The minute the menus for next week's Restaurant Showcase were finalized my stomach started to growl. "GRRRR" "GRRR"... yes it really is that good. We're talking crispy salmon cake, homemade pate and mesculun salad from La Boniche and that's just for starters. Ricardo's is going all out with fried rice balls, sirloin steak and grilled shrimp and vanilla gelato or lemoncello for finishers. Hard choice. I could relay the whole shebang here in painstaking detail, but someone already did it for me www.merrimackvalley.org. The dining deals kick in Aug 1 and end (sadly) Aug. 8. This is the first time such an endeavor has been undertaken in Greater Lowell (Concord, Dracut and Chelmsford are in the house). For those of you who don't know what I'm taking about, two-course lunches are priced between $9.09 to $15.09 and three-course dins are $23.09 to $33.09. Many a downtown chef has told me they are sticking to the $23 price tag to get you in their establishment. Very neighborly, don't you think?
Billy Costa of NECN's TV Diner will be in Lowell next Thursday to kick things off. What, Gourmet Gal isn't good enough? Costa swoops into town for the Summer Sam Fest Thursday, July 30 from 6 pm - 9 p.m. in the park behind the Tsongas. There will be a chef's cook-off and tasting. Note (and this is a BIG NOTE, food will only be sampled from 6 to 7 p.m.) See ya at 6:05 p.m.
GG...although the cook off challenge and judging may only last until B. Costa swoops back out, live music, cash bar and 1,000 complimentary hot dogs (donated by Drew Weber and The Lowell Spinners) continue until 8PM. All proceeds from the contest and tasting benefit The Greater Merrimack Valley Food Bank!! We hope to see all of you there!
(Oh, hey, welcome back!?)
Hey i love the idea. Nobody can appreciate a good value more than I, the midnight gobbler. Billy Costa seems to be in lowell a lot. How come we can't get that bald guy from the Food network that eats all those bugs and other disgusting things to come to lowell?? And are those guys the chef's who are participating in this great event?? Nice picture. It looks like some culinary street gang
Anyone know if the event is (small) dog friendly??