Jamaica Plain News (https://www.jamaicaplainnews.com/tag/food/page/3)
Love gardening? Whether you are an experienced or aspiring gardener, the Trustees Boston Region could use your help growing produce for donations to local food pantries and maintaining our Learning Garden. Volunteer hours are held every Tuesday morning throughout the summer and fall and some Saturday afternoons, at City Natives, 30 Edgewater Drive in Mattapan. Families are welcome. Come learn, relax, and help out!
Il Panino Cafe & Grill, which expanded from the North End to Jamaica Plain years ago, plans to open a take-out only branch at 172 South St. The restaurant is known for its thin-crust pizza, calzones and subs. Its namesake sub is a Caprese plus prosciutto. Jamaica Plain News has reached out to Il Panino, which anchors the corner of 268 Centre St. in Jackson Square, about timing for the expansion.
Chef Jason Albus of the newly opened The Frogmore in JP rolls out a Southerly brunch this Saturday, July 18. Albus will turn out brunch eats from the rich flavors of coastal South Carolina and Georgia - think creamy grits, country ham, pickled shrimp and hoecakes - with fried pork chops and cheesy tater tots for good measure. Check out the full menu below. To accompany the brunch menu Alex Homans, manager of the beverage program at the Southern gem brings an impressive list of homespun cocktails with ingredients and names inspired by the flavors and landscape of the region including the Back Road Rider bloody mary with Pisco, peach and lemon, Rainbow Row mimosa with strawberry shrub and gin, and the King Street cocktail with rum, maraschino, cynar and lime. Brunch is served at the pineapple clad digs from 10:30am - 3pm every Saturday and Sunday.
The Frogmore, a coastal Carolina-style restaurant and bar, has adopted the pineapple as a symbol of how it hopes to integrate into Hyde Square. For southerners, the pineapple means hospitality. The pineapple is also a sign of the Latino culture in Hyde Square, and you'll see it displayed prominently on signs around the neighborhood. On Tuesday, the Frogmore held a preview for friends, family and media. The 365 Centre St.
#nomnomnom @eglestonsq soon to welcome Mexican Rest to the hood. #Boston @02130news
A photo posted by Jokolok (@boricotto) on Jun 19, 2015 at 12:51pm PDT
On Thursday, the team behind a new Mexican restaurant will make its case to city bureaucrats to open in the former Amory Restaurant space at 224 Amory St. The spot, to be called Chilacates, is seeking permission to be open from 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. and to provide 10 seats plus counter service. It's not the only Mexican-inspired eatery on the horizon for JP. The Tres Gatos/Centre Street Cafe team is opening a fresh-Mex place called "Casa Verde" in the former Ghazal space.
José and Elsa Pimentel opened Pikalo Empanadas and Sandwich Bar earlier this year, and today, the Hyde Square restaurant serves a diverse array of empanadas to a community equally as unique. This is not the first foray into the restaurant industry for chef-owner José Pimentel, whose first Pikalo location in Lawrence established his concept as an empanada eatery, while also building name recognition. Ultimately, though, the Pimentel’s knew they wanted to expand to Jamaica Plain, and so when a location opened up that was within their price range, they jumped at the opportunity to open a second venue in the area. “The neighborhood is extremely diverse,” said Elsa, who spearheads front of house management. “That’s what attracted us to the area.
New details emerged Tuesday about a Mexican restaurant proposed to fill the Ghazal space at 711 Centre St. — including a draft menu featuring $3 tacos. The eatery, to be called "Casa Verde," is from the team behind existing JP restaurants Tres Gatos and Centre Street Cafe. Co-owner David Doyle described the project Tuesday to members of the Public Service Committee of the JP Neighborhood Council. "We believe a Mexican restaurant, really affordable, family friendly, would be a good fit for Jamaica Plain," Doyle told those at the meeting, which was held at Curtis Hall Community Center.
As of Tuesday, Ula Cafe will begin serving beer, according to the popular spot's newsletter. Back in January, the coffee shop and bakery won city approval to serve beer and wine while Tres Gatos upgraded to a full liquor license, according to Future Boston. Ula's owner, Korinn Koslofsky, previously told Jamaica Plain News the license will help support their open mic nights. "We are very excited to have this opportunity to finally be able to provide beer and wine to our very loyal guests who have been asking for it for years," she wrote in an email to Jamaica Plain News, "and we can't express how grateful we are for all of their support during this process. We would not have been granted this license if it hadn't been for all of the signatures and letters of support we were able to collect over the past few months."
A new Mexican restaurant from the team that runs Tres Gatos and Centre Street Cafe is planned for the longtime Ghazal space. That's the word from Tres Gatos co-owner David Doyle. Here's how he describes the concept:
"We know we want the restaurant to be a casual, affordable, family-friendly Mexican eatery featuring tacos, ceviches, and other traditional fare, made with locally sourced ingredients whenever possible." Doyle said the new spot would have a large selection of draft beer, plus wines from the U.S. and South America. Jamaica Plain News hasn't spoken with Ghazal's owners, but Doyle Tweeted that the owner is selling Ghazal to pursue another venture.
The owner of Centre Street Sanctuary, which shuttered on Sunday, hopes to either bring in a new restaurant or form a partnership to reopen. The landlord of the 365 Centre St. space in the heart of Hyde Square also hopes to see a restaurant in the space soon. Owner Adam Rutstein broke the news of the closing to patrons via the restaurant's Facebook page on Sunday. He said the kind words from patrons have been "nice and heartwarming."