A few new things have popped up on the bar menu at McCormick and Schmick’s. In addition to their regular bar deal, which includes a half pound burger for under 2 bucks, here’s the new weekly cycle:

• Mondays – $14.95 1 lb. lobster dinners
• Tuesday – Dollar Oysters
• Wednesdays -South of the Border nights (tapas, drinks, etc.)
• Thursdays -$21.95 Clambakes that include a cup of Chowder, Lobster, Mussels, Corn, Potatoes, Drawn Butter & Crème Brulee for dessert!

Eastern Standard, in Kenmore Square, has always had very strong charcuterie program. I’ve especially enjoyed their hot selections, like the lamb sausage in tzatziki sauce that made an appearance during Restaurant Week last year.

While dining there for lunch last Friday, I was clued in to a special that is often available as an off-the-menu item for those in the know. It was a homemade bratwurst in a Dijon Gewurztraminer beurre blanc, and it made my day. For a little less than 10 dollars, I received a single short-but-stocky link on a bed of greens, nestled in a lovely golden pool of the beurre blanc. It is rather difficult to describe any sausage without verging into the realm of unintentional homoerotic innuendo, but the bratwurst was delicate, with just the right amount of salinity, and was balanced well by the slight bitterness of the greens. Most importantly, it was a wonderfully absorbent vehicle for the beurre blanc. Splitting the bratwurst and a burger with someone is a perfect sized lunch, or this would work as a nice appetizer during dinner or a late night snack.

I had an opportunity to chat with Executive Chef Marco Suarez after my lunch, and he told me that off-the-menu dishes like this have been a staple of late night dining for regulars at Eastern Standard for some time now. He also said that there were many more dishes like this available, if one were only to ask. I look forward to finding out more of these secrets and passing them on to you when I do. Until then, go for the bratwurst. You’ll be glad you did.

In some sad news, the amazing Sand Dollar menu at the Great Bay, which I’ve written about here, and was featured on my chronicle segment, has been replaced with something more prosaic. The new all-night menu is a work in progress, so we’ll see how things evolve over time and hope for the best.

Besides the floundering economy, one reason for this is that several people have abused their dollar menu privileges and ordered massive amounts of dollar oysters. This is something that the Great Bay can easily rectify (taking a hint from places like La Verdad) by simply putting in per person limits on the amount of items that people can order.

But this is a well-intentioned change to make something affordable available to their customers all night. As it stands, the new menu comes up short–especially given that the old menu was so spectacular. The Sand Dollar menu used to be, hands down, the best bar menu in Boston, and I will ardently pray to the culinary gods for a return to its former incarnation or something equivalent.

It is time once again for that great Boston culinary experience with the most overtly euphemistic name possible: A Taste of Elegance.

A Taste of Elegance should really be called Super Porkfest Battle Royale, as it is essentially an Iron Chef Pork competition supported by the National Pork Board and the Pork (The Other White Meat) Checkoff. The last time that I was there, there was a representative from the National Pork Board in attendance. This man looked EXACTLY like what one would believe that a representative from the national pork board should look like. My buddy very aptly described him as a cross between Ross Perot and the Texas Guy from the Simpsons. It was amazing.

Anyhow, regardless of the misnomer, this is a fun and classy event that I am greatly looking forward to attending. A Taste of Elegance is on Monday, January 26, 6 p.m at 808 Commonwealth Avenue. It’s $40 per person, or $20 with a valid BU ID.

Here’s the full info:

A Taste of Elegance

Join in the fun as a dozen of Boston’s top chefs compete to showcase their creativity and the versatility of cooking with pork. Each chef will offer their best pork dish for participants to try (that’s 12 scrumptious dishes for each of you!) At the end of the evening, chefs will win awards for “best pork dish” and “crowd favorite.”

Two glasses of wine (or beer) are included, along with cheese & crackers, dessert and soft drinks
Live music by the Rollo Tomasi Quartet

Restaurants Competing: La Morra, Tremont 647, Rialto, Pigalle, The Fireplace, Top of the Hub, Sage, EVOO, Icarus/The Ashmont Grill, Stella, 51 Lincoln, and Boston University’s own chef, Walter Dunphy!

Monday, January 26, 6 p.m.
Boston University
The Showroom/Gallery
808 Commonwealth Avenue
Boston, MA 02215

Normally $40, the BU community can purchase tickets for half-price, $20

To Register, please call: 617-353-9852 and have your UID# handy.
We’ve sold out this event in the past, so be sure to sign up quickly!

(Non-BU guests are welcome, also at half-price, when the tickets are purchased by a BU faculty, staff or student).
Anyone under the age of 21 will not be served alcohol.

This looks fun!

The Chef’s Table Series is an interactive cooking demonstration and learning experience, that takes place at various restaurants throughout Boston area. In a classroom like setting, participants learn techniques, how to cook the dish being prepared and get to know the chef via a question and answer session. Participants will watch, learn and taste the food being prepared. They will each receive a complementary glass of wine, a free recipe booklet and the opportunity to win a special gift from the restaurant. Proceeds from each ticket sale benefit a charity of the restaurant’s choice.

The series schedule will be:

Masona Grill
4 Corey Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 www.masonagrill.net
Sunday February 8th, 2009 5pm
Charity: Cancer Research

Himalayan Bistro
1735 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 www.himalayanbistro.net
Monday, February 23^rd, 2009 630pm
Charity: West Roxbury YMCA

Bangkok Café
25 Poplar Street, Roslindale, MA 02131 www.bangkok-café.com
Saturday, February 28^th, 2009 4pm
Charity: Roslindale Arts Alliance

Townsend’s Restaurant
81 Fairmount Avenue, Hyde Park, MA 02136 www.townsendsrestaurant.com
Tuesday, March 3^rd, 2009 630pm
Charity: The Cam Neely Foundation for Cancer Care

Delfino’s Restaurant
754 South Street, Roslindale, MA 02131 www.delfinorestaurant.com
Monday, March 9^th, 2009 630pm
Charity: Italian Home for Children

West on Centre
1732 Centre Street, West Roxbury, MA 02132 www.westoncentreboston.com
Monday, March 23^rd, 630pm
Charity: PINCH Foundation

Brickhouse Café
107 Bridge Street, Dedham, MA 02026 http://brickhouse107.com/
Monday, March 30^th, 630pm
Charity: Dedham Food Pantry

Tickets are $40 per person (gratuity not included). Reservations are required in advance. Tickets are non-refundable and non-transferable. Tickets can be purchased on-line at
http://www.tablecritic.com/index.php?events or by calling 617.323.0670.