normally get too far outside the city limits, this dinner sounds like something worth leaving Boston for. Michael Leviton, behind Kendall Square's Area Four and West Newton's Lumiere is all about using local, sustainable ingredients in his cooking. At Lumiere, his seasonally inspired menus are rustic yet refined and have been attracting New Englanders for years. Now, as the restaurant celebrates it's 13th anniversary, it's only fitting that they host the dinner of all dinners on a day meant for celebrating and spreading awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment.

Everything Down To The Salt & Pepper features a menu made entirely from New England ingredients. That's right, 100% local AND sustainable, and the menu items themselves are certainly something to get you drooling. They'll be serving up a seven-course prix fixe tasting menu filled with delicacies including cheese selections from Cricket Creek, Jasper Hill and Ruggles Farms; Oysters served with Cider Mignonette; Cape Code Sea Scallops, Roasted Lovejoy Brook Farm Veal, Fried Poached Chip-in Farm Egg from Cricket Creek Farm and so much more; finishing things off with a Caramelized Lanni Orchards Rome Apple Tart topped with Maple Creme Fraiche and Cider Sauce. YUM. You can check out the full menu below.

Ticket prices are a bit steep -- $125 a head or $175 if your looking to pair your dinner with beers, wines and cocktails, all local of course. With a generous portion of the proceeds going to the Chefs Collaborative with Organic Valley, it's definitely a delicious cause worth supporting!

6pm on Sunday, April 22 at Lumiere
1293 Washington Street, West Newton
617-244-9199 for reservations

My all time favorite wine event is back! This year the Second Glass crew is hosting Wine Riots in seven different cities across the country and the tour starts this weekend here in Boston. If you've never been, the Wine Riot is basically Candyland for wine lovers. It's a totally unpretentious wine tasting party with unlimited wine from around the world, music bumpin', wine education sessions, a photo booth, temporary tattoos, and tons of Boston's best street food.

Get your tickets here, there's three different sessions, all at Park Plaza Castle:

Christmas came early for Central Square this year. Not only did Patricia Yeo's much-anticipated Pan Asian spot Moksa open a few weeks ago, but a brand new dance club opened along with it. Naga, located in the back of Moksa, is the newest addition to the Cambridge nightlife scene. The club will host weekly dance parties with mostly electronic tunes that will include everything from drum and bass jams to hop hip. As if that wasn't good enough -- any shot plus a mini Miller High Life is only $4.50.

Moska itself is a casual spot with a modern minimalist decor. Asian small plates are the name of the game with menu selections varying from dumplings to noodles to raw fish. They also serve a dim sum brunch on the weekends and serve food until 1am. The bar program, created by top-notch mixologist Noon Inthasuwan of Umami in Brookline, features unique house made ingredients and concoctions.

My first trip to Moksa was a huge success. Unfortunately I didn't try any drinks, but all the small plates definitely held their own sans alcohol. Here's some of what Moksa has to offer on the food front...

The Middle East in Central Square may be best known for hosting some seriously good music acts, but the small establishment sandwiched between the nightlife venue's upstairs and downstairs is currently all about awesome noms.

Back in the fall chef Hunter Jaelinked up with ZuZu Bar to bring a "decadent alternative to the every day sandwich bar." The result -- Z Rant, a combination sandwich shop and brunch spot, serving up breakfast seven days a week. And because we certainly don't have enough daily breakfast options available in this wonderful city, it's definitely worth highlighting this quirky establishment whose menu is currently killing it.

Don't worry, they haven't forgotten their musical roots; at night you'll still find the place packed with dance partiers, while their weekend brunch usually features fun electro-funk beats courtesy of DJ Leah V.

Z Rant at ZuZu
474 Massachusetts Ave.
Cambridge, MA
617-864-3278 ext. 237

ZOMG! Bacon and Beer week is Back! BostonChefs.com and Eat Boston have joined forces again with some of Boston's best restaurants to bring some seriously wild bacon and beer pairings to this city for one week only. Other fun happenings that week include a Bacon and Beer Harbor Cruise, Bacon and Beer Festival and a bacon and beer inspired art show. The best way to find out what's going on, and when, is to sign up for the Eat Boston email list.

