Author, blogger and food educator Alana Chernilla, seen her at a booksigning at The Chefs' Shop in Great Barrington, will be at the Berkshire Athenaeum on Saturday demonstrating how to make lemon curd.
Manger! Boire! Eat! Drink!
at Chez Nous Bistro Resumes
Thursday, Jan 28, 6:30 p.m.
At Manger! Boire! Eat! Drink! this Thursday, Chez Nous baker/co-owner Rachel Portnoy says she and her husband, chef and co-owner Franck Tessier will be, "diving into an exciting new cookbook by one of our favorite local cookbook writers, Darra Goldstein: Fire & Ice, Classic Nordic Cooking. All of the menu and recipes will be inspired by this gorgeous new book."
She said, "The menu will be inspired by the sea." Franck will be making and demonstrating how to make "brined ice cellar salmon, followed by crispy fried fish with a Nordic winter salad,"
And for dessert, Portnoy will bake a Swedish almond cake, a wild blueberry and cranberry Tosca cake with almonds.
Call 413-243-6397 (do not reserve online) and specify that the reservation is for Manger! Boire! If you reach only voicemail, leave a message. The price is $35 per person plus tax and gratuity.
There will not be a Manger! Boire! dinner next Thursday, Feb. 4, because Chez Nous will be hosting a Burgundy wine dinner with wine importer and distributor Didier Boutet who has made it a practice to befriend and cultivate fine French vintners and their estates.
Portnoy said the menu could be subject to change based on price and availability. The wine dinner will be $85 per person plus tax and gratuity.
5-course Burgundy wine dinner with Didier Boutet
Friday, Feb. 5, 6:30 p.m.
truffled potato croquette with fig chutney
Domaine Vignoble Dampt Tonnerre 2014
cassolette of wild Burgundy escargot and porcini mushrooms
Domaine Dubreuil-Fontaine Pernand Vergelesse Village 2014
prune-stuffed quail, Swiss chard and foie gras in Madeira sauce
braised beef cheek Bourguignon with glazed heirloom carrots
Domaine Anne et Herve Sigaut Chambolle-Musigny « Derriere le Four » 2012
assiette de fromage/cheese plate with Port-poached dried fruits
Domaine Chevrot Maranges 1er Cru La Fussieres 2012
house-made mignardises/miniature pastries and other sweets
Becket Monthly
Community Breakfast
Saturday, Jan. 30
The Yoked Parish of Becket presents its monthly breakfast on the last Saturday of every month from 8 to 11. All are welcome. Menu consists of homemade scrambled eggs, pancakes, French toast, bacon, sausage, ham, hash, home fries, fresh fruit, juices, tea and coffee.
Becket resident Arlene Adler said, "I got up on the Saturday after Christmas. I got up late and was the last person there. But it was a delicious breakfast. The scrambled eggs and bacon and sausage and the hashed potatoes. French toast. Yummy blueberry pancakes. Everything was first rate!"
At Becket Federated Church, 413-623-5217, 3381 Main St. Adults $6; children under 12, $3.
Cookbook Author Alana Chernilla
Shows How to Prepare Lemon Curd
Saturday, Jan. 30, at 2 p.m.
The Friends of the Berkshire Athenaeum are always cooking up something fun, in the downstairs auditorium behind the children's library at the Athenaeum, 1 Wendell Ave., Pittsfield. It's easier to enter from the back parking lot on Bartlett Avenue.
This Saturday, they're bringing in the charming and energetic Alana Chernilla to show everyone how to make that delicious filling and spread, lemon curd. Chernilla, who lives in Great Barrington with her husband and two daughters, cooks pretty much everything from scratch.
And, with her blog, Eating from the Ground Up, and her two cookbooks, "The Homemade Kitchen" and "Homemade Pantry 101 Foods You Can Stop Buying and Start Making," she can get you to cook more, if not everything, from scratch, too.
Friends events are free and open to the public. Berkshire Community College Forum Credit is offered for participation in this event.
North County Eats Offers Specials for Restaurant Week Saturday, Jan. 30, through Sunday, Feb. 7
Many restaurants and food markets in Adams, North Adams and Williamstown have gotten together to brighten the winter for their customers and themselves. They are offering discounts on their meals or prix fixe specials starting this Saturday, Jan. 30 and running for the week through Sunday, Feb. 7.
Adams Ale House, Boston Sea Foods, Bounti-Fare Restaurant & Catering, Desperados Fresh Mexican Grille, Freight Yard Pub, Gala Steakhouse & Bistro, Gramercy Bistro, Haflinger Haus, Hops and Vines Beer Garden Brasserie, The Hub, Izzy's Diner & Pizza, Mezze Bistro & Bar, NoCo Pastaria, Oh Crepe, The Purple Pub, Renee's Diner, Richmond Grille, The '6 House Pub, Water Street Grill, Wild Oats Market make up the group.
Some are offering set entrées and sides with a choice of soup or salad for a fixed price. Some have a single fixed price menu item with at salad and set dessert. Some offer a free item with purchase of a larger item. Or a set entrée with a drink for a set price. Check the website for details.
Meat-centric Cooking Classes
at The Meat Market
Saturday Jan. 30, 5 to 7:30 p.m.
This Saturday evening, starting at 5 p.m. at The Meat Market, 389 Stockbridge Road/Route 7 in Great Barrington, owner Jeremy Stanton will give his knife skills class.
The class will include snacks to munch on and beer or wine to drink. Call the shop, 413-528-2022, with any questions and to reserve your place.
