Tico vs. Coppa Food Fight; Celebrating Nowruz

SOUTH BOSTON — Taste of the Nation has been running a series of "food fight" events leading up to the big annual tasting event benefitting Share Our Strength, which takes place on April 