By Bryan Barbieri

Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer! Courtesy photo.

WHAT: Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer is celebrating its 12^th year of success in the city! This year, some of the area’s premier restaurants and bakeries will be joining forces to help raise money to benefit breast cancer research and care at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. Establishments will choose one dessert to feature for a week where 100 percent of the proceeds goes directly to the Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer organization. This year, Buca di Beppo, Da Vinci Ristorante, Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse, Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake and Stanhope Grille at The Back Bay Hotel have promised to donate all of its selected dessert proceeds to join in the battle against breast cancer.

Dessert options include: Buca di Beppo – Strawberry Cannoli; Da Vinci Ristorante – Raspberry Cheesecake; Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse – Warm Chocolate Cake with Vanilla Bean Ice Cream; Haru – Cheesecake Tempura; Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake – Jalapeño & Cinnamon Chocolate Soufflé with Jalapeño Basil Ice Cream and Smoked Cinnamon Anglaise; and, Stanhope Grille – Strawberry Shortcake.

WHEN: Available May 2^nd through 8^th, 2011

WHERE: Participating restaurants include the following:

Buca di Beppo (locations in Dedham, Lexington, Seekonk and Shrewsbury)

Da Vinci Ristorante (162 Columbus Avenue, Boston)

Davio’s Northern Italian Steakhouse (75 Arlington Street, Boston)

Poe’s Kitchen at the Rattlesnake (384 Boylston Street, Boston)

Stanhope Grille at The Back Bay Hotel (350 Stuart Street, Boston)

ABOUT BOSTON BAKES FOR BREAST CANCER:

Now in its 12^th year, Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer has evolved and grown into one of the sweetest weeks Boston and the Greater Boston area has experienced. Teaming up with restaurants, bakeries, and cafes across the region, Boston Bakes offers the opportunity to enjoy a delectable dessert, and support breast cancer research and care at the same time. Previously a part of The Eva Brownman Breast Cancer Fund, Boston Bakes for Breast Cancer is now registered through the Attorney General’s Office as an official commercial co-venture. For more information, please visit: www.bostonbakesforbreastcancer.org.

Bryan is the senior media relations rep for these restaurants — and this great cause. He wrote this for Globalfoodie.

Since English isn’t the first language in Tunisia, I thought it might be a prolific hunting ground for my Silly Signs, which I collect, photograph and occasionally post in my blog (see information below). No such luck. The only one I saw was from a bus, and we were gone before I could photograph it.

My luck changed later when we were passing through a Berber village.  I saw a restaurant promising “Authentic Barbaric Food.” Well, the two words come from the same root, anyway!

But, we didn’t have to stray far from food to finally find something. One night, we went to a “Traditional Tunisian Banquet.” where wine was served.

Now, although Tunisia is a Muslim country, alcohol is readily available, and, in fact, beer and wine are produced in country. Grapes for wine are grown in Tunisia, rather than them making wine from imported grape concentrate, as they sometimes do elsewhere. The centre of wine production is at Mornag, a little way to the south of Tunis. They produce reds, whites and rosés, and the result is … well, I wouldn’t go out of my way to seek any, but I’ll drink it if it’s offered.

I do think they might have been a little more careful with the name, though! As Oliver Hardy might have said:

“This is another Vin de Mess you’ve gotten me into, Stanley!”

Keith can be reached at Keith@globalfoodie.com. To see more of his work visit his blog: travelrat.wordpress.com/