Video: Blogger Dinner at the Bokx 109 Chef's Table

On November 2, 2011, Bokx 109 invited a group of bloggers and guests to enjoy a complimentary six-course meal with wine pairings at the Chef's Table. Chef Jarrod Moiles treated us to everything from goat cheese brulee to a dish we dubbed 'inception pork' to cotton candy.

The always-full wine glasses were quite literally as big as my face.

Bokx 109 is located in the Hotel Indigo in Newton, Massachusetts. The menu for the evening:

Amuse
Seared day boat scallop with house-cured pancetta, truffle, wild mushroom, baby Brussels sprout leaves, cranberry gastrique

First Course
Roasted beet timbale with goat cheese brulee, pistachio brittle, and balsamic onion jam

Second Course
Lobster-stuffed Dover sole with braised Swiss chard and roasted shallot cream

Third Course
Homestead farm pork tenderloin, bacon-wrapped, with house-made mostarda, pickled tomato relish, and corn cake (We dubbed this one 'inception pork.')

Fourth Course
Braised beef short rib from Brandt Farm with fall vegetable ragout and bordelaise

Dessert
Triple creme brie panna cotta with caramelized figs and spiced hazelnut praline

Bonus Dessert!
Cotton candy! I also fell in love with this wine pairing, Banfi Rosa Regale Brachetto d'Acqui (2010), a sparkling red (bright red!) wine.

A big thanks to Bokx 109, Chef Jarrod Moiles, and Joanna of Regan Communications for invited us to this feast.

Special thanks also to my trusty dining companion Joel Edinberg, who composed and recorded the music for this video. The song, "Fokxy Bokxing," is available for download here.

Disclosure: Joel and I attended this dinner with a group of bloggers for free. By accepting the invitation, we were not obligated to write a blog post or produce a video about the experience. All opinions expressed are our own. 

Dude! Newton's 51 Lincoln: Local, Organic, and Classy...with a Touch of Fun

I tried head cheese last week, and you know what? Despite the off-putting name and ingredients, it was actually pretty good. Kind of like fancy bologna. (This was a thinly sliced version; I don’t think I’d be able to handle it in the usual terrine. Something about that texture disgusts me.)

This is what I love about blogger events: I try new things. I re-try old things I thought I hated. And I often discover that some of it is very good!

Last week I was invited to a complimentary blogger dinner to try out the spring menu at 51 Lincoln in Newton, and it was a pleasure, as always, to spend some quality time eating and drinking with other bloggers! I had not been aware of 51 Lincoln before receiving the invitation; now that I live on the Red Line, I rarely find myself eating as far out in Green territory as the Newton area.  A look at the restaurant’s website was enticing, though: lots of talk of a focus on local and organic food.

Upon arriving, I was told of Chef Fournier’s rooftop garden. I’ll admit it: rooftop gardens immediately boost my perception of a restaurant. I love imagining a chef, in sparkling white and freshly ironed chef garb, climbing up a precarious ladder to a tiny collection of herbs on a city roof, picking the freshest and figuring out how to incorporate them into the day’s menu. Also impressing me before the food even came out: Chef Fournier painted all of the artwork in the restaurant (and it looks good!)

A few of my favorite parts of the meal:

Pan-Seared Watermelon Steak
Eggplant Chicharron, Confit Cherry Tomato, French Feta, Fried Parsley

I loved every aspect of this dish – even the eggplant, which I usually dislike! See, there’s that blogger dinner magic again. Whenever I attend things like these, I try to drop all preconceived notions and try whatever is served to me. I'm often surprised by the things that turn out to be delicious!

Polenta Fries
Truffle Parmesan Dip

I would probably give up my firstborn for a big plate of these. Probably.

And for dessert…

DUDE!
“Where’s the Cake Lebowski”
White Kahlua Cake, Cocoa Powder Dust, Toasted Coconut

Well, that one was unexpected. I love that this restaurant doesn’t take itself too seriously!

The rest of the food was enjoyable. Would I make a special trip out from Somerville to eat here? Probably not; I think there are places more convenient for me that fill the same niche. However, I’d definitely recommend a visit if this is a convenient destination for you. From the art on the walls to the art on the plates, Chef Fournier’s vision is bright and classy with a touch of fun. Plus, this place was totally packed on a Tuesday night in Newton Highlands; all the other storefronts had been dark for hours. I guess this is the place to be!