Discover hotel and resort dining, food and wine festivals, restaurant weeks, country farms, cozy inns, recipes, cookbooks, cooking classes, international fare and more.

Search Contents

Spotlight: Contessa Restaurant at The Newbury Hotel in Boston

Video courtesy of Dining Playbook

Spotlight: Afternoon Tea Vermont Style

Photo courtesy of Shelburne Farms

Savor Afternoon Tea, Vermont Style... Enjoy daily afternoon tea in the Tea Room, one of several lovely common rooms at Shelburne Farms, and more.
 View Post

Friday, October 25, 2013

Bountiful Harvest & Rustic Cooking at The Metropolitan Club in Chestnut Hill

Chef Cory Williams creates new menu items at The Metropolitan Club in Chestnut Hill (near Boston) to capture the flavors of autumn.

Blue Hubbard Squash Soup
candied cranberries, house-made duck prosciutto

House-made Ricotta Gnocchi Squash Bowl
pecorino, brussel leaves, pistachios

Stone Rice Bowl
miso lacquered tofu, brown nashiki rice, roasted kohlrabi,
seared greens, daikon sprouts, roasted cashews

"All Star" Turkey Wedge
turkey leg, lettuce, tomato, red onion,
hardboiled egg, avocado, blue cheese ranch

Braised Short Rib
porcini crust, root cellar vegetables, roasted bone marrow

Apple Dumpling
toffee sauce, vanilla ice cream

Dulce de Leche & Dark Chocolate Pudding
black & white cookie, chantilly cream, malt ball crumble

Thursday, October 24, 2013

Photo of the Day: Colorful Bowls at Waitsfield, Vermont Farmers' Market


Colorful Peggy Potter Bowls at Waitsfield, Vermont Farmers' Market -Photo by Don Shall via Flickr

Tuesday, October 22, 2013

Harvest on the Harbor ~ October 23 - 26, 2013 ~ Portland, Maine


Video courtesy of Harvest on the Harbor on YouTube

Get ready to indulge your taste  buds -- Portland's waterfront will soon be abuzz with the sixth annual Harvest on the Harbor, taking place on October 23-26, 2013 in Portland, Maine.

The highly anticipated festival kicks of with the Grand Tasting on Wednesday, October 23, and will showcase eighteen amazing culinary displays from Maine’s most noted chefs and purveyors, accompanied by twenty nine beer, wine and spirit providers.

On Thursday, October 24, Maine chefs will compete for Lobster Chef of the Year. Their delectable dishes will be served, paired with beer, wine, and spirits.

International Maine: Taste the World is a new event at this year's festival:

"Tour the world with Aki Japanese food; Tandoor Indian cuisine; Zapoteca Mexican fare; Café Miranda with a French twist; Brian Boru adds an Irish element, and Phoever Maine providing a Vietnamese sampling to name a few. On the demonstration stage you’ll learn from noted chefs how they infuse their native cultural heritage into modern day fare." --Harvest on the Harbor

For the full schedule of events, visit www.harvestontheharbor.com




Sunday, October 20, 2013

Celebrity Chef Classes at Boston Center for Adult Education (November & December)

Discover the chef in you! Boston Center for Adult Education is offering "Celebrity Chef Classes" in November and December, 2013.

Class Schedules:

Brew & Chew with Andy Husbands & Idle Hands Brewing
Tuesday, November 5, 2013
6:00PM-9:00PM

Tasty Tapas with Deborah Hansen 
Tuesday, November 12, 2013
6:00PM-9:00PM

One Dish Wonders with Pino Maffeo Russo
Monday, November 18, 2013
6:00PM-9:00PM

Comfort food with Peter Hensen
Monday, December 2, 2013
6:00PM-9:00PM

Behind the Line with Jeff Fournier
Monday, December 9, 2013
6:00PM-9:00PM

Lovin' Holiday Leftovers with Alex Saenz & lovin' spoonfuls
Monday, December 16, 2013
6:00PM-9:00PM

See website for cost and more details. Visit www.bcae.org.




Sunday, October 13, 2013

Portsmouth & The Seacoast Restaurant Week | November 7-16, 2013 | New Hampshire



Sponsored by the Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce, this fall’s celebration will take place Thursday, November 7 – Saturday November 16, 2013 and will feature close to 50 restaurants located in Portsmouth and the Seacoast.

Settled in the 1600s, Portsmouth and surrounding towns make up a vibrant, New England coastal destination with unique locally owned shops and restaurants, and world-class arts and culture. The restaurant scene provides every kind of cuisine imaginable – much locally sourced - at establishments ranging from chef-owned restaurants to local breweries.

“Whether you’re a local resident or a traveler, you can find what you are looking for in Portsmouth and the Seacoast, said Valerie Rochon, Tourism Manager for the Chamber. “Want to shop our independent stores or rich gallery scene before dinner? Take in dinner and a show? Stay the night in one of our charming hotels? Portsmouth and the Seacoast have it all. And, if you are new, Restaurant Week is a great way to introduce yourself to this charming, culinary destination.”

For more information, visit www.restaurantweekportsmouth.com.

Image courtesy of The Greater Portsmouth Chamber of Commerce

Saturday, October 12, 2013

Get Your "Nightly Fixe" at Grotto Restaurant in Boston

"Chef on Fire" Photo courtesy of  Flickr user mattfour 

Grotto Restaurant, located in Boston, serves up contemporary Italian cuisine in its subterranean setting. Get your "Nightly Fixe" -- $38 per person prix fixe price for dinner every night. The three course option is available seven days a week during all hours of dinner operation. The prix fixe consists of Grotto’s appetizers, entrees and desserts.

For more information, including menus, visit www,grottorestaurant.com



Spa & Dine Package at Wildflower Inn in Vermont

How about a New England spa escape coupled with dining? The Wildflower Inn in Lyndonville, Vermont is offering a spa and dine package through November 3.

The SPA and Dine Package inlcudes:
  • Two nights lodging in the warm and cozy inn
  • A delicious hot country breakfast each morning
  • $50 in dinner vouchers to Wildflower's own Juniper's Restaurant
  • One Massage and sauna treatment at the Stepping Stone Spa per adult.
  • Afternoon refreshments of homemade chocolate chip cookies and Cabot cheese & crackers
The Wildflower Inn is a pet-friendly, village-like resort located on over 500 pristine acres in Lyndonville, nestled in the heart of the the beautiful Northeast Kingdom of Vermont.

For more information, visit http://www.wildflowerinn.com