Unfortunately we still have some time, the celebration doesn't start until April 28th and runs through May 3rd, however there is one event in particular you don't want to miss and tickets just so happen to be going on sale in a few days. Kicking off the whole shabang is the 3rd annual Bacon and Beer Festival at the House of Blues on April 28th. If you were lucky enough to go last year then you know that tickets sold out in mere minutes. So for anyone who missed it, here's your "heads up" as tickets will be going on sale next Thursday, April 5th. You'll need to be on the email list in order to recieve the password protected link to get tickets, so make sure to sign up stat. For additional details, dates, participating restaurants and Bacon and Beer merch check out Eat Boston.

The entrance to my office is about 50 feet from this place, and before last week, the thought of dining there never crossed my mind. I didn't even realize it was a working restaurant until I was invited for lunch by a co-worker. After two visits and some research, I now realize this place has been a Boston cult favorite since the 90's. Apparently I'm a little late on this one. So for the people that have been eating at New King Fung Garden for years, take this as a reminder of its glory. For those of you who haven't heard of it, get excited, because you have a new restaurant to try that's not only fun, cheap and unique -- it's BYOB too, which is reason enough to check it out.

It's the definition of a divey hole-in-the-wall. There are only 5 tables in the whole place (one of which blocks the doorway, you have to move it to fit into the booth) and the interior looks more like someone's kitchen than a restaurant. It feels a little sketchy at first, but one look at the food on the tables around you and it's immediately obvious you're in a good spot.

Start with the scallion pancakes. They're perfect. Thicker than other scallion pancakes I've had, the layers of dough in the middle are fluffy and the outside skin is crispy.

Winter is officially over, but that doesn't mean you can't use the upcoming weekend to eat all the citrus in sight. It won't be long before it's officially off the farm stands for the summer.

Blood orange has a unique raspberry orange tangyness that pairs fantastically well with the earthy qualities of Manchego cheese. I used a raw sheep's milk variety from Whole Foods that had a softer and more buttery texture than most of the Manchego I've tried. I added olives because (aside from a strange craving for them) they balanced the other ingredients nicely, lending a salty and acidic element to the mix.

Dressing is totally up to you. I used a homemade mixture of champagne vinegar, olive oil, honey, mustard and salt and pepper -- basically a simpler version of this champagne vinaigrette recipe. Balsamic vinaigrette is also a great option. Regardless, homemade vinaigrettes are easy to throw together and taste infinitely fresher than any pre-made dressing.

Ingredients:

We're only three months into 2012 and already it appears that this may very well be the year of the Ramen. Yes Ramen, that ridiculously cheap dry noodle you ate almost religiously while you were in college - most memorably (or not so memorably) during the wee hours of the night after long hours filled with studying or drinking or whatever.

Guchi Midnight Ramen took the city by storm a few weeks back, and people have been in all sorts of a tizzy at the inability to land a seat at the super small pop-ups (which only house about 30 - 60 seats a night). Luckily, another well-known Boston chef is also trying their hand at the uber-nostalgic late night Ramen, which we actually had a chance to try out last week.

Ken Oringer recently renovated his flagship spots - both Clio and Uni - as part of their ten year anniversary. Along with a new look and new menus to match, Oringer also started offering a late night Ramen menu at Uni on the weekends. Thursday through Saturday stop by anytime after 11pm to get your quick fix of asian noodles for just $10 a bowl! They're also serving up small snacks like Shishito peppers and pork buns. So head over to the Eliot Hotel where you're reasonably priced Ramen awaits.

Uni
370A Commonwealth Ave.
Boston, MA
617-536-7200

During a rather boozy St. Patty's day brunch at Kendall Square's Catalyst, I tried a truly inventive cocktail I haven't been able to stop thinking about since. The Pho (made with Square One Cucumber, Lime, Basil, Cilantro and Sriracha) mimics the flavors of traditional Vietnamese noodle soup. The combination seems odd at first, but the result is a flawlessly executed, fresh-tasting cocktail that gives you yet another reason to make the trek out to Kendall Square.

This drink was great because I was able to taste each ingredient in every sip, but the whole was greater than the sum of its parts. The cucumber gives the Pho a light base flavor which is then enhanced by the spice in the Sriracha, and smoothed over by the lime and herbs. After taking a sip you'll undoubtedly enter cocktail Nirvana, then you'll probably order another one before finishing your first. Trust me, it's hard not to.

Do your mouth a favor and give it a try next time you're in the Kendall area!

