Salt News

Giving Thanks with Sel de la Terre

saltnews — Fri, 12 Nov 2010 18:45:37 +0000

Somehow, Thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away. If you haven’t had time to firm up your plans yet, maybe we can help! All three Sel de la Terre locations are serving a special Thanksgiving menu on Thursday, November 25th.

Sel de la Terre Back Bay
774 Boylston Street
Boston, MA 02199

Check out the Back Bay menu here, which features Heirloom Squash Soup, Heirloom Turkey from Apple Street Farm, and Brioche Bread Pudding. Call 617-266-8800 to reserve.

Sel de la Terre Long Wharf
255 State Street
Boston, MA 02109

View the Long Wharf menu here, which features a Mixed Greens Salad with Roasted Delicata Squash, Roasted Turkey with Apple Stuffing and Caramelized Brussels Sprouts, and Pumpkin Crème Brûlée. Call 617-720-1300 to reserve.

Sel de la Terre Natick Collection
1245 Worcester Street
Natick, MA 01760

Read the Natick menu here, which features a Butternut Squash Soup with Sage, our Provençal Braised Beef Shortribs, and a Traditional Apple Pie. Call 508-650-1800 to reserve.

We’re also offering Thanksgiving To Go which can be ordered for pick-up or delivery. Our menu includes turkeys ready-to-cook or already cooked, all of your favorite side dishes, including stuffing, cranberry sauce, truffled mashed potatoes, and more. We also have fresh baked breads and pies. Or simply select a “Traditional Dinner” for 2, 4, or 8 people and get all the essentials in one package. Call 617-442-4200 for more information!

And if you’re planning to cook, but still want some inspiration, watch this video clip of Chef Frank McClelland cooking pheasant as an alternative to a larger turkey!

No matter how you celebrate Thanksgiving, we hope you have a wonderful day filled with great food, friends, and family!

So many events, so little time…

saltnews — Thu, 16 Sep 2010 01:41:24 +0000

We have so many events going on at our restaurants right now, it’s difficult to keep up! If you’re a locavore, a beer advocate, a wine drinker or just a good eater, we’ve probably got an event going on that you’ll be interested in. These events make for great gifts, date nights, girls (or guys) nights out, or a really fun opportunity to learn more about something! Check out our event listings below and call today to reserve!

For the locavore:

Chef’s Table Dinner at Natick on Thursday, September 16: Early Fall Harvest Dinner featuring fresh late season produce from our own Apple Street Farm! This event starts at 7pm and is $38 per person. The Chef’s Table Dinner includes commentary on each course from Chef Bojorquez.

Farm-to-Table Dinner at Long Wharf on Tuesday, September 21. This four-course dinner features produce from our own Apple Street Farm as well and includes wine pairings. This event starts at 7pm and is $48 per person.

50-mile Sunday Suppers at Back Bay. Every Sunday, we feature a three-course prix fixe dinner menu for $35 which is sourced as locally as possible. Join Chef DiBiccari for this locavore treat!

For the beer-drinker:

Craft Beer Dinner at Natick on Wednesday, September 29. Join Chef Ben Lacy for a four-course meal paired with locally made craft brews from Pretty Things, Cisco Brewers, and more! This dinner begins at 6:30pm and is $48 per person.

International Beer Dinner at Natick on Wednesday, October 13. Chef Ben Lacy is at it again, this time with internationally brewed, award-winning beers being the focus. This dinner also begins at 6:30pm and is $48 per person.

Long Wharf Craft Beer Dinner on Tuesday, October 19. If you can’t make it to Natick, visit our waterfront location for a similar beer dinner with Chef Ben Knack. This five-course dinner at 7pm and is $56 per person.

If wine if your preference:

Wine Tuesdays at Natick and Wine Wednesdays at Back Bay are a perennial favorite. These four-course dinners focus on a specific wine theme and each course is paired perfectly with a different wine. This is a great opportunity to learn more about wine!

Or, if you prefer something wild:

Chef Ben Lacy is bringing back the Autumn Game Dinner at Natick on Wednesday, November 3. This four-course dinner featuring various game meats begins at 6:30pm with hors d’oeuvres and is $48 per person.

Chef Ben Knack is also running a Game Dinner at Long Wharf on Tuesday, November 9. His take on the seasonal game dinner will feature a five-course meal for $65 per person.

Join us for one (or more) of these great events this fall! Visit our website or call the restaurant directly for more information!

