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La Chimenea

 

Latin Music Fest returns to The Fireplace in Brookline

 

Few places in the Boston area are known for doing as much for the community as The Fireplace Restaurant (www.fireplacerest.com) in Brookline’s Washington Square. From fundraisers for local fire fighters to being one of the region’s first “green” restaurants, this home-cooked cookery knows how to keep the home fires burning bright.

On June 11 and 12, The Fireplace will get even hotter as it invites its neighbors (and others) to meet, mingle, and dance with some of the most talented members of the area’s Latin community in their fourth annual Latin Music Fest.

Owner/Chef Jim Solomon came up with the idea when the Jamaica Plain family restaurant Tacos el Charro tried unsuccessfully to sell their restaurant.  “When they could not sell yet people thought they had,” Solomon says, citing (and blaming) a poorly-timed (and worsely-titled story in The Globe), “business plummeted.” In order to help a friend and colleague, Solomon hosted a series of Mariachi nights at The Fireplace at which he invited the folks from Tacos el Charro to cook in his kitchen

“I let them cook their food in my restaurant the first Wednesday of each month,” he recalls, “and keep the money.”

Solomon also drew up a map that showed guests how to get from his place to his friends’.

“We were simply reaching our hand out to our good neighbors from the South,” Solomon explains.

This weekly kitchen switch eventually morphed into a series of Latin music concerts on Thursday nights that added a new international flavor to The Fireplace’s popular Wednesday night Jazz sets.

 Speaking of music, Latin Music Fest 2001 will feature such local favoritos as Grupo Fantasía, Tentumbao, Folrencia González Candombe Project and Samba Trémeterra Percusión Ensemble on Saturday and IRESI, Mango Blue, Receita de Samba and Cinco Son on Sunday.

In addition to the music, The Fireplace will also offersuch entertainments as dancers, jugglers, stilt walkers, and other elements of South-of-the-Border fiestas.

Though the party vibe is central to the event, the food is always foremost in Solomon’s mind, For the Festival, he is preparing an impressive selection of American and Latin-American foods, including such “small money” selections as nachos, fish ceviche, grilled corn and grilled fish, steak, and chicken tacos and vegetable “Cubans” and such sweets as vanilla flan, watermelon and cookies. Any of these can (and should!) be combined with fersh margaritas, sangria, and honey Caiprinha (or sodas and water for the younger Salseros, for whom there is also a special food menu and free admission).

 “The recipes are all ours,” Solomon says. “We roll out a charcoal grill and cook up a storm!”

Tickets for Latin Music Fest are $30 but can be purchased in advance for $22 at www.fireplacerest.com. “For entrance fee you get two food dishes and a drink,” explains Fireplace Owner/Chef Jim Solomon, who also adds that the tented event will take place rain or shine.

Though the Latin Music Fest happens only once a year (for now), Solomon also notes that The Fireplace offers its fresh, seasonal fare year-round and does what it can to support the community while keeping the fun summer vibe alive.

“I love Latin music and food,” he says. “This is a great way to celebrate!”