The menu at Sheraton Boston Hotel’s restaurant/wine bar, Paired, has small plate and wine offerings for food-loving travelers. Come and learn more about this unique new restaurant, and I’ll show you what’s on the Paired menu!
This is the first post in a new sponsored partnership with the Sheraton Boston Hotel. We’ll share about the hotel, but also on all that Boston has to offer regarding food, wine, culture, and activities. Opinions are 100% my own, whether or not complimentary services and stays are offered.
Since moving to Martha’s Vineyard, the city of Boston has become my gateway to travel adventures unlike any other city. It’s through this city that my husband and I get to explore its nooks and corners. This is the city that makes us rejoice when our favorite team wins, and more than anything else, it’s a city we dive full-force into when we’re hungry after our travels.
Whether we’re exploring fine dining at No. 9 Park, slurping back oysters and chowder at Union Oyster House, or sampling the goods that Chinatown has to offer, Boston is a food lover’s dream come true.
And where better to stay than the Sheraton Boston Hotel? It’s located just four miles from the airport, with close access to indoor shopping and restaurants, at The Shops at Prudential Center and Copley Place. We’ve stayed at the Sheraton a handful of times, before and after this new partnership. Its proximity to Boston’s Back Bay restaurants, Copley Square, the Charles River, the Museum of Fine Arts, and Fenway Park is purely ideal!
On this visit, we had the opportunity to taste our way through the new Paired menu. Sheraton recently began offering the best in wines, as they joined forces with hotel chefs in creating unexpected pairings of small plates. Not only can guests explore the vast world of wines at Paired, but they can also savor local craft beers, in this case, focusing on New England craft breweries and local products.
Small plate experiences are one of my favorite ways to eat, because you have just enough food to tantalize your palate, while pairing it with just the right wine or beer.
I met with Jonathan Sobel, Director of Restaurants, Bars & Venues to discover the Paired menu. We met at the SideBar & Grille, located in the hotel lobby, and we embarked on a delicious adventure.
“Here at the Sheraton Boston, we strive to make wine accessible, showcasing rare varietals not normally seen by the glass in restaurants, and developing that sense of learning while sipping,” explained Mr. Sobel, while guiding me through the first courses.
The Paired menu (subject to seasonal changes) of small plates is very accessible, with prices between $3-$5 USD. Along with the food menu, you have an opportunity to read the beer and wine recommendations, and order them to your liking. That’s the great thing about this experience – the menu is just suggestions, not requirements. You can choose three small plates and pair them all with a beer, choose two small plates and try each of them with a wine and a beer, or decide to do a tasting of all seven small plates paired with some beer or wine. You and only you create this fun and interactive menu of pairings, with suggestions from the knowledgeable Sheraton staff.
Westfield Farm Capri Goat Cheese with Stone Fruit & Lavosh, paired with Kim Crawford Sauvignon Blanc
The ideal starter, this creamy cheese is paired with a fruity jam that compliments the Sauvignon Blanc’s crisp tropical fruit undertones.
Great Hill Bleu Cheese with Apple Brandy Compote, paired with Neige Apple Ice Wine:
Before even talking about this great local cheese, I have to mention that this apple ice wine was my favorite of the tasting. Did you know apple ice wine is made by leaving the apples on the tree until they freeze? They allows a higher concentration of sugars and creates a sweet, yet balanced wine that paired perfectly with the strong bleu cheese.
Garlic Hummus with Grilled Peppers, paired with Casa LaPostelle Chardonnay
If you’re a seasoned reader of this blog, you know my love for hummus is intense. Thus, it was interesting to see it being paired with wine. A tough thing to do, but when paired with this Chilean Chardonnay, it balanced out the garlic and sesame in the hummus quite nicely.
Soppressata with Candied Pecans, paired with Achaval Ferrer Malbec
Fatty, cured meats were made to be paired with good wine, and this soppressata delivered when tasted along the Malbec. The sprinkling of candied pecans elevated the pairing, connecting the sweetness in both.
Spicy Kimchi Shrimp with Cilantro and Cabbage, paired with Saint M Riesling
I love Korean cuisine, and to see it on the Paired menu with a riesling made so much sense. Riesling cools the spicy kimchi shrimp down perfectly.
BBQ Pork Rib with Creamy Napa Slaw, paired with Berkshire Brewing Company Steel Rail Ale
One bite of rib and one sip of beer whisked my mind to an outdoor summer barbecue with friends. This is when the pairings transitioned to beer; a great idea, and recommendation.
Buffalo Chicken Wings with Blue Cheese, paired with Berkshire Brewing Company Coffeehouse Porter
Making pairings approachable, like Mr. Sobel mentioned, includes serving up buffalo wings to New England locals. But when they pair those classic wings with a coffeehouse porter, it is mind blowing. The wings on the Paired menu were made to be sipped with porters!
Fresh Soft Pretzel with Sweet Onion & Bacon Jam, paired with Jack’s Abbey Mass Rising
A house made pretzel, to be dunked in a sweet, bacon infused jam, and an extra hoppy beer ended the pairings.
To enjoy the pairings of the Paired menu, and other tasty treats, visit the SideBar & Grille. Located in the lobby of the Sheraton Boston Hotel, they’re open daily from 11:00 AM until midnight.
The hotel is located at 39 Dalton Street, Boston, MA, 02199.
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