Update: This year’s 50 on Fire nominations will be open through October 10th, 2014. Submit now.
It’s no secret that Boston’s restaurant landscape is on fire! With a multitude of awards and accolades garnered over the past year, our food-centric city has become a dining destination that isn’t slowing down anytime soon. And this year’s annual 50 on Fire event, taking place December 4, is the perfect opportunity to recognize all of those folks who are truly setting Boston’s dining scene on fire. To get you started, we’ve taken the liberty of rounding up (in no particular order) several 50 on Fire-worthy nominations in the dining category, below. Nominations are open until September 30, so get to it before time runs out!
Aeronaut Brewing Company: This local favorite moved their brewing operations from Ipswich to Somerville this summer with the opening of their microbrewery in Union Square. And, given that Aeronaut will also be featured in Mark Wahlberg’s new A&E reality series ‘The Big Brew Theory,’ it’s sure to be a household name in no time.
Chef Josh Lewin: The former chef at Beacon Hill Bistro branched out this year to launch the well-known restaurant pop-up, Bread & Salt Hospitality, with business partner Katrina Jazayeri. After hosting pop-up events in Boston and throughout the country, Lewin has settled (for now) at Wink & Nod, taking over the kitchen as part of the ongoing culinary incubator program.
CropCircle Kitchen: This nonprofit culinary business incubator is currently supporting around 40 culinary entrepreneurs in its shared kitchen. In the past few years, it’s helped get many of Boston’s best restaurants and food trucks off the ground. This month, CropCircle Kitchen even expanded into CCK Pearl, a 36,000 square foot production facility in Dorchester.
Eat Boston: Started by Chef Will Gilson and Aaron Cohen in 2010, the events company produces food events nationwide – most of which are fundraisers for non-profit organizations. Thus far, Eat Boston has raised over $150k for charities. In addition to hosting the annual Boston Bacon and Beer Festival, Eat Boston also hosted Watertown’s first-ever food truck beer garden festival, FTW! Food Trucks Watertown, this year at The Arsenal in Watertown.
Pastry Chef Brian Mercury: Over the past year, Harvest Restaurant’s Executive Pastry Chef, Brian Mercury, has been gaining national attention for his sweet desserts. He was named winner of Food & Wine’s “The People’s Best Pastry Chef” competition for the East and his Taza Chocolate Cremeux dessert was also honored by Food & Wine as one of “America’s Best Salty-Sweet Desserts” of 2013.
Night Shift Brewing: Founded in 2012 by three entrepreneurs, this microbrewery is heating up Boston’s beer scene in a big way. Just this year, Night Shift Brewery opened their new brewery and a 2,500 square foot tap room space in Everett, MA.
Chef Jeremy Sewall: Besides running both Lineage’s and Eastern Standard’s kitchens, Jeremy Sewall is also Executive Chef and partner at both Island Creek Oyster Bar and Row 34. He has been instrumental in Row 34’s rising popularity and growth over the past year. This September, Sewall will also release his first cookbook with Erin Byers Murray called, The New England Kitchen: Fresh Takes on Seasonal Recipes.
Wahlburgers: Wahlburgers, the Wahlberg family-owned burger joint and A&E reality show, has taken off like wildfire since its opening. Plans are currently in the works for several new locations, including Lynnfield and Fenway.
Boston Nightlife Ventures: This hospitality group manages many of Boston’s best restaurants and their portfolio is only growing. This year, the group opened the popular South End speakeasy, Wink & Nod. Most recently, the company also revamped Faneuil Hall’s The Tap bar into The Tap Trailhouse.
Roger Berkowitz: Already a well-known Boston figure, the CEO of Legal Sea Foods has grown his restaurant portfolio to encompass seven different Legal Sea Food brands (three of which opened this year). The seven brands include: Legal Sea Foods, Legal Test Kitchen (LTK), Legal C Bar, Legal Harborside, Legal Crossing (LX), Legal Oysteria in Charlestown, and Assembly Row’s new Legal on the Mystic.
Chef Michael Scelfo: After leaving Russell House Tavern last year, Chef Michael Scelfo opened his first restaurant, Alden & Harlow, in Harvard Square. Since opening, the restaurant has been met with praise and raving reviews. Chef Scelfo’s restaurant was even nominated as a Best New Restaurant this year by Bon Appetit.
Richer Pour: This Boston-based wine on tap company is changing the way we drink wine – one restaurant at a time. Currently, Richer Pour’s wine on tap technology can be found in over 100 bars in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, New York and Chicago.
Bon Me: The Vietnamese food truck won the City of Boston’s Food Truck Contest a few years back and hasn’t slowed down since. In the past few years, the company has expanded to four food trucks and one brick-and-mortar restaurant in Kendall Square. This fall, Bon Me will open its second brick-and-mortar location in Fort Point.
Chef Stacy Cogswell: Regal Beagle’s Executive Chef Stacy Cogswell (formerly of Upstairs on the Square) could soon be joining the list of celebrity chefs in Boston. Cogswell was chosen as a cheftestant on this year’s Boston Top Chef (Season 12), which premieres this October on Bravo.
Tim and Nancy Cushman: O Ya owners, Tim and Nancy Cushman, are opening yet another Boston restaurant this fall dubbed Hojoko. The restaurant will open in the vintage-retro Verb Hotel. Earlier this year, the Cushmans also opened Roof at Park South in New York City.
Images courtesy of Boston Nightlife Ventures, Himmel Hospitality Group, Wahlburgers and Richer Pour
