Taste of the South End

Last night I was lucky enough to attend the Taste of the South End event at the Cyclorama. What a spectacular event! So well-organized, with fantastic restaurants as far as the eye could see. “Celeb” chefs in attendance: Christopher Myers and Joanne Chang of Myers+ Chang; Gordon Hamersley of Hamersley’s Bistro; Jamie Bissonnette of Toro; Anthony Susi of Sage; Will Gilson of Garden at the Cellar (he was in the VIP lounge if you’re wondering why a Cambridge restaurant was there); and Louis DiBiccari of Sel de la Terre (also VIP lounge). Amy Traverso, Boston magazine’s food editor, interviewed chefs at the cooking demonstration station—including the chefs at the Beehive, Stella, and Toro.

Some of my favorite dishes: PICCO’s raspberry chip ice cream; Garden at the Cellar’s duck confit panini; The Franklin’s tuna tartare; Masa’s tamarind-chipotle margarita; Oishii’s grilled black cod; South End Formaggio's Comte cheese; and Gaslight’s duck wrapped in a home-made crepe.

I wish I had taken my camera (DUMB!) so that I could’ve captured some of the better visuals: Mayor Menino, Jamie Bissonnette, Amy Traverso, and the guy from Island Creek Oysters at the demonstration table (such an eclectic group!); The Franklin’s ICE LUGE in which they poured blood orange martinis (into a cup though, not college-style, sadly…); the Butcher Shop’s seriously hunky chef and former Boston magazine cover boy (sigh); and the drag queens wandering the floor.

Let’s just say I’m still full today. . .