“Macy’s Chefs A-Go-Go” FOOD TRUCK!

A temporary food truck rolled into Boston this weekend and set up shop at the Prudential Center Plaza. This was a short stop on the nationwide tour of the Macy's Chefs A-Go-Go Food Truck, manned by a local chef from the Macy's Culinary Council. Today, our host was celebrity chef Ming Tsai, who was assisted in his mobile kitchen by his young sons.

It was my pleasure to enjoy gratis a yummy menu of Stuffed Bao of Hoisin Marinated Hanger Steak with Cucumber Kimchee & Samal Aioli. Strawberry-Yuzu Crumble Cakes, as well as Emeril's BaBAM! Foster Pop. While the samples were indeed free, and super-tasty, donations were being accepted for Feeding America, where every dollar donated would be used to feed 7 meals to those in need. Also, a free gift was offered to those who "liked" Macy's on Facebook or did something similar on Twitter (yeah, I'm not familiar with that...), which led to the funniest thing I heard there - "Stop telling people to "like" us. I'm running out of bags." =D

The event continues tomorrow from noon to 4pm with Todd English at the helm before he accompanies the truck to New York.

Hyatt Regency Terrance Opening

"Come celebrate our season opening of The Terrace at Avenue One! Join us, Friday, June 3rd starting at 5PM. Be sure to get there early, because we'll be passing hors d'oeuvres and sangria samples from 5-7PM.

All season long, we'll have $4 Dos Equis Drafts, Thursday/Friday live music, $4 chef's happy hour bites and the mojito flavor of the day. Open Tuesday-Friday beginning June 3rd, 2011."

Sure! Sounds good to me! So I rsvped and headed off to enjoy the Terrace in the company of a friend. But what occurred was an example of "What not to do..." The sangria samples were quickly served in your choice of red or white, however, the promised passed hors d'oeuvres were few and far between. This resulted in hordes of eager guests descending upon each platter as soon as they spied them.

If I had continued to wait in a civilized fashion, I would have ended up with but a sample of the single item which was specially brought over to our elderly tablemates by a friendly and quick-footed server. What tastes I did sample however were pretty good.

My Pick @ Mickey D's

Food Trucks in Boston!!!

Gov't Center Plaza is now host to FOOD TRUCKS! Yes, food trucks are no longer the prized property of the MIT weekday lunch crowd (and a few others scattered about, ie. Dewey Square (Clover Food Lab), Boston Common (the ice cream truck with the Make Way for Ducklings painting), Newmarket Square (the famous Speed's), Cleveland Circle (relative newcomer Roxy's Gourmet Grilled Cheese), and any other spots that do not come to mind right now). And yeah, I'm not counting the Sunday grouping at the South End SoWa Open Market.

The winners of the Mayer's Food Truck Challenge in 2010 began serving the populance the week of April 4, 2011:

Bon Me

Momogoose

Clover

Cheeseboy Freebie!

As a continuation of my free dairy week (so it seemed), I stopped by the Cheeseboy stand at the South Street Station Food Court for a free Classic Grilled Cheese - Italian bread & American cheese, $2.99 normally - served 1 to a customer (no purchase required) from 1pm - 4pm on 4/17/2011.

Actually, it was kind of funny... as I had walked by an empty stand just 5 minutes earlier to pick up my monthly T-pass, but when I turned back for my grilled cheese at 1pm, there was already a line a couple of dozen deep!

A fresh Grilled Cheese definitely takes longer than a free scoop, but for my patience I was rewarded with golden toasty bread with creamy melted cheese at its heart - yum!

Ben & Jerry's Free Cone Day!

With April came... just wait for this... FREE CONE DAY! Yes, Ben & Jerry's annual freebie treat in celebration of their anniversary that always seems to fall on a lucky Tuesday in the month of April.

This year, I decided to try a new flavor - Late Night Snack: Inspired by Late Night with Jimmy Fallon – Fair Trade Vanilla Bean Ice Cream with a Salty Caramel Swirl & Fudge Covered Potato Chip Clusters (the fudge uses Fair Trade cocoa, too!). It was tasty, but perhaps a touch too salty. Oh well, it was free!

Annual Tastings

Future and past, in timeline fashion, for reference -

Taste of Eastie (15th annual) - $35 - January 13, 2011 (Thursday) 6pm - 9pm

Taste of South Boston (9th annual) - $40 - March 6, 2011 (Sunday) 6pm - 9pm - "Proceeds from the event support the SBNDC mission to provide affordable housing for working people, families, elderly and Veterans in our community."

Taste of South End - $95/$150 - March 8, 2011 - a benefit for AIDS Action Committee

A Spoonful of Ginger - not noted - March 28, 2011 (Monday) 6:30pm - 9:30pm - to benefit Joslin Diabetes Center's Asian American Diabetes Initiative

Cooking for a Cause - $125 - April 1, 2011 (Friday) 6pm - to benefit East End House

Taste of the Nation Boston - $90/$150 - April 14, 2011 (Thursday) 6:30pm - 9pm - 100% of ticket sales supports Share Our Strength's efforts to end childhood hunger

Taste of the North End - $79-$99 - May 6, 2011 (Friday) 6pm - 11pm - supporting a North End Charity (2011 benefits the North End Community Health Center)

Taste of Somerville - $25/$30 - June 7, 2011 (Tuesday)

Scooper Bowl - $8 - June 7-9, 2011 (Tuesday - Thursday) 12pm - 8pm - supports cancer care and research for adults and children at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through the Jimmy Fund

Taste of Fort Point Channel (6th annual) - Free - June 10, 2010 (Thursday) 12pm - 1:pm

Taste of the World - $60 - June 10, 2010 (Thursday) 6pm - 8pm - benefiting Hostelling International USA's Cultural Kitchen program

Taste of Downtown Marlborough - $15/$20 - June 14, 2010 (Monday) 5pm - 9pm

Taste of Cambridge - $50/$75 - June 23, 2011 (Thursday) 5:30pm - 8:30pm

A Taste of Fair Trade in Boston - $25 - June 24, 2010

The Taste of Beacon Hill (10th annual) - $75 - June 30, 2010 (Wednesday) 6pm - 9pm

Taste of Allston Village - $15/$20 - June 27, 2010 (Sunday) 12pm - 3pm

Taste of Park Plaza (inaugural 2009) - $50/$75 - August 10, 2010 (Tuesday) 5:30pm - 8pm - supporting The Greater Boston Food Bank

New England Dessert Showcase - $20 per session/$25 all day - September 17, 2011 (Saturday) 11am - 2pm & 3pm - 6pm

Taste of Roslindale - $25/$30 - September 23, 2010 (Thursday) 6:30pm - 9pm

Boston Local Food Festival - free - October 2, 2010 (Saturday) 11am - 5pm