Recycling @ Evenfall

Evenfall now employs an aggressive recycling program which covers all of our paper, plastic, cardboard, glass and metal. I am proud to say that there isn't any readily recyclable material we are now tossing in the dumpster. And we have reduced our solid waste production by 60%.

In addition I have placed a Compact Fluorescent Bulb (CFL) recycling box in our storage area for employees and customers to use when one of their wonderful energy saving bulbs dies. From there I will bring them to the recycling center when needed. Let's keep the mercury out of the ground, the water, and the bodies of our loved ones.

Just ask your server to drop your bulb in the box for you, and you are all set.

Any Questions?

Post Road Pumpkin Ale

Glad to note that Evenfall is carrying a very nice pumpkin ale for halloween and the october season... Post Road Pumpkin Ale.

Some history if you are interested: Early American colonialists, wisely seeking natural ingredients for brewing ales, turned to pumpkins, which were plentiful, flavorful and nutritious. Often blended with barley malt, pumpkins became a commonly used beer ingredient. Dozens of recipes survive from that period, and Post Road Pumpkin Ale brings back this tasty tradition. Hundreds of pounds of pumpkins are blended into the mash of each batch, creating a beer with an orange amber color, warm pumpkin aroma, biscuity malt center, and crisp finish. We expect that you will agree with our colonial forebears - when it comes to pumpkins, pie is fine, but ale is better.

Enjoy! -Spiro

This Week's Prix Fixe Menu

October 7th – 9th
1S T C O U R S E CHOICE OF:
Thyme roasted chicken and vegetable pot pie with mini buckwheat pancakes

OR

Creamy roasted organic beet – leek – potato soup, crème fraiche and basil oil

2 N D C O U R S E

Baby greens, fresh herbs, pickled beets, yellow watermelon and chipotle pepper vinaigrette

3rd C O U R S E CHOICE OF:
Pan seared local haddock, chive & preserved lemon mashed Yukon gold potatoes, garlic wilted baby spinach, fresh Jonah crab “bisque”

OR
Grilled oregano and garlic marinated Berkshire pork chop, roasted spaghetti squash, broccoli rabe, medjool date demi

All Three Courses $26

Skillet Roasted Barramundi - Fall 2008

Sometimes a dish is placed in front of you and there isn’t much that needs to be said, other than with your fork and knife.

Evenfall strives to be a place where you know what you experience is one of a kind. A place where you are reminded that even simple things can be unprecedented when they happen for the first time.

Like crispy lobster legs on top of a perfect skillet roasted Barramundi fillet


As always, thanks for joining us.

Baseball Playoffs

The Red Sox in the MLB Playoffs are one time (of countless) that sitting in front of a 1080p LCD big screen holding a chilled extra dry martini with blue cheese stuffed olives in one hand, and a fork with some of your 16oz thick cut NY sirloin dripping in truffle butter in the other really makes life fun. Especially when you don't have to get up to do anything other than use the bathroom. (sorry we can't do that for you)...SWEEP THE ANGELS, GO SOX!

Doing it the Right way... Lobster Oil

Reason # 33 why the food is so good at Evenfall...
We don't just 'Say' Lobster Oil, we 'Mean' Lobster Oil.

Our New Fall Menu Starts Tonight...

Just a quick update now. I love this time of year with the harvest bounty and things like braised beef shortribs!

I will post more details soon but you can see the menu here: Fall Dinner Menu

-Spiro

$1 Ribs and Wings + Prime Rib Sunday!

So Football season is upon us and we are gearing up our Sunday Service to reflect a need for more choices on the menu and also some great deals.

We are adding more to the menu. We will still offer a Roast Dinner each week, but we are also adding a la carte menu items, and maybe most importantly:

$1 Ribs and Wings... and I do mean our outrageously good ribs.

We will open at 1pm for the early games and keep serving food until 7:30... the bar will be open for all the NFL games as well.

This weeks menu:

Sunday Sept 21st

Slow Roasted Prime Rib of Beef

with Creamy Three Cheese Potato Gratin,

and Caramelized Brown Sugar Carrots

Price $18.95 adults $10 Kids Portion

September Wine Additions

There are times in my business where you just do something because of the way you think it should be, rather than the way you believe it is. Then with fingers crossed you hope that you were wrong all along. Seem strange? Well it is, and it isn't.

Take my favorite new wine addition, the 2007 Domaines Ott Bandol Rose. It is a non-sparkling rose, and yes I shudder to think you are imagining White Zinfandel right now... it is so very much more than that. After an influential recommendation, and lofty praise from Robert Parker, I bought a case and passed the bottles out to friends whose wine acumen I believed would enjoy it, and whose input I value. The reviews were spectacular, every single report was glowing.

