Earth Week (and Biodynamic Wines) All Next Week at Bambara

Earth Day turns 40 this year.

That's a big birthday.

But instead of getting all extravagant about it, Bambara Restaurantis reigning it in.

They'll be serving dishes composed of ingredients that come from very close -- to the ground, that is, and to Boston in general.

Such as Island Creekoysters from Duxbury, along with a mignonette made with wine from Westport Rivers.

And English peas from Verrill Farmin Concord.

And a main course of Berkshire pork shank.

Check out the full menu here. It's a little bit like a Massachusetts food tour, organic-style.

But notice the two bits that are right up top:

1. That this earth-friendly menu is available ALL WEEK, from Monday, April 19 to Saturday, April 24.

2. That wine pairings -- all from sustainable sources -- are a mere ten bucks extra.

Peace out.


WHAT: Earth Week Menu
WHERE: Bambara Restaurant, 25 Edwin H. Land Blvd., Cambridge
WHEN: Monday, April 19 to Saturday, April 24
COST: $45 per person, $55 paired with sustainable wine

DAILY TIDBIT:

"I'm like old wine. They don't bring me out very often, but I'm well preserved."

-- Rose Kennedy

Slow Food Founder Carlo Petrini, Sunday in Boston

Boston hosts more than its fair share of big-deal speakers.

But for those of us who care about the sources of our food and drink, Carlo Petrini is one of the biggest deals of all.

Petrini was the one who in 1989 protested the first McDonald's to open near Rome's ancient Spanish Steps with no more than a bowl of macaroni in his hands and a fierce opposition to fast food in his heart.

That's when Slow Food and Slow Food Internationalwas born.

100,000 members in 132 countries later, Petrini and his iconic bowl of macaroni continue to inspire a resistance to fast food, fast life, and the disappearance of local food traditions.

This Sunday afternoon, he'll be inspiring 500 or so Bostonians in person.

Most of those seats are taken so here's what could be your last chance.

Petrini's talk is free and open to the public. He'll also be signing books alongside Woody Tasch, author of the similarly-spirited Slow Money.

Go. Be inspired. And never see a bowl of macaroni the same way again.


WHAT: Talk and Book Signing by Carlo Petrini
WHERE: Science Center Lecture Hall B, Harvard University, 1 Oxford Street, Cambridge
WHEN: Sunday, April 18 from 2 to 4 p.m.
COST: $0 but you must RSVP here


DAILY TIDBIT:

Edible Bostonmagazine, edited by the incomparable Ilene Bezahler, is the local publication that connects "consumers with local growers, retailers, chefs, and food artisans, enabling those relationships to grow and thrive in a mutually beneficial, healthful, and economically viable way." Check it out here.

Celebrate Local Food on Earth Day, Drinks to Match

This is the best option we've seen yet for celebrating Earth Day, coming up on Thursday, April 22.

It's called Earth Dinner, it encourages folks to dine together on local food on Earth Day, it's sponsored by Chef's Collaborative, and there are more restaurants participating from Massachusetts than from any other state in the country. (Yep, that includes California. Check out the full list here.)

What especially caught our eye is that JJ Gonson, a personal chef at the helm of Cuisine En Locale, is also participating.

This is where it gets interesting.

Because when JJ participates, JJ PARTICIPATES.

In regards to Earth Dinner, that means 10+ courses of local food spread over a three-hour period.

It means the entrance fee of $60 covers it all -- the Earth Dinner plus the donation to Chef's Collaborative -- even though the actual value of the meal is more than twice that much.

Best of all, seeing that JJ is a highly sensible person, she's opened the BYO door, whatever Your Own means to you.

White wine? Bring it. Champagne? You bet. Apple juice? No problem.

Cuisine en Local is an equal-opportunity beverage supporter.

Good thing the planet, local food, and Earth Dinner are on their support list too.


WHAT: Cuisine En Locale's Earth Dinner
WHERE: We don't know yet. Seriously. Location details will be sent the day before to confirmed guests.
WHEN: Thursday, April 22 at 6:30 p.m.
COST: $60
RSVP: Contact JJ Gonson directly at 617.285.0167


DAILY TIDBIT:

Here's a resource to get you thinking about drinking local on Earth Day too. The Massachusetts Farm-Winery & Growers Associationhas put together a wine and cheese trail that features 21 wineries and 11 artisan cheesemakers, all in our fair state. Check it out.

RWB Contest and Special Discount on Limited-Availability Pinot Noir

Calling all Pinot Noir lovers!

And Oregon wine lovers...

And Grill 23 lovers...

And people who love special access especially at a discounted price...

And all -- or even some -- of the above!

Tomorrow night at Grill 23, Bauer Wine & Spiritsis hosting a very special wine dinner featuring limited-availability wines from renown Anne Amie Vineyardsin Oregon's Willamette Valley.

