CNN's Eatocracy Lists The Hawthorne in Kenmore Square as One of the Ten Best New Bars in the U.S.

The food blog of CNN has just come out with its list of best new bars in the United States, and a Boston drinking spot has made the list.

Eater Boston reports that Eatocracy has included The Hawthorne in Kenmore Square among its top 10 picks of new bars in America, joining The NoMad Hotel in New York as the only East Coast drinking establishments to make the list. Eatocracy, which had Jim Meehan of Food & Wine help them with the list, says that Jackson Cannon of The Hawthorne is one of Meehan's favorite mixologists, and also mentions the several lounges within the space, including a "comfy living room-style one outfitted with a vintage Russian vodka chiller."

The Hawthorne first opened within the Hotel Commonwealth in November of 2011, taking over the space where the Foundation Lounge had been. The Hawthorne's website can be found at http://www.thehawthornebar.com/

For a complete list of the bars picked by Eatocracy, please go to the link below:

10 best new bars in the U.S.


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Heaven and Hell Takedown Coming to Somerville, August 26, 2012

A food event that centers around two very different items is coming to Somerville later this month.

An email sent to us from thetakedowns.com indicates that the Boston Heaven and Hell Takedown will be held at the Armory on Highland Avenue on Sunday, August 26, starting at 2:00 PM. The event focuses on ice cream and hot sauce, with 10-15 of each being available to try. Guests will judge the dishes to choose which are the best, with prizes being given to the winning cooks.

Tickets to the 2012 Boston Heaven and Hell Takedown cost $15, with a portion of the proceeds benefiting the Women's Education Project.

For more information, please go to the link below:

Boston Heaven and Hell Takedown


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New England Dessert Showcase Returns to Boston, September 8, 2012

An event that features an array of desserts is returning to the Back Bay of Boston in September, and once again, a number of exhibitors will be offering samples of their treats.

On Saturday, September 8, the New England Dessert Showcase will be held at the Grand Ballroom Complex within the Sheraton Boston Hotel on Dalton Street (adjacent to the Prudential Center), with morning and afternoon sessions being open to the public, along with a "media & industry only" session held before the doors officially open (a "quick fix" will also take place after the afternoon session). Included at the event will be samples of desserts such as ice cream, pastries, chocolate treats, cakes, and more, as well as wine.

The industry-only part of the New England Showcase goes from 10:00 AM to 11:00 AM, with the morning session for the public running from 11:00 AM to 1:30 PM, the afternoon session going from 2:30 PM to 4:30 PM, and a quick fix being held from 4:30 PM to 5:30 PM.

Tickets to the 2012 New England Dessert Showcase cost $20 to $75 depending on the ticket tier, with more information being found at the link below.

http://www.nedessertshowcase.com/


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Marvel's Lunch Box Opens in Hull, Replacing Linda Bean's

A now-closed seafood shack in Hull that was part of a small group of Maine-based eateries has been replaced by a new dining spot.

According to their website, Marvel's Lunch Box is now open on Nantasket Avenue along the southern strip of Nantasket Beach, taking over the space where Linda Bean's had been. The new spot features a variety of seafood and non-seafood dishes, including clam chowder, lobster rolls, tuna melts, hot dogs, burgers, and grilled ruebens.

Locations of Linda Bean's remain open in Freeport (two spots), Port Clyde (called the Dip Net), and South Portland, ME, as well as one outlet in Delray Beach, FL.

Based on posts on the Yelp site, it appears that Marvel's Lunch Box opened late this spring.

The address for this new restaurant on Nantasket Beach is: Marvel's Lunch Box, 163 Nantasket Avenue, Hull, MA, 02045. Their website can be found at http://www.marvelslunchbox.com/


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Walpole Baker Refuses to Accept EBT Cards for Her Pies at Braintree Farmers Market

The person behind a Walpole pie company is in the middle of a controversy that centers around whoopie pies and welfare benefits.

The Boston Herald is reporting that Andrea Taber, who owns the Ever So Humble Pie Company, is refusing to accept EBT (Electronic Benefit Transfer) cards for her pies at the Braintree Farmers Market. The article quotes Taber as stating that she doesn't think "American taxpayers should be footing the bill for people's pie purchases," and that "it's no different than nail salons and Lottery tickets....My pies are great, but come on." (She also mentioned that she doesn't have an issue with people using EBT cards to buy fresh fruit and vegetables, but doesn't think that "luxury or gourmet desserts" should be included in the EBT program.)

The folks behind the Braintree Farmers Market, which is held each Saturday, say that they simply want people who are in need to have access to foods from the market's vendors, with chairwoman Donna Ingemanson saying "We just thought that people that were on food stamps a lot of times don't have healthy choices....What better chance to buy healthy foods than at a farmers market?"

Currently, the Braintree Farmers Market encourages--but does not require--its vendors to accept EBT payments, but the management of the market may look into making it a requirement next year. If it does, Taber says that she will no longer set up shop at the market.


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The Paddock in Somerville Has Closed

A restaurant and bar that was considered one of Somerville's few old-school dining and drinking establishments has closed its doors. Somerville Patch is reporting that The Paddock on Pearl Street is shuttered, with the chef/owner of the place stating that "I will be hanging up my Paddock chef jacket and moving on to a new chapter in my life." The Paddock was a family-friendly restaurant that featured a mix of classic American fare, Italian cuisine, and pub grub, with the thin-crust pizza being one of their signature dishes. The restaurant has been featured on our sister site (Boston's Hidden Restaurants), with a review of the spot being at the link below:

http://www.hiddenboston.com/Paddock.html

The address for this now-closed Somerville restaurant and bar was: The Paddock, 249 Pearl Street, Somerville, MA, 02145.

Thanks to Eater Boston for bringing this to our attention.


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