Southern Berkshire
Firehouse Chili Cook-off
Sunday, Jan. 31, 1 to 5 p.m.
The Great Barrington Fire Department along with other Southern Berkshire fire departments, will compete in what is planned to their first annual chili cook-off this Sunday afternoon at Crissey Farm Catering, behind Barrington Brewery at 426 Stockbridge Road/Route 7 in Great Barrington.
The cook-off will be a benefit for car accident victims and Barrington Brewery employees Lola Stoll and Bethany Cos, who were injured in a head-on collision, which was not their fault, in Lenox last November.
Each fire department will bring its signature firehouse chili to compete for first prize. There will be both people's choice and judges' choice winners.
There will also be a chinese auction and a silent auction of goods and services donated by local businesses. The Jill Gallagher band will provide the afternoon's music. Barrington Brewery brewmaster Andrew Mankin is said to be creating a new brew for this event.
Tickets are $10 and can be purchased at Barrington Brewery or at the door.
Annual Growers' Meeting
of Berkshire Co-op Market
Wednesday, Feb. 3, 11 a.m.
Every year, Berkshire Co-op Market holds a meeting to bring buyers and growers together to discuss the upcoming growing season. This year's meeting will be held at Berkshire South Regional Community Center, 15 Crissey Road off Stockbridge Road/Route 7 in Great Barrington.
"Last year, we purchased over $225,000 worth of product from small, independent local farms from within 100 miles of our door," said Matt Novik, the Co-op's communications manager.
Produce Manager Jake Levin added that "stocking this much local product requires great communication, organization and most of all, time. And all that groundwork starts at the annual Growers Meeting."
The Co-op welcomes non-farmer community members to this meeting. But Novik warns that it is a business meeting between the Co-op and its farmers and suppliers who will be the only ones allowed to ask questions or make comments.
If you would like to attend and/or have questions, contact Novik at mnovik@berkshire.coop.
NAMI Berkshire County Sets
2nd Annual Cupcake Wars
Thursday, Feb. 4, 5:30 to 8 p.m.
Cupcakes from The Harvest Barn at Gould Farm.
What an enticing fundraiser. An Italian dinner made by members of Unico and a cupcake tasting and judging of cupcakes from interested bakers and bakeries around Berkshire County. Who wouldn't want some?
Representatives from Gould Farm, a psychiatric rehabilitation center in Monterey, whose Harvest Barn Bakery will be participating, said, "The battle against stigma is a real one, one that our guests and all people with mental illness face. We will join NAMI's Cupcake Wars fundraiser, bringing our Harvest Barn Bakery cupcakes to help combat stigma. Most deliciously!"
Gimme Some Sugar, The Harvest Barn at Gould Farm and Linda's Pastries will be some of the bakers.
Cupcake competition will be best all-around cupcake, best decorated, most artistic, most over-the-top and the people's choice favorite cupcake. A dozen full-size cupcakes from each bakery will be auctioned off to the highest bidders at the end of the evening with all attendees eligible to bid.
The cost for the evening including the Italian dinner and cupcake tasting is $30. Itam Lodge, 93 Waubeek Road on Pontoosuc Lake in Pittsfield, will host the evening.
All proceeds will benefit NAMI Berkshire County, which provides information, referrals, classes, workshops, support groups and advocacy to family members and caregivers of people living with mental illnesses throughout Berkshire County.
For tickets, visit the NAMI office at 333 East St. Room 417, or Elm Street Hardware, 129 Elm St., both in Pittsfield, or buy them online namibc.org. Austen Riggs Center, Berkshire Health Systems, Brien Center for Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services Inc., Gould Farm, Servicenet Inc., South Bay Mental Health, WBRK are sponsors.
Becket Parish Monthly
Free Community Dinner
Friday, Feb. 5, 5 to 7
The Yoked Parish of Becket presents its free monthly pasta dinner this Friday. All are welcome.
Parish minister, the Rev. Kevin Smail, said the meal includes a pasta dish, salad, Italian or garlic bread and an assortment of mostly homemade desserts and beverages. The purpose of the regular meals is to build community, he said.
The free dinner will be at the parish house of Becket Federated Church, 413-623-5217, 3381 Main St., North Becket.
Bionutrient Food Association
5th Annual Conference
Sunday, Monday and Tuesday, Feb. 7, 8 and 9
The annual conference takes place over three days at Kripalu Center for Yoga & Health in Stockbridge.
"Farmers, researchers, nutritionists and food system advocates will gather at Kripalu for a multidisciplinary conversation exploring the potential to improve food quality through regenerative agriculture that builds soil, crop and ecosystem health," say the Bionutrient presenters.
See here for more details or call 413-448-3400 to register. Kripalu is on Route 183, with entrances at and just beyond the corner of Route 183 and West Stockbridge Road about half a mile south of Tanglewood,
Burns Night Supper
At Peint O Gwrw
Update of last Friday's event
14th annual Robert Burns Night celebration at the Chatham, N.Y., pub was so fun! You had to be there. It was an adventure with lots of men in kilts and lots of photo ops. Neil Roberts, the bagpiper who didn't stop. Publican Tom Hope who welcomed one and all. And yummy haggis both meat and vegetable. Stout, beer and a flagon of smoky Scotch heartily passes throughout the pub many times before it was empty.
Left, Neil Roberts finishes declaiming Robert Burns' 'Address to the Haggis' as publican Tom Hope and haggis stabber Larry clap and toast. Right, Roberts leads the piping in of the haggis or, in this case, three haggises. Bottom: plate of neeps, carrots and tatties and both vegetable and traditional haggis.
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Specials for Restaurant Week