300 Technology Sq
Cambridge, MA 02139

Saturday and Sunday mornings in Beacon Hill require--before anything else--an assessment of the line at The Paramount. Usually it's out of control, but on the off chance you can get food in under 40 minutes, it's totally worth it. For the non-Beacon Hill residents who make the trek over specifically for Paramount, the move is to grab a coffee and quick snack at Starbucks across the street to hold you over until you eventually get to the front of the line.

Open since 1937, it's a classic order-at-the-counter breakfast spot. The open kitchen makes waiting in the huge line entertaining because the line cooks move around the space like ninjas and have the pancakes, omelettes and home fries down to an exact science.

They just opened a second location in Southie, which is reportedly just as crowded as the original location. I'm not surprised in the least because they serve the exact same classic blueberry pancakes as Beacon Hill that made them so famous to begin with. Their signature blueberry pancake style involves lodging a scoop of butter in the middle of the pancake stack so it spreads in all directions.

Has anyone been yet?

Beacon Hill
44 Charles St
Boston, MA 02114

South Boston
667 East Broadway
Boston, MA 02127

This Thursday, and the third Thursday of every month, Art Bar invites you to join them for a series of cocktail classes. Hosted by Director of Food and Beverage, Troy Clarke, the 45 minute courses explore different spirits -- this week's is Brandy! Exploring the differences between different styles of the liquor, including Pisco, Pommace, Grappa, Armagnac, Cognac and more, you'll leave with all the knowedge you need to bring your amateur mixology skills back home. You'll also likely leave with a good buzz, which isn't bad for a $20 cocktail making class. They start at 6:30, and if you stick around for dinner after they'll even give you 10% off your meal. Check out the full list of classes here!

Cocktail Classes at Art Bar
6:30pm, third Thursday of every month
40 Edwin Land Boulevard
Cambridge, MA
617-806-4122

Kendall Square may be having the best year ever, based on the number of recent restaurant openings alone, but let's not forget about the oldies -- yet such goodies -- that still reign supreme in the tech-focused area. Today I'm talking about Amelia's Trattoria, the family owned bistro on Harvard Street that specializes in traditional Italian fare inspired by the flavors of central and southern Italy. Their forte lies in their homemade pastas, polentas, pizzas and paninis, and the quaint and comfortable environment creates the perfect atmosphere for any event -- from date night to larger family affairs.

Their list of specials on any given evening is always impressive and often includes a variety of homemade polentas. Paired with their monster-sized meatballs, this dish is enough to get you instantly hooked on this place.

The homemade gnocchi, served with brown butter sage and butternut squash, is another favorite. They're nothing short of tiny pillows of heaven, full of fresh seasonal flavors. If your eyes don't roll in the back of your head after your first bite, I'd say that's a definite medical concern.

111 Harvard St.
Cambridge, MA
617-868-7600

There's a new kid on the block in Chinatown perfect for food nerds and ramen-obsessed alike. China King opened its doors about two weeks ago in the former Rainbow Cafe location. The menu is extensive, full of Chinese classics (think fried rice, steamed dumplings, scallion pancakes) and some other dishes I wasn't expecting like fish head hot pot, pork intestines and a list of about 15 different noodle soups.

I went with the larger version of my favorite classic Chinese food soup -- hot and sour noodle soup. It was packed to the brim with noodles, tofu, pork and bamboo shoots. For $6.50 China King offers a more-than-generous portion, which makes this a great cheap lunch for anyone who works downtown. I split this soup with someone else, and we still couldn't finish it. Beef brisket noodle soup is next on my list to try.

China King
60 Beach Street
Boston, MA, 02111

It's here! Or well, almost here. Boston's 7th annual Winter restaurant week is right around the corner and you know what that means... utter chaos. If you think you can walk into your favorite restaurant for a quick bite between the weeks of March 18 and March 30, think again. But, on the upside, it does give you an opportunity to enjoy the culinary greatness of some of Boston's best chefs without paying the usual absurd price tags they normally come with.

Each participating restaurant is offering up prix fixe three-course dinners for $33.12, three-course lunches for $20.12, and two-course lunches for $15.12 (excluding weekends), and although it's still two weeks away from the start date, reservations are already filling up fast. You can peruse the menu options and qualifying restaurants here, but don't wait long, the good ones will all be booked up before you know it!