Yet I never put it on the list, Why? Because it is Rose, plain and simple. Most people will glance right over it, never knowing the amazing experience it is;

"A delectable, pure, peachy nose blossoms from the glass whilst the palate is beautifully balanced with passion fruit, peach and rosewater. Superb definition on the finish. A rose that just seems to blossom with aeration. Outstanding." - Robert Parker

So back to the point... I decided to put it on the list, put my recommendation behind it, and hope to be surprised by it selling... If not I will have to drink it!

Other additions of Note:

2005 Hitching Post Pinot Noir
2005 Earthquake Zinfandel

Special Thanks to Paul Lutz, Chef Scott, and Allison Mazer

Evenfall Has Joined Facebook

Partially as a way of keeping in touch with employees past and present, and also communicating with the customers who have become addicted to facebook like 100 million other members, Evenfall is live on Facebook.

If you are a facebooker come see and join our friend list there.
Evenfall Facebook Profile and Evenfall Fan Page on Facebook

Hope to see you there.

-Spiro

A Summer Menu Highlight

The Fettuccini Duo

The Menu Reads: Fettuccini Duo ~ exotic mushrooms, house made chorizo, baby spinach, porcini fettuccini, smoky tomato sauce, fresh Maine crab, lobster leg meat 'fettuccini'

There is a lot of real good stuff on this plate, the porcini fettuccini is made here in our kitchen along with the chorizo, and the sauce is made from tomatoes that we smoke outside in our smoker. That doesn't even mention the Fresh Maine Crab...

What makes this dish really unique is the Lobster Leg Meat Fettuccini, our lobster company has developed a process which uses water pressure to remove the leg meat intact and raw, we gladly take it from them, dip it in buttermilk, then spiced flour, and fry the legs... they rest atop the dish as you can see above.

Try it soon, you are going to like it.

Evenfall wins Another Best Of Boston Award

Back to Back, and better than ever, Boston Magazine has awarded us with another Best of Boston Award in their juggernaut Best of Boston Issue released July 29th.

Evenfall was recognized for its cozy confines of great food and drink, and picked as the most romantic spot north of Boston...

This Week's Prix Fixe Menu

The Deal: Each week Evenfall offers a three course menu which features:
A choice of two appetizers, a salad course, and a choice of two Entrees, all for a fixed price of $26.
In other words: Prix Fixe = Fixed Price

July 29th – 31st

This Week’s Menu:

1S T C O U R S E
CHOICE OF:

House crafted gnocchi, purple sango sprouts, creamy opal basil sauce

OR

Grilled turkey brochettes, pickled summer vegetables, mint pesto

2 N D C O U R S E

Slow poached octopus, chopped romaine, tomato, haricot vert, roasted olive, Nicoise salad

3rd C O U R S E

CHOICE OF:
Summer squash, zucchini, pea shoots, grilled shrimp, porcini fettuccini, creamy smoked tomato– lobster sauce

OR

Brown sugar & soy glazed steak, wilted baby spinach, roasted French fingerling potatoes

Summer Hits... My Personal Favorite

The menu reads: "Yellow Raz el Hanout Spice Rubbed Tuna, seared rare, daily selection of sliced summer tomatoes, radish sprouts, tomato relish"

Ask the staff, and there is no question this is my favorite new addition Scott added to the Summer Menu.

Raz el Hanout, is a blend of herbs and spices used across the Middle East and North Africa. The name means "head of the shop" in Arabic, and refers to a mixture of the best spices a seller has to offer. Our mixture features coriander, cumin, pepper, ginger, hot pepper, cinnamon, nutmeg, tumeric, clove, cardamom, and a hint of rose flower... the seared tuna picks up these flavors exceedingly well.

But to be bluntly honest, for me the fresh little radish sprouts, steal the show atop sliced rounds of fresh local tomatoes...

Evenfall's Mid-Summer Dinner Menu Launched!

We are back from vacation, and we brought goodies! All of us at Evenfall are happy to offer and prepare for you our unique interpretation of the season. Please follow this link to see the menu.

Mid-Summer Dinner Menu

Hope to see you soon. -Spiro

Original Cocktail News...

I have a new Cocktail for you, and it is about time!

Seriously I want to offer you more, I constantly challenge my creative staff to deliver new ideas, using premium ingredients and pushing the envelope.