Sel de la Terre Back Bay
774 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
tel. 617.266.8800

Sel de la Terre Long Wharf
255 State Street
Boston, MA
(617) 720-1300

Sel de la Terre Natick
1245 Worcester Road
Natick, MA
(508) 650-1800

Natick Brings Back the Craft Beer Dinner

saltnews — Thu, 02 Sep 2010 17:50:54 +0000

Earlier this year, our Natick restaurant hosted a Craft Beer Dinner. Sous Chef Ben Lacy had such a great time doing it, that we’re doing it again. We will pair four locally made craft beers with four inventive courses from Chef Ben. The dinner will include beers from Cambridge’s Pretty Things, Nantucket’s Cisco Brewers, and Gloucester’s Cape Ann Brewing Company. A few of the brewers will be on hand to discuss their ales and brews, and delicious food will flow from the kitchen, including an Arctic Char Rillette with focaccia crostini and house made grain mustard, Chef Ben’s “Grilled Cheese” with Apple Street Farm heirloom tomato jam, and Beer-Braised Short Ribs with pommes anna and local succotash. The evening is sure to please beer novices and experts alike.

Based on the success of SDLT Natick’s past beer dinners, this event is likely to be popular. Make your reservations soon!

Wednesday, September 29, 2010
$48 per guest
Hors d’oeuvres at 6:30, dinner at 7
View the full menu here

P.S. If you can’t get enough with just one beer dinner, we have others coming up as well! Chef Ben Knack will host a similar Craft Beer Dinner at Long Wharf on October 21 and Chef Ben Lacy will be at it again October 13 with an International Beer Dinner. Stay tuned for menus and more details.

SDLT Burger Wins “Best of Boston”

saltnews — Fri, 30 Jul 2010 20:32:30 +0000

Want some of this?

Apparently, you do! Boston Magazine just awarded our SDLT Burger the “Best Burger” award in the 2010 “Best of Boston” issue! We’re really excited to receive this award because we love our burger! It’s got freshly ground New England beef from Wolfe’s Neck in Maine, sharp cheddar from Vermont, our housemade spicy aioli, smoked pancetta from Vermont pigs, and it’s served on a freshly baked Au Soleil Bakery (our sister company) bun! The burger is served with lightly dressed greens from our own Apple Street Farm and our famous rosemary pommes frites.

Stop by and try our award-winning burger today!

Summer Sundays at Sel Back Bay

saltnews — Fri, 09 Jul 2010 13:23:50 +0000

If there are indeed Seven Deadly “Sins” then let Sel de la Terre Back Bay be your temple of delectable transgressions. Starting this Sunday and running through August, Chef Louis DiBiccari at Sel de la Terre Back Bay will be creating clever three-course Sunday dinner menus around the themes of wrath, greed, sloth, pride, lust, envy, and of course, gluttony. Never has transgression been more rewarding or delicious. Every Sunday through August 29; $35. The
“Sins” menu will be offered in place of the 3-course $35 prix fixe which is offered nightly at Back Bay.

{ 07-11 } Wrath
{ 07-18 } Greed
{ 07-25 } Restaurant Closed for Company Party
{ 08-01 } Sloth
{ 08-08 } Pride
{ 08-15 } Lust
{ 08-22 } Envy
{ 08-29 } Gluttony

Also, on the last Sunday of every month, unwind from the weekend with Chef DiBiccari as he cooks up dishes from our chefs’ most influential culinary artists from around the world. Enjoy four courses and light commentary for $45 per person. 7pm

{ 07-18 } The Fat Duck by Heston Blumenthal
{ 08-29 } Momofuku by David Chang

It’s going to be hard to choose between the two, but rest assured that any Sunday at SDLT Back Bay will bring a delicious (and maybe a little devilish) dinner!

Sel de la Terre Back Bay
774 Boylston Street
Boston, Massachusetts 02199
tel. 617.266.8800

Chef Knack on Hell’s Kitchen

saltnews — Fri, 28 May 2010 14:30:56 +0000

In case you haven’t heard, Sel de la Terre Long Wharf’s own Chef Benjamin Knack is a contestant on the new season of Hell’s Kitchen! In the show, Chef Gordon Ramsay splits the contestants into two teams and each week they compete in various challenges. Chefs that catch the eye of Chef Ramsay will advance to the following week. Eventually, the final two contestants will battle head-to-head to become the winner of Hell’s Kitchen. Join us throughout the summer to cheer on Chef Knack at Sel de la Terre Long Wharf!

