SUN 7/5: Food Battles, Civil War

Are you hungry? Interested in the Civil War? It might be a nice day for a walk.

I mentioned it earlier in the week, but towns all over the Commonwealth are having fireworks on the Fourth of July; some are even close to Boston.

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SUN 7/5

11am to 6pm
Annual Chowderfest
at City Hall Plaza, 1 City Hall Plaza, Boston (Govt Center)
$10 / $7 ages under 12

This isn't the right time of year for chowder. But this is the peak of local tourism, so people gather for all-you-can-eat clam chowder. Waiting in a long line under the hot sun may not sound great, but I've done it a couple times 'cause most of the chowder is really good.

Your vote (and the thousands others) determines the winner of Boston's best chowder of '09. The competitors are: Yankee Lobster Fish Market, Ned Devine's Irish Pub, Algonquin Club (really?), Boston Beer Works, Farmer Brown's, House of Blues, Parker's Restaurant, and Fish Pier.

This is one of those events where you should try going at the beginning for the shortest line.

SUN 7/5

1pm to 4pm
Civil War Day
at Longfellow National Historic Site, 105 Brattle St, Cambridge (near Harvard Sq)
FREE

It's interesting to have a Civil War day at the Longfellow House. Henry Wadsworth Longfellow was a supporter of Lincoln, and they say he wrote "Paul Revere's Ride" to steel the nation for the brewing conflict on slavery. Then he wrote "Christmas Bells" after his wife died and his son died was injured in the war.

People are getting dressed in the period style for a bit of 19th-cent. life and language. At 4pm, you can watch a discussion between Abraham Lincoln and Edward Everett about the Gettysburg Address. (The battle ended on July 3, 1863.)

SUN 7/5

4pm to 6pm
"Burger Battle"
at Sel de la Terre, 255 State St, Boston (Waterfront)
$5 for 3 sliders

I don't know if Sel de la Terre usually has menu items for $5, but they solicited burger recipes and the top three entries are going to compete in the kitchen and served as sliders for a couple hours.

Each recipe had to: use 5 or less components (not including meat and bun), be 8 oz or less, be completed with a house baked sourdough roll (if bun in recipe). Diners will vote on the winner which will be on Sel de la Terre's menu for the rest of the month.

"To make a reservation for the tasting event, call (617) 720-1300"