What's the Dish?

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

Extreme Beer Fest
Feb. 20, 6-9:30 p.m.; Feb. 21, Two sessions: 1-4:30 p.m. and 6-9:30 p.m.
Boston Center for the Arts
If you loved Beer Summit at the Castle, you’ll flip your cup for Extreme Beer Fest. It’s all about the American brewers this time, featuring more than 100 creative pours. Tickets are $40 and include entrance, a tasting cup, all 2 ounce pours, a fest guide, and an extreme beer education.

Throwback Friday Menu
Every Friday through April 24, 5:30-10 p.m.
Olives
Celebrate 20 successful years at Todd English‘s flagship restaurant in Charlestown. In light of the milestone, every Friday night, you’ll be able to order off the original 1989 menu, which features the dishes that made Olives so popular in the first place. And, you’ll also pay 1989 prices! Some of the traditional plates available include: beef carpaccio with Roquefort polenta for $5.50, grilled octopus with chickpeas for $5.95, brick oven roasted half chicken for $12.95, and Olives bouillabaisse for $15.95. We love you Todd. No really.

Regional Pasta Tour
Every Wednesday for 20 weeks, 6:30-8:30 p.m.
Tavolo
Every Wednesday night, for $18 per person, you can enjoy three courses of imaginative Italian food (starter/pasta/dessert), plus an offbeat education about the 20 regions of Italy.

New Regime of the Boston Culinary Scene
Feb. 24, 7 p.m.
Avila
Five of Boston’s greatest chefs will assemble for one night, under one roof, working together to produce a multi-course feast paired with wines. Each chef presents a different dish: Marc Orfaly of Pigalle and Marco will prepare the hors d’oeuvres; Tony Susi of Sage will man the pasta; Dante de Magistris of Dante will serve up the fish course; Rodney Murillo of Avila will prepare the meat dish; and Tom Ponticelli of Davio’s will complete the meal with dessert.

Wine Dinner: Battle of California Wineries
Feb. 26, 6:45 p.m.
Olivadi
Join Wine Director Bruno Marini for his monthly wine dinner, which includes four courses each complemented by two exceptional California wines. Guests will battle it out to deem the perfect pairings. Start off with passed hors d’oeuvres, and then enjoy a first course of homemade potato gnocchi with truffle oil paired with two wines, followed by a second course of pancetta wrapped scallops and mozzarella risotto cake, also paired with two wines. The entree is veal cutlets ‘Roman style,’ paired with—you guessed it, two more wines—and for dessert, there will be a special dessert tasting, and more wine!

Check out our new slide show on a dozen great places to do brunch.

For our top 10 weekend events, check out The Weekender.

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