It isn’t often the newspaper’s weekly food section has a beverage focus. But in light of last week’s sweltering temperatures, I decided there was no better time to promote the concept of simple syrups.
For help, I contacted Chris Dennett, owner of Elements Tapas Bar & Lounge and innovative mixologist. Dennett’s creations — almost culinary in their components — made waves at a March cocktail competition, covered in a previous post. I wasn’t the only one impressed by Elements’ signature “fire” cocktail; a number of readers responded wanting more information about the restaurant, its drinks and how to make them.
Now Dennett and his nearby restaurant compatriots are providing more reasons to venture downtown. Dine around in the next two months, and you could win gift certificates to eat and play some more.
A consortium of 16 Medford businesses, dubbed the OldTown Dining and Entertainment District, are promoting their Dine Around campaign through September. Customers 21 and older of OldTown dining or entertainment venues participate by collecting stickers at those locations. Collect five or more stickers at different spots, affix them to the group’s card and turn them in to any OldTown location by Sept. 30 to enter a drawing to win gift certificates for OldTown businesses.
The grand prize is a package of gift certificates totaling $1,500, second prize is $500 in certificates and third prize is $250 certificates. Winners will be announced the first week of October.
Dine Around cards may be downloaded at www.oldtownmedford.com or can be found at any OldTown location. They include:
38 Central, 38 Central Ave., 541-776-0038
Bear Creek Beers, 410 E. Main St. suite B, 541-773-7564
Corks Wine Bar & Bottle Shoppe, 235 Theater Alley, 541-245-1616
Craterian Ginger Rogers Theater, 23 S. Central Ave., 541-779-3000
Elements Tapas Bar & Lounge, 101 E. Main St., 541-779-0135
4 Daughters Irish Pub, 126 W. Main St., 541-779-4455
Habaneros Mexican Restaurant, 142 N. Front St., 541-779-9770
Jackson Creek Pizza, 317 E. Main St., 541-734-7322
Pallet Wine Co., Third and Fir streets, 541-621-1589
Porters Dining at the Depot, 147 N. Front St., 541-857-1910
Rack ’Em Billiards & Food, 40 N. Riverside Ave., 541-779-6111
Red Lion Hotel & Misty’s Grill, 200 N. Riverside Ave., 541-779-5811
Redrock Italian Eatery, 17 W. Fourth St., 541-773-6840
Shenanigans Irish Pub 17 S. Riverside Ave., 541-776-6945
Sunrise Cafe 130 E. Main St., 541-245-0555
Wet — An Aquatic Nightclub Experience, 1 W. Sixth St., 541-555-1212
