Squeezing in all the last, best tastes of summer becomes mandatory around now. Harvest dinners on land and moon dances at sea are some of the possibilities. September always brings out our serious side, though, so a course in cancer-preventing nutrition might be the next step for a new season.
There are only a few days left of the crab fest at Magnolias Southern Cuisine in Cambridge. The crab bounty, which is offered through Saturday, includes such appetizers as a tomato and mozzarella salad topped with lump crabmeat and basil vinaigrette ($7.95), and a dish of steamed Jonah crab claws, crisp-fried blue crab fingers, and crab salad maison ($9.95). Entrees include pan-fried catfish fillet topped with sauteed crabmeat over New Orleans meuniere sauce ($15.95), and a crab combo plate with soft shells, crab cakes, crab Imperial, and more ($22.95). 617-576-1971. www.magnoliascuisine.com
Jack’s of New London, N.H., will showcase the state’s farm bounty Sept. 9 at its third annual growers’ dinner. The event, at the Cleveland Barn in New London with Jack’s chef Andrew Gruel cooking, will feature such dishes as acorn squash flan; chilled curried butternut squash soup; trout gateau with wild arugula and white corn polenta; and coriander-vanilla lamb ‘‘lollipops’’ with wild mushroom-potato gratin. The dinner, which begins at 6, costs $125 and will benefit the Ausbon Sargent Land Preservation Trust. 603-526-6555.
Dancing in the moonlight can be even more romantic on the water. Odyssey I is offering a dinner dance Sept. 7 and Oct. 6, dates when a full moon is promised. The cruises include a four-course dinner and live entertainment. Cost is $78; the cruise begins at 6 p.m. 888-741-0281. www.Odyssey.com
Foods that may help prevent cancer will be explored in a four-week class starting Sept. 7 at the Westborough Public Library. The classes, sponsored by the Cancer Project, will concentrate on a low-fat vegetarian diet of fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, all of which are believed to contain cancer-fighting antioxidants. Cooking instructor Rose Lee will give recipe instructions. The classes, which are free, begin at 6:30 p.m. There is no class Sept. 21; the last will be Oct. 5. 508-366-3050. www.cancerproject.org