I think we nailed one this time:

I wanted a new martini that focused on savory flavors instead of sweet, then one of the Bartenders literally dreamed this drink up (seriously in a dream) and I went out and found the best ingredients to make it with.

Introducing the Caprese Martini

USDA Certified Organic Tomato Vodka with a dash of organic tomato juice, garnished with homemade fresh mozzarella, a homegrown basil leaf, and a cherry tomato.

Delicious, Gorgeous, and as Healthy as a Martini can be.

Hello Everyone...

I am glad to report that:

#1 The famous Fresh Muddled Watermelon martini is back for the summer...

#2 Mojito Mondays are starting to take off... made a ton of them last week!!!

#3 We will start our mid-summer menu Tuesday July 8th

Hopefully you are all enjoying the weather, and voting for us on Bostonmagazine.com for Best of Boston again this year!!!! Sorry I couldn't resist.

See you soon. -Spiro

Jamaican Pig Roast - Be There!

Our annual pig roast is Sunday June 22nd, we sold out last year so make your reservations today!

Pig Roast Menu:
Jerked whole roasted suckling pig

Island mango chicken skewers

Plantain and roasted corn fritters

Red Stripe yellow rice w/ pigeon peas

Jamaican potato salad

Summer vegetable curry

Orange carrot cornbread

Upside-down coconut cream pie

Red Stripe Beer
and
Tropical Punch

Price with drinks (3) $45
Without Drinks $35

Reserve today: 978.521.7550

Jamaican Pig Roast....

Just a reminder we are planning a bigger and better Pig Roast than ever this year... and Scott also was talking about a Lobster and Clam Bake.

If you are interested make sure you are on the email list.

-Spiro

I am also thinking of doing a cut price Mojito Monday Party series this summer and interest?

$4 Big Boy Mojitos?

Let me know...

What was once illegal is legal again

In yet another example of how legislated away our freedoms have become Chicago endured two years of embarrassment over their ban of Foie Gras in the windy city and they have just voted to allow it once more.
New York Times Story

I think everyone is entitled to their opinions and beliefs I assure you. But reality is much simpler than laws... if people stopped buying Foie Gras, or anything else we sell, then I promise you restaurants would stop selling it. So why should one group be allowed to Legislate what another group can eat???

These days protecting your rights has never been more challenging, or to some I guess we could say, delicious...

-Spiro

New Wine Additions

I have added some new wines to the ever growing list...

2006 Arancio Nero D'Avola, Sicilia $32
2005 Campolieti Valpolicella, Italy $48
2005 Newton 'unfiltered' Cabernet Sauvignon, Napa $95
2005 Tait Ball Buster Shiraz, Barossa Valley $48
2006 Saviano Orvieto Classico Superiore, Italy $34

There are three thing s going on here:

1) Adding some depth to our Italian Options was a priority this time around, as you can tell.

2) A friend of mine, Soren, the Executive Chef at The Ipswich Country Club, suggested I try the Tait Ball Buster Shiraz... which I did. It is very very good, with a funny story about how Tait named it after his wife... she is of course, the ball buster.

3) The Newton unfiltered Cabernet is another story altogether, much better told by acclaimed wine reviewer Robert Parker: "Even longer-lived than the Merlot, are the 4,000 or so cases of 2005 Cabernet Sauvignon Unfiltered. What people don’t realize is that proprietress Su Hua Newton completely declassified the 2003 and 2004 vintages, as she just wasn’t happy with them. This is her first vintage since 2002. The wine is deep ruby/purple in color and exhibits notes of underbrush, black truffle, creme de cassis, incense, and a hint of earth. It is full-bodied, powerful, but at the same time elegant, pure, and moderately tannic..." He continues to write about the vineyard itself "One of the most spectacularly beautiful vineyards, high on the lower slopes of Spring Mountain, is Newton Vineyards. Organically farmed and impeccably manicured, this was one of the first outposts to which famed Bordeaux consultant Michel Rolland came, and an entire generation of winemakers formed by his brilliance have emerged from Newton. The overall style of the wine is one built on European elegance and longevity."

Hopefully you have a chance to enjoy some of these...

-Spiro

New Website Design

With the addition of the Monday and Sunday menus I had to re-design the homepage, any comments?

-Spiro

Take Mom to Evenfall this Year!

