Packed with storefront joints whose menus span the globe—as well with as hordes of thirsty college students—Allston for years has been a kind of culinary version of 1840’s California: While there’s a lot of wealth here in Rock City, it’s not a destination for those with, let’s say, delicate sensibilities. Yet amid the neighborhood’s trademark grittiness, and occasional hooliganism, there are a few beacons of civility.

And so it is that we found ourselves heading to Allston for brunch (yes, brunch). A few blocks from the heart of Allston, up Cambridge Street toward Twin Donuts, sits an inviting little bar called Deep Ellum. (more…)

Your Chowder hounds have sniffed down the best culinary events in town. Check back every Thursday for your weekly prix-fixe of foodie feasts, cooking classes, wine tastings, and more.

June 1-4
Cape Cod Life Food & Wine Festival
Grand Opening: June 1, 3-6 p.m.; Happy Hours: June-2-4, 4-6 p.m.

The Cape Cod Life Food & Wine Festival is four days of foodie heaven. TV Diner’s Billy Costa hosts the Grand Opening at the Rectrix Aerodrome in Hyannis, which will feature Twenty-Eight Atlantic and Willowbend Country Club, chefs Gabriel Frasca and Amanda Lydon of Nantucket’s Straight Wharf, Todd Winer of The Metropolitan Club, Peter Eco of Stix and 33, and Dante de Magistris of dante.

June 1,5:30 p.m.
Sunday Suppers at Sage
Sage

June kicks off Sage’s Summer Series, which runs through September and features near-daily specials. On Sundays, chef Anthony Susi presents a three-course menu including pasta with “Sunday gravy” (meat ragu), fresh cheeses, and cannoli. (more…)

As the intrepid Amy Traverso reported back in April, Boston’s got a new ice-cream bigwig. And it’s not just any ice cream—it’s vegan ice cream. Adventurous flavors like dragonfruit and Mexican chocolate are Wheeler del Torro’s trademark, and he churns out new recipes faster than local chefs can dish out beet salads. (more…)

Keeping track of Boston’s dining scene can feel almost as daunting as finding a package of hot dog buns on Memorial Day weekend. Chowder scours the internet for the latest news on what’s coming, what’s going, and where you can get the latest alternative to chicken fingers.

Opening
Comfort in Watertown Square claims its mac and cheese is better than our mom’s, according to Zagat Buzz. Mom considers the gauntlet thrown.

We’re still not over the loss of Garden of Eden. News that Stephanie’s on Newbury may take over the space doesn’t do much to comfort us. (more…)

My apartment is, luckily, big enough to entertain. So is my galley kitchen. Not huge crowds, mind you, but the occasional small dinner party (with plenty of food prep the day before, of course). Though I’ll be honest: cramming eight family members into an apartment which usually sees foot traffic of only two per day? About as fun as basting a turkey for twenty.

Yet, that was my fate last Saturday, when my parents, sister, both sets of grandparents, and step-grandmother arrived to spend a long weekend hanging out at my comfortable—but alas, far from palatial—abode. With their loads of suitcases and bags came the age-old question: What to serve? (more…)

Your Chowder hounds have sniffed down the best culinary events in town. Check back every Thursday for your weekly prix-fixe of foodie feasts, cooking classes, wine tastings, and more.

May 23, 6:30 p.m.
Lure Spring Launch Dinner
Lure, Winnetu Inn, 31 Dunes Road, Edgartown
Lure’s Spring Wine Dinner Series is enough to lure us to the Vineyard. They’ll kick off the season with wines from Sebastiani Vineyards & Winery, one of Sonoma’s oldest wineries. Guests will compare the Sonoma and Carneros Chardonnays, Dry Creek Zinfandel, Sonoma & Alexander Cabernet Sauvignons, and Sylvia’s Symphony dessert wine.

May 27, 7 p.m.
Show & Taste Tuesdays
Sibling Rivalry
The problem with TV cooking shows is you never get to taste the final product. But if you attend chef David Kinkead’s new cooking demonstration series, he’ll share his cooking tips and tricks and serve you a three-course dinner. Click here for the menu. (more…)

A favorite pastime here at Chowder is a game I like to call “Too Much/Not Enough.” As in: deciding what type of eateries we’re sick to death of hearing about (sushi, seafood, brasseries, modern Italian), and what we’re desperately craving more of (barbecue joints, soul food, authentic Mexican).

I, for one, would like to add diners to my “gimme” list. Racking my brain for a good-and-grimy place to gorge on bacon grease on a recent Sunday, I found myself at a loss. (A pounding headache, the consequence of having what our Bostonista correspondents call “too much fun” the previous night, didn’t help.) Unless you want to venture out to the ‘burbs—or across the river, which I’m hard-pressed to do on Sundays—what’s an omelet-craving gal to do? (more…)

Keeping track of Boston’s dining scene can feel almost as daunting as finding an outdoor table on a sunny Sunday afternoon. Chowder scours the internet for the latest news on what’s coming, what’s going, and praise of the almighty pickle.

Opening
Somebody make the agony stop. New cupcake shop Sweet is thisclose to opening its location on Mass. Ave., but still there are no lemon cupcakes to be had. Once it’s open, we expect our only exercise will be walking up the street to get our daily fix.

Speaking of tasty desserts, the Herald reports that Finale will open it fifth local restaurant sometime in November in what was the North End Martignetti’s.

(more…)

Ah, those cunning marketing svengalis…they could make torturing puppies sound not-half-bad!

Just when it was shaping up to be another harrowing season of avoiding the outdoor-dining experience—that irritating warm breeze, the hackneyed city skyline, the downright maddening sun-kist floral gardens—the restaurant PR spin machine has spun into overdrive.

First up is Stella, the Italian eatery in the South End, which went the Boloco v. Wrap route by taking the offending word out of the equation completely. A breathless press release cleverly re-brands the patio as a “terrazzino.” Now, my Italian’s a smidge rusty (and the word may well translate to “diminutive sun-tainted hellhole”), but we’re ready to call it: Boston’s population of patio-dodging agoraphobes will become terrazzino junkies by summer’s end. Remember—you read it here first. (more…)

Your Chowder hounds have sniffed down the best culinary events in town. Check back every Thursday for your weekly prix-fixe of foodie feasts, cooking classes, wine tastings, and more.

May. 1st - May. 31st
Brasserie Jo Month-Long Celebration
Brasserie JO is celebrating its 10th anniversary throughout May with a month filled with activities. Every day there’s a new special drink or food offering, from free crepes and complimentary cheese courses to a $1 bar menu and more. Check out the full list here.

May. 7th - Jun. 30th
Aw Shucks!
Pigalle
Tues.-Fri., 5-10 p.m.; Sat., 5:30-10:30 p.m.; Sun., 5-9:30 p.m.
Marc Orfaly, chef/owner of Pigalle, is introducing an early spring patio special of $1 oysters at the patio, bar, and dining room, every Tuesday–Sunday evening. (more…)