The Scene In and Around Boston . . . Happy "official" first week of summer! At this time of the year, our thoughts always turn to more relaxed social events held outdoors, festive farmers' markets, bountiful gardens and, of course, yummy food! Speaking of yummy food, Mark Gaier and Clark Frasier have been honored by the James Beard Foundation as "Best Chefs: Northeast," based on the independent volunteer panels of more than 600 food and beverage industry professionals from around the country who select the nominees and the winners. The Foundation Awards recognize outstanding achievement within the food and beverage industry and grant the "Best Chefs in America" award to recipients in 10 regions of the country. Gaier and Frasier, executive chefs and owners of the acclaimed Arrows and MC Perkins Cove restaurants in Ogunquit, Maine, turned uncultivated land into a fertile garden for their greenhouse-driven restaurants, pioneering the farm-to-table approach now popular with eco-minded diners. In 2007, the chefs partnered with Marriott to open Summer Winter restaurant, bringing their sustainable sensibilities to Burlington, Mass. with an on-premise greenhouse feeding the seasonal American menu. Gaier and Frasier's first book, "The Arrows Cookbook: Cooking and Gardening from Maine's Most Beautiful Farmhouse Restaurant," debuted in July 2003. A second book entitled "Maine Classics" is slated to be published in 2011. For more than twenty years, the chefs have championed practices that include growing their own crops, curing their own meats, and making their own cheese. With the nation's growing appetite for eating locally, chefs Gaier and Frasier have managed to both elevate and expand the concept of sustainable dining, creating a new standard of accessibility within and beyond New England. Congratulations and Best Wishes! For more information, visit www.arrowsrestaurant.com.
10th Annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival Scheduled for September The first college of jazz celebrates the birthplace of jazz as the "10th Annual Berklee BeanTown Jazz Festival" pays tribute to music and culture of New Orleans five years after Hurricanes Katrina and Rita. From September 15-25, world-renowned superstars and popular local acts perform in both free and ticketed concerts throughout Boston. The 10-day event culminates on Saturday, September 25, in a free outdoor festival on three stages over six blocks in the South End that brings together people of all ages from every Boston neighborhood, throughout New England, and beyond. Last year's event drew more than 80,000 attendees, a new festival record. The festival's largest roster yet includes performances by 30 acts at the Berklee Performance Center, Scullers Jazz Club, Regattabar, Wally's Cafe, Berklee's Cafe 939 and David Friend Recital Hall, and outdoor stages along Columbus Avenue. "Jazz is one of America's greatest contributions to world culture. Without the music of New Orleans, there is no Berklee," says festival artistic director Terri Lyne Carrington. "So we're celebrating our 10th anniversary by giving Beantown a taste of the Big Easy, with New Orleans music on each stage of the outdoor festival, a traditional jazz band marching up and down Columbus Avenue, delicious Southern cuisine, and activities for the whole family." The Target Family Park returns to transform Carter Playground on Columbus Avenue into a hub of activity for kids of all ages, with inflatables, rides, face painting, balloons, and an instrument petting zoo staffed with Berklee professionals. More than 80 vendor booths will offer arts, crafts, accessories, and great food representing a variety of countries. For more information, visit www.beantownjazz.org.
Wine and Food Festival in Nearby Newport "The Newport Mansions Wine & Food Festival," presented by Food & Wine, returns for the fifth straight year to Rosecliff and Marble House in Newport, Rhode Island, September 24-26. The Festival features 500 high-end international wines, fabulous food, cooking demonstrations by celebrated chefs, a Sunday jazz brunch, live and silent auctions, and a gala celebration. Highlights of the three-day event include: Cooking demonstrations by Chris Cosentino of Food Network's Chefs vs. City along with Nick Stellino, Rachel Allen and Christina Pirello of American Public Television and Create TV , and seminars led by industry experts such as Ray Isle of Food & Wine and Leslie Sbrocco of Thirsty Girl. All proceeds benefit The Preservation Society of Newport County, a non-profit educational organization accredited by the American Association of Museums and dedicated to preserving and interpreting the area's historic architecture, landscapes and decorative arts. For tickets and more information, call 401-847-1000, or visit www.NewportMansionsWineAndFood.org. Enjoy!
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James Beard Foundation 2010 Award winners Marc Gaier, left, and Clark Frasier, right, welcome noted gardening authors and TV hosts Barbara Damrosch and Eliot Coleman as special guests to their award winning restaurant, Arrows in Ogunquit, Maine. Arrows features an adjacent greenhouse and vegetable gardens which provide fresh produce for their innovative menus. (File photo by Hilda M. Morrill)