The show airs on Tuesdays at 8pm on FOX. Please join us this Tuesday, June 1st for the Premier Tweet Up with @BostonTweetUp. We have a large-screen TV to watch the show and Chef Knack is preparing a three-course prix fixe of “Gordon’s Favorites” for $38 per person (regular menu also available). Please call 617-720-1300 for reservations. $1 oysters and $3 PBR beers will also be available at the bar during the show. Join us to cheer on Chef Knack!

After the premiere, join us each week at Sel de la Terre Long Wharf for $1 oysters and $3 PBR beers during the show. Chef Knack will be available to chat about his unforgettable experience. (No, he’s not going to reveal any secrets…)

Sel de la Terre Long Wharf
255 State Street
Boston, MA
(617) 720-1300

Our Family!

saltnews — Fri, 30 Apr 2010 23:41:38 +0000

Time for a little shameless self-promotion. If you’re reading this, chances are you’re already a fan of Sel de la Terre. But what do you do when the calling for a more refined, elegant and, shall we say, adventurous dining experience presents itself? Think L’Espalier and Au Soleil Catering.

Our sister restaurant, L’Espalier, offers up fine French-New England fare – the perfect marriage of local ingredients and classic French technique. Similarly to Sel de la Terre, farm-to-table freshness is of utmost importance in the kitchen at L’Espalier, and we can trace everything on each plate back to the farmer, fisherman, or fromagerie it came from. Flawless food, along with sleek décor and impeccable service, make L’Espalier the perfect atmosphere to commemorate that really special occasion or to impress a special someone.
INSIDER TIP: L’Espalier’s lunch is the best deal in the city. Choose from three menus, including a three-course prix fixe for only $24 per person!

Want to have the same quality of food that you get from Sel de la Terre and L’Espalier, but in the comfort of your own home? Have our event coordinators of Au Soleil catering help you create a custom menu, from a L’Espalier inspired soirée or afternoon tea to a rustic, Provençal buffet à la Sel de la Terre, prepared by the chefs of our restaurants. Whether for when you let your hair down after that big walk down the aisle, or for your next business luncheon, let Au Soleil Catering add character and pizzazz with an unforgettable meal.
SPECIAL OFFER: Mention this blog post and receive 10% off food and beverage on your catering order booked and occuring from now until May 31!

L’Espalier
774 Boylston Street, Boston
www.lespalier.com
Twitter: @lespalier
Facebook.com/lespalier

Au Soleil Catering
148 Hampden Street, Boston
www.ausoleilcatering.com
Twitter: @ausoleilcater

Marathon Mania!

saltnews — Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:54:00 +0000

The third Monday in April is known by many in the U.S. as President’s Day, but in Massachusetts, and especially among Boston area natives, the holiday is better known as “Marathon Monday.”

For some, this early spring day marks the culmination of months of qualifying, training, and sheer determination to finish a 26.6-mile running race up and down the hilly terrain from Hopkinton to Copley Square in Boston. The rest of us trade sideline water tables and running sneaks for mid-day beer drinking and rooftop barbeques, craving much needed sun to tint snow-white skin from months of hibernation. Marathon Monday is the Bostonian’s first excuse to venture outside, hopeful for warm weather after a long New England winter.

If you’re among the many (stats say there are upwards of 500,000) who gather to cheer on the perseverant runners from beyond the sidelines, now is the time to plan where to soak in the day’s festivities.

You can either park your lawn chair and picnic blanket at the wee hours of the morning to be swarmed by a sea of on-lookers, or set up camp at Sel de la Terre where you can watch all the action on Boylston street from expansive floor-to-ceiling windows from the second floor dining room.

Seek shelter from the unpredictable Boston weather in our bar or dining room where we’ll be offering up the delicious deals on our popular bar menu all day long.

We promise you’ll have enough elbow room to enjoy a beer from the tap or a classy cocktail, and be able to cheer them on without spilling a drop.
For reservations call (617) 266-8800 today!

Sel de la Terre Back Bay
Monday, April 19, 2010
774 Boylston Street, Boston

Sel de la Terre Turns 10!

saltnews — Thu, 18 Mar 2010 18:16:05 +0000

Just four months after we left our scrunchies and pogs in the decade past and partied like it was 1999, Y2K saw the first dishes go out of the kitchen at the flagship location of Sel de la Terre.

