Food Trucks, Craft Beer, Artisans' Crafts and Antiques - Oh My!

Saturday’s beer tasting event at the featured beer from Harpoon Brewery of Boston, Mayflower Brewing Company of Plymouth, and Narragansett Beers of Rhode Island.

For a $1 admission fee, tasters were provided samples from all three breweries, each featuring at least two seasonal varieties to try.

The tasting attracted visitors from the across the Parkway, many found happily sipping beer on what turned into a beautiful Saturday afternoon.

Two food trucks were also onsite, JP’s Cupcakory and Staff Meal.  

Staff Meals is the brainchild of Adam Gendreau and Patrick Gilmartin.  Their motto?  “We cure vegetarianism.”

Their menu, which changes daily, included pork rinds with espelette, arepas with scallop ceviche, foie gras baklavah, chinese sausage burrito, pressed meatloaf sandwich with pastrami and pickles, headcheese and sardo sandwich with bacon, mustard and broccoli rabe and a chorizo, corn and mushroom chowder. Slim pickings for vegetarians indeed!

Cupcakory’s offerings included delectable salted caramel frosted chocolate cupcakes, vanilla frosted vanilla cupcakes and double chocolate cupcakes.

Diane DeMarco makes her fabulous small batch cupcakes at Crop Circle Kitchen in Jamaica Plain and sells them from her Cupcakory food truck at farmer’s markets and throughout JP and Brookline at special events. DeMarco plans to add a spot or two in downtown Boston soon. She awaits news from about the approved locations.  

The , a boutique galleria featuring the work of local crafts people selling photography, antiques, jewelry, glass flowers and other crafts, was open for the event.  Artists exhibiting included Victoria Mays (jewelry), Ann Marie Trementozzi (glass flowers) and Doug Hockman (photography).  

Artists featured at the market change periodically. The market is open most weekends. 

Walsh’s other store, the neighboring , was open as well, selling a fast-changing and eclectic assortment of vintage home goods, antiques and accessories.

When asked about the focal point of the tasting event, Shirley Walsh said, “Everything.”

“It is great to have the community come out, have a chance to eat, shop and try out some local beer,” she added.

Walsh beamed as she sat on a sunny bench outside her Spring Street shops with local pals Pat Ramey of West Roxbury and Barbara Baranowski of Dedham, both of who were enjoying purchases from the Staff Meal food truck. 

The day was a true delight.