Restaurants

This weekend: Learn how to make your own vermouth

Plus, the food news you may have missed this week.

By Erin Kuschner

February 19, 2021

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We’re all eating a little differently these days: Cooking at home more. Ordering takeout. Dining by fire pits. Whatever your comfort level, here’s what’s been going on in Boston’s restaurant world recently, plus a few ways to enjoy some of our region’s best restaurants and bars from both the comfort of your own home and out in the world.

Here’s what you may have missed this week:

Eastern Standard.

Significant changes are in store for an iconic stretch of Kenmore Square, after it was announced that Eastern Standard, Island Creek Oyster Bar, and The Hawthorne had permanently closed. Readers remembered Eastern Standard by sharing their own memories of drinking and dining at the restaurant for birthdays, anniversaries, and post-Red Sox meals.

From Jamaican rum cake to the McDonald’s Big Mac, here are five dishes that helped shape some of Boston’s Black restaurant owners.

Tree House Brewing hosted a COVID-19 vaccination clinic this week, located at the site of its upcoming taproom in South Deerfield.

Mr. Dooley’s Olde Irish Village Pub on the South Shore will close after St. Patrick’s Day. “Unfortunately, due to circumstances out of our control, our paths must part,” the bar revealed.

The Boston.com Cocktail Club tackled two vodka-based recipes this week: the Kangaroo and the vodka gimlet. We also talked with a legend in the Boston bar scene: Brother Cleve, who shared his lifelong drink of choice.

Drink this:

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If you’ve been paying attention to what’s been going on in Texas recently, you know the state is in the midst of a full-blown crisis. Plenty of residents are still without power, heat, water, and access to food after multiple snowstorms, and the repercussions of this past week will continue long after temperatures start rising. Rebel Rebel at Bow Market in Somerville wants to help: Through Sunday, guests swinging through the wine bar will be able to purchase mulled wine, either enjoyed in the bar’s courtyard or to go, with 100 percent of the sales donated to a number of mutual aid organizations targeting some of the hardest-hit neighborhoods in Texas. And if you want to continue donating after you’ve finished your glass of mulled wine? Here are a few places to start.

Eating and cooking alone, together:

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Earlier this year, I wrote about the fine folks at Brassica Kitchen + Cafe launching Juice Box Ferments, a monthly farm share-style box that focuses on fermented food and drink. On Tuesday, they’re teaming up with Edible Boston for a class on how to make vermouth. Ticket sales ($65 per person) close at noon on Saturday, and include a one-hour virtual vermouth-making class, plus a kit that includes everything you need to make your own 750mL bottle of the fortified wine. Kits can be picked up on Sunday between 10 a.m. and 2 p.m. at Brassica in Jamaica Plain or at Concord Market in Concord.

Anyone else miss sitting at the bar at The Quiet Few in Eastie and downing one of their smashed patty burgers? The cheery hangout might be currently closed for indoor dining, but today marks the start of their weekend burger and dog lab, available Fridays and Saturdays from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m. for the next two weekends (takeout only). A succinct menu of seven burgers and hot dogs will be offered, including the Ono Grind burger with grilled pineapple and jalapeño salsa, the My Big Fat Falafel burger with a falafel patty and tzatziki, and the Nacho Libre dog with house cheese wiz, Frito corn chips, and queso fresco. Order via The Quiet Few’s Toast page starting at 4 p.m. on Friday.

Here’s a new place to get your caffeine fix: Blue Bottle Coffee debuted its latest location at The Street Chestnut Hill this week, serving drinks like the Muscovado Sugar Latte, New Orleans–Style Iced Latte, and Cascara Fizz. A short list of food items, including breakfast sandwiches and avocado toast, are also available. The move? Grab a latte, then head over to Sweet & Sage Patisserie, the shopping area’s newest bakery pop-up.