The Evenfall Mother’s Day Menu

Sunday May 11^th 2008 ~ Seatings 12:30-6pm

Appetizers

Maine Crab Cakes, baby arugula, shaved fennel, meyer lemon crème fraiche, roasted red bell pepper vinaigrette 10

Fork + Knife Caesar ~ parmesan crisp, focaccia crostini, roasted olives + tomatoes, white anchovies 9

Baby Greens Salad ~ shaved French radishes, herbs, pickled rhubarb & red onions, endive, banyuls vin 9

Creamy asparagus + spinach bisque, basil pistou, poached shrimp skewer 9

Spice crusted rare sushi tuna, nicoise olive – basil roasted Maine tomato, blistered tomato vinaigrette 11

Crispy Vegetable Spring Rolls ~ asian slaw, house made duck sauce & orange ponzu 8

Oysters Casino ~ five daily oysters, house crafted garlic sausage, poached jumbo shrimp, bloody mary shooter 15

Entrees

Pan Seared Organic Salmon, with lobster, fava bean, haricot vert, and corn succotash, lobster broth 22

Grilled 10oz filet mignon, black truffle whipped Yukon gold potatoes, French green beans, red wine demi 29

Maine Crab Stuffed Sole, ginger chantenay carrot puree, wilted baby spinach, lobster nage 23

Grilled Berkshire Pork Chops, pistachio-peach relish, molasses mashed sweet potatoes, French green beans 23

One Pound Lamb Rack, marinated and grilled, Yukon gold mashed potatoes, spring asparagus, rosemary demi 31

Pan Roasted Organic Chicken, (air chilled) spring pea orzo ‘risotto’, preserved lemon pan jus, spring pea shoots, meyer lemon vinaigrette 19

Pan Seared Halibut~ crispy pancetta, mascarpone, spring pea and truffle risotto, sautéed pea tendrils, black truffle butter 27

Reservations Highly Suggested ~ 978.521.7550

Peak Organic Beer

While skiing up at Cannon Mountain with Chef Scott a few weeks back we came across Peak Organic Beer while having lunch at the Mountain's base camp restaurant. We liked it and I am happy to report that Evenfall now offers the Peak Organic Pale Ale.

USDA certified Organic, brewed in Portland Maine, and best of all Delicious.

Let me know what you think.

-Spiro

The Saint Martini

For ten days, four crisp and sweet Bartlett Pears have swam around an infusion jar filled with two bottles of vodka. Starting tonight this freshly 'house flavored' vodka gets poured over ice with St. Germain elderflower liqueur, and the juice of a few wedges of lemon... we will shake it up and pour a one of a kind cocktail into your martini glass.

Introducing our very own creation, The Saint Martini. You really should try one.

-Spiro

New Cocktails and a Word about Ports

Evenfall is known for a handful of things we take great pride in. Impeccable quality of product, originality and uniqueness, and the desire to bring you, our neighbors and customers, a fresh and new interpretation of going out to dinner. While I get a kick out of seeing things that we started here popping up everywhere (The Asian Pear Martini, and Lobster Mac and Cheese) I particularly like the fact that we make so very much of what we sell from scratch, that not very much of it can be duplicated... in that spirit I am happy to report that Evenfall is poised to unveil a new group of knockout martinis.

Some ingredients:
- House Infused Pineapple and Thyme Vodka
- House Made Dragonswell Green Tea Simple Syrup
- St. Germain Elderflower
- Fresh Carrot Juice
- Rhum Clement Creole
- Passion fruit juice
- House Infused Bartlett Pear Vodka

Be sure to check out the menu as we roll it out this weekend...

Port Wine

A friend of mine Mike Keon, the original owner of Keon's in downtown Haverhill came into Evenfall when we first opened and drank me out of my stock of port (and a few other things)... I was shocked at the sale of so much so quickly, the next week I stocked up, and waited to sell some more. As the years have passed I have witnessed an increasing interest and curiosity in this wonderful liquid.

For those of you un-indoctrinated in all thing port here is a quick rundown:

Port has been around for centuries, and it is enjoying a resurgence in popularity. an especially wonderful accompaniment to the dessert or cheese course. Port is intensely aromatic and flavorful.

Defined:
Port is a fortified wine made from red grapes in northern Portugal's Douro Valley, the first demarcated wine region recognized in 1756. The area has steep, rugged slopes with schitous, rocky soil and long, hot summers.

Grapes:
The principal varieties: Tinta Barroc, Touriga Franca, Tinta cao, Touriga nacional, Tinta roriz

Evenfall Carries the following selection of Port:

Warres Warrior Ruby
Otima 10yr Tawny
2001 Dow’s LBV
2001 Pedroncelli Four Grapes
Dow’s 20yr Tawny

-Spiro

Bar Bite Mondays

Have you heard about our
Bar Bite Mondays?