Two of the wines, the last two of the dinner, are normally available only at the winery. A few of the others will be available in limited quantity only at Bauer Wines.

How does knowing this help you?

Red White Boston is offering a special $20 discount for the dinner to the first four of our readers who drop us an emaillisting the three things you love about Oregon Pinot Noir.

And voila!

You have yourself a seat at the dinner -- check out the full menu here-- for less than everyone else paid, and with the inside track on wines almost no one else can get their hands on.

Three things to love about Pinot Noir from Oregon. Send us an emailabout it.

Contest opens NOW.

WHAT: Anne Amie Oregon Wine Dinner
WHERE: Grill 23, 161 Berkeley Street, Boston
WHEN: TOMORROW, Wednesday, April 14. Reception at 7, dinner at 7:30 p.m.
COST: Normally $95, special discount of $20 to winners of this RWB contest


DAILY TIDBIT:

Anne Amie Vineyards are all Salmon Safeand LIVEcertified, with low yields and minimal treatments. The good folks in Oregon think about these things quite a lot and trust us, it's a good thing for the fish AND for the grapes.

Running Along the Charles + Wachusett Beer Afterward

Let's say you've just finished a 5-mile run along the Charles.

(Which you can do with ease and lots of company on Monday evenings, thanks to the creative folks over at Social Boston Sports. It doesn't even have to be 5 miles. It could just as easily be 3 or even 7.)

Then you're thirsty.

And someone -- namely McGreevy's on Boylston Street -- offers you a pint of Wachusettbrew plus a few snacks.

For free.

Sound good?

Let's see. Exercise, plus socializing, plus fresh air, plus a pint of local brew afterward.

Sounds good indeed.


WHAT: Community Runs sponsored by Social Boston Sports
WHEN: Monday nights starting at 6:30 p.m.
WHERE: Runs leave from McGreevy's, 911 Boylston Street, Back Bay
AFTERWARD: Free pint of Wachusett and apps
MORE INFO: Click here.


DAILY TIDBIT:

Confucius once said that plain rice to eat, water to drink, and one's arm as pillow were quite enough for earthly happiness. Confucius was a wise and gentle soul... But he never tasted Champagne.
-- Ernst Hornickel

Marriage of Wine and Cheese TONIGHT at T.W. Food

It is nearly impossible to walk out of a dinner at T.W. Food and not be thinking how much you like the place.

Maybe it's their neighborhood vibe. Small, comfortable, familiar, friendly, open.

Maybe it's the obvious dedication of the staff, which is also small (husband = chef, wife = wine and front of house), comfortable, familiar, friendly and open.

Maybe -- just maybe -- it's what you eat and drink while you're there. Both the menu and the wine list are focused and exceptionally well-edited and once a week, like tonight, they home in on the food and beverages of a particular region.

Tonight it's the Loire, specifically the cheese and wine of that lovely region of France.

True to form, the menu and the pairings cover more than the usual suspects of grapes and ingredients.

Sure there's Chenin Blanc, but there's also Cot. And sure there's Cabernet Franc, but there's also Gamay.

As for the food?

A Loire cheese is part of each option -- see for yourself -- and you can bet whatever options you choose will be spot on.

Call ASAP for reservations. That small dining room fills up quick.


WHAT: Tuesday Night Wine Series: Marriage of Wine and Cheese of the Loire Valley
WHERE: T.W. Food, 377 Walden Street, Cambridge
WHEN: Tonight from 5 to 10 p.m.
COST: $49 for four courses and four wines
RSVP: Call 617.864.4745

DAILY TIDBIT:

Since 1980, France's per capital consumption of wine has dropped 53%, from 91 liters annually to 43.

Mon Dieu.

Drink Wine, Make Friends, Get Out and About

The thing about wine is its social-ability.

Whether you're out and about or sipping at home, you're almost always sharing the bottle or the glass or the experience with someone.

That's the best way.

The good news is that your options for the sharing part are limitless, especially here in Boston.

Here are a few of our favorite wine-oriented groups around town and their upcoming events.

Take your pick, or go all in. The possibilities -- for sharing, for new wines -- are endless.


WHO: Boston Wine Meetup Group
NEXT EVENT: Blind tasting at The Wine Bottega on Wednesday, April 21 at 6:30 p.m.

WHO: Cambridge Women's Wine Meetup Group
NEXT EVENT: Central Bottle Wine + Provisions on Thursday, April 22 at 6 p.m.

WHO: Salem Wine Women
FACEBOOK WALL: Click here.

WHO: WGBH Foodie Community
MORE INFO: Click here.

WHO: Boston Uncorked
SIGN UP: Click here.


DAILY TIDBIT:

Con pan y vino se anda el camino.

[With bread and wine you can walk your road.]

Spanish Proverb