February Pop-Up Dinners (and Other Notable Culinary Events)
Ponies & Pizza at La Motta’s Italian Specialities
The South End is home to some of Boston’s hottest restaurants, but the neighborhood isn’t known for being a late-night hotspot—especially early in the week. But one of the newest restaurants in the area is challenging that. Starting this week, La Motta’s Italian Specialties is introducing an industry night, pizza-and-beer special—complete with a 90’s party and hip hop soundtrack—on Sundays and Mondays. Classico and pepperoni pizzas are $10 each, and buckets of Miller High Life ponies are $15.
Sundays and Mondays, 10 p.m.-midnight; La Motta’s Italian Specialties, 1357 Washington St., Boston; 617-338-5300 or lamottaboston.com.
Brew & Foods Night at Harpoon Brewery Beer Hall
A visit to Harpoon’s Boston brewery is not complete without a buttery pretzel and your choice of house-made dipping sauces. But starting tonight, the Beer Hall is expanding its food options one night per month. With the help of local restaurants, including KO Catering & Pies, Blackstrap BBQ, Barracuda Tavern, Yankee Lobster Co., Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake, and others, there will be 10 different, themed bites during each event. This month, it’s comforting soups and stews, but keep an eye out for future Brew & Foods taco nights, an oyster fest, a ramen pop-up… You get the idea. Tickets include 10 snacks, one beer, and a donation to a rotating charity. This month, it’s Save the Harbor, Save the Bay.
Monday, January 25, 7:30-9:30 p.m. $30; Harpoon Brewery Beer Hall, 306 Northern Ave., Boston; harpoonbrewery.com.
Chubby Chickpea Shakshuka Brunch Pop-Up at Seven Star Street Bistro
If warming shakshuka isn’t part of your regular brunch rotation, change that immediately. Chef Avi Shemtov of the roving Chubby Chickpea food truck can help: This winter, he’s making the classic Middle Eastern dish of eggs poached in spicy tomato stew every Sunday in Roslindale. Shakshuka is portioned for two or four people to share, and there’s also imported Israeli pudding, yogurt, creamy sachlab, cheese, and bread. GrandTen Distilling is providing the libations during Seven Star Street Bistro’s first-ever pop-up series. Email the chef if you’d like to make a reservation.
Sundays, January 31-February 21, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., $11-$23; Seven Star Street Bistro, 153 Belgrade St., Roslindale Village; Facebook.
Oisa Ramen Pop-up at Snappy Sushi
Moe Kuroki is getting back into the kitchen for another Oisa Ramen pop-up, this time at an actual ramen shop. “I’m super excited to be able to cook by chef Youji Iwakura of Snappy Ramen [in Davis Square]! His creative ramen with deep appreciation and understanding for ramen and Japanese cuisine has been something I always looked up to,” she writes in the event invite. There will be four seatings for 20 guests each, with Kuroki’s homemade noodles available during the last one. Earlier guests will have her shoyu ramen, and the last seating offers chasyu, with extra pork belly. Edamame and steamed eel bun are on the menu, too.
Wednesday, February 3, seatings at 6, 7, 8, and 9 p.m., $30-$35; Snappy Sushi, 108 Newbury St., Boston; Eventbrite.
Mediterranean Wine Dinner Series at Committee
The Seaport’s modern meze lounge-cum-cocktail bar has brought on a reputable name to amp up its wine list with unusual, Mediterranean varietals. Industry veteran Lauren Friel, who created the best wine list in Boston while she was at Oleana, is consulting alongside Committee’s bar manager Peter Szigeti. Her influence on the menu is already felt, but a monthly wine dinner series will highlight her selections alongside a six-course menu by consulting chef Diane Kochilas. The events take place every first Wednesday, beginning February 3.
Wednesday, February 3, 7-9 p.m., $125; Committee, 50 Northern Ave., Fan Pier, Boston; 617-737-5051 or committeeboston.com.
Koreatown: A Cookbook Pop-Up with chef Deuki Hong at Kirkland Tap & Trotter
Over two years, Kang Ho Dong Baekjeong chef Deuki Hong and writer Matt Rodbard traveled around the country to gather recipes, photos, and interviews for Koreatown: A Cookbook. The funky, flavor-packed love letter to Korean American neighborhoods comes out February 16, but ahead of that, slam soju and with the co-authors right in Somerville. There are two, communal seating options, where guests can dine family-style on Korean-style marinated and grilled beef short ribs; kimchi and bacon fried rice with gochujang butter; and more. The fried rice is also an a la carte special all night. Tickets for the full dinner include a welcome cocktail and a signed copy of the book, plus the chance to chat with the authors.
Wednesday, February 10, seatings at 6:30 and 8:30, $51.63 (a la carte dining begins at 5:30 p.m.); The Kirkland Tap & Trotter, 425 Washington St., Somerville; 857-259-6585 or kirklandtapandtrotter.com; Eventbrite.
Craft Beer & Chocolate for Charity at the Somerville Armory
Last year, this annual beer fest sold out in 45 minutes. Why? Perhaps because it not only features breweries and cideries like Backlash Beer Co.; Rising Tide; Bantam Cider Company; and Foolproof Brewing with Taza Chocolate pairings for each beer, but also a lineup of snacks featuring the stone-ground chocolate from the likes of Black Bird Donuts, Highland Kitchen, Whole Heart Provisions, Coda, and more. Oh, and also, thanks for support from the Mass Beverage Alliance, 100 percent of ticket sales support the Greater Boston Food Bank. Tickets go on sale Tuesday, January 26 at 10 a.m.
Saturday, February 20, 7-9:30 p.m., Somerville Armory, 191 Highland Ave., Somerville; Eventbrite.
[Oink] CT Chef Takeover at Ribelle
Connecticut chefs are taking over Tim Maslow’s Brookline kitchen. [Oink], a pop-up by Craig Hutchinson and Alex Lishchynsky, creates out-of-the-box menus with local produce; Hutchinson was Ribelle’s opening chef de cuisine before he returning to his home state. With specials guests Matt Wick of River Tavern and James Wayman of Oyster Club, guests have their choice between two different, five-course tasting menus that will show Boston diners what Connecticut chefs are up to. Check out the menus and purchase tickets on Eventbrite.
Wednesday, February 24, seatings between 6-11 p.m., $70 per person; Ribelle, 1665 Beacon St., Brookline; Eventbrite.