Sel de la Terre was born by Chefs Geoff Gardner and Frank McClelland while Gardner worked under McClelland at sister restaurant, L’Espalier. The two envisioned a French brasserie with a relaxed atmosphere and chose the waterfront location in Boston’s downtown Financial District as the setting to launch the idea.

Today, we still offer affordable Southern French cuisine made with the freshest New England ingredients. It is, and will continue to be, important for us at Sel de la Terre to support local farmers and vendors and build strong relationships within our community. To uphold these values, our chefs continually revolve their menus around the seasonal ingredients produced by our local suppliers and often peruse farmer’s markets for the most quality offerings.

We are proud to offer chefs the culinary freedom to interpret our decade old philosophy giving each Sel de la Terre menu and environment a unique personality. While our chefs’ interpretations vary slightly, there are a few staples that can be sure to please your palette at any location of Sel de la Terre. These Sel de la Terre staples have stood the test of time, and we have been happy to feature these favorites for the past ten years: our award-winning bread basket full of our homemade artisanal French bread varieties, classic steak frites, and the rave-worthy SDLT burger on a homemade brioche bun with a side of our famous rosemary pommes frites.

Over the years, we can thank our successes to our loyal patrons who have been dining with us since the very beginning, but we still love meeting new faces every day. We have endured the economic ups and downs with our customers, which have sparked the creation of some of our most popular events including Wine Wednesdays and Tuesdays at SDLT Long Wharf and Natick, and occasional events like $1 Oyster Night and Trivia Thursdays.

Join us for a special anniversary dinner to commemorate the last 10 years at each of our locations of Sel de la Terre throughout the month of April. Each location’s celebration will support a different local charity with a portion of the proceeds. Call today for reservations!

Tuesday, April 6, 2010:

Sel de la Terre Long Wharf

Click here for menu!

Boston, MA

255 State Street

(617) 720-1300

Charity: Hospitality Homes

Tuesday, April 13, 2010:

Sel de la Terre Natick Collection

Click here for menu!

1245 Worcester Street

Natick, MA

(508) 650-1800

Charity: Yoga Reaches Out

Tuesday, April 20, 2010:

Sel de la Terre Back Bay

Click here for menu!

774 Boylston Street

(617) 266-8800

Charity: Yawkey Family Inn

A case of the Wine Mondays

saltnews — Fri, 05 Mar 2010 21:38:19 +0000

Wine Mondays have always been a favorite among L’Espalier staff and patrons since the first bottles were cracked around communal tables back in 2002. It’s no wonder that over the last couple years, when recession buster deals and steals hit an all time high, that the idea is catching on in restaurant dining rooms in cities across the country.

The concept offers a less expensive, less complicated, yet no less delicious version of classic L’Espalier cuisine paired with different wines for each course that reflect a revolving theme. Guests are sat around large tables where resident wine expert, Erik Johnson, leads lively discussion. It’s an opportunity for the whole gang to let their hair down and start the week off on what would otherwise be a run of the mill Monday night.

Chef Frank McClelland’s first cookbook, Wine Mondays, is a seasonal journey through his most favorite Wine Monday menus and wine pairings. Adapting each recipe to fit the freshest ingredients and personal tastes is a necessity in recreating the same feeling at home; and he suggests matching the weight of the food to the weight of your favorite and readily available wines. There’s no real hard and fast rule here, just tips for enhancing your personal tastes and culinary identity. That’s why “Have fun,” is the most important sentiment that McClelland emphasizes in this book, and the reason that Wine Mondays has been a playful part of our lives for almost 10 years.

This month, to pay homage to the wine dinners that started it all, we will be hosting two Wine Mondays Cookbook themed dinners. At Sel de la Terre Back Bay enjoy a four course tasting menu using recipes and pairings from the cookbook, and at Sel de la Terre Natick, a usual Wine Tuesday will revolve around Wine Mondays recipes, as well.

Sunday, March 14^th, Chef Louis DiBiccari runs the show at Sel de la Terre Back Bay. You won’t be bored as he discusses each of the courses and wine pairings with his energetic personality.

Tuesday, March 16^th, Chef Daniel Bojourquez of Sel de la Terre Natick Collection takes his turn at Chef McClelland’s recipes as the theme of his weekly Wine Tuesday.

Advanced reservations are required for these events. Each seat is $38 including dinner and wine pairings for each course, but for just $10 more, get your very own autographed copy of Wine Mondays to bring home!

For reservations:

www.seldelaterre.com

Sel de la Terre Back Bay: (617) 266-8800

Sel de la Terre Natick Collection: (508) 650-1800