The $1 Bar Bites Include:

Jumbo Shrimp Cocktail

Meatball Slider
Roasted tomato sauce, fontina cheese, sesame bun

Oysters on the half shell
Varieties change weekly

Two Crispy Salmon Rangoons
House made duck sauce

Organic Salmon Mini Burger
Lemon-parsley aioli, lettuce & tomato, sesame bun

Live Music:
I am pleased to announce that every Friday Evenfall plays host to AJ Edwards.
If you have not heard him in our lounge, click the link above to hear him now. There is no cover.

New Wine Additions

I have added two new wines to the list today, the first is 2005 Bonterra Merlot from Mendocino County, what makes it special is that it is certified organic, the first such wine we have sold at Evenfall. So much of the food we make is organic that having an orgainic wine to offer makes me happy.

I have wanted to add one for some time but the fact is that most organic wines pretty much stink. This one does not, aged in French Oak, you'll find aromas of blackberry pie followed quickly by pleasant toasty aromas of coffee and a slight nuttiness.

The Second new wine is an interesting story as well, it is 'Cameron Hughes Lot 60, Cabernet Sauvignon from Stag's Leap district of Napa.

Hughes buys wine from prestigious wineries that they can't use for various reasons and relabels it and sells it for much less. I bought a few cases of his best offering to date, from the bounty full 2005 harvest of Cabernet in Napa, and from perhaps one of the top few districts... Stag's Leap. 2005 featured weather perfect for growing and Hughes swooped in to gratefully accept the excess... lucky for us.

-Spiro

Blue Cheese Stuffed Olives

They have become Incredibly popular...
Blue cheese stuffed olives.
We stuff them ourselves because if we bought them;
they just wouldn't be stuffed with Great Hill Blue Cheese...
and that would mean they might not taste as good in your martini.
And that is not our style.

Single Barrel Bourbons

Evenfall now offers a fine selection of Single Barrel Bourbons, if you have a taste for whiskey or bourbon you may revel in these new choices. As always we try to bring to your neighborhood the chance to taste something new. Each bottle is from a single barrel giving it a level of uniqueness unfound in the myriad of blended whiskeys. Try some.

Now serving:
Weller Special Reserve
Eagle Rare
Blanton's Single (our bottle is from barrel #212)
Buffalo Trace

Bourbon, an American original, has often been thought of as the ugly stepsister to the 'finer' imported Whiskeys from around the world. The lack of production during prohibition left the American whiskey distillers far behind their foreign competitors who had years of aging barrels to incorporate into their yearly production, a blend that produced a consistent and refined product. The American distillers had no such previous years' barrels to go to and their product paled in comparison when the public compared them, thus an image of lower quality was born, an image which was then fed into by the American distillers willingness to sell cheaper less refined products. More and more that image is fading as American consumers wet their taste buds with the Bourbon Industry's unique product: Single Barrel Bourbon

Thanks for reading -Spiro

A Valentine's Note to the Men Reading This

Guys listen to me please!

The afternoon of Valentine's day is a particularly painful day for me. I answer the phone countless times to a panic stricken boyfriend/husband who has nowhere to take his woman, at least nowhere that would be safe for him to take her. A drive thru isn't cutting it brother. Anyway we always do our best to squeeze people in, but by that time it is border line impossible to do. So whether you plan on taking her here or elsewhere, get on it! Just a friendly reminder from me to you...

We are going to have a special a la carte menu, featuring some of our favorites, some of chef Scott's famous Valentine's Day dishes, and a bunch of new things to make the night special. Menu to be released this week...

February 14th is right around the corner. Make a reservation.

"Gravitation is not responsible for people falling in love" - Albert Einstein

Wine News

Hello,

I am excited to report that I have added Evenfall's first wine from Portugal to the wine list. A product of the House of Dow's, a famous port producer.

Starting tonight we will be offfering the 2005 Vale do Bomfin Reserva Douro DOC. Now that may be a seem like a mouthful but the wine itself is the real mouthful. With luscious flavors of raspberry, blueberry, and spice. It is a dry red especially suited for drinking with a meal.

Wine Notes:
Picked in late September 2005 from Dow's Primary Vineyard: Quinta do Bomfin
Aged 6-8 Months in new and second year American Oak, cellared in Gaia
Varietals: 40% Tinta Roriz, 40% Touriga Franca, 20% Tinta Barroca

$36 Bottle

"Quickly, bring me a beaker of wine, so that I may wet my mind and say something clever."
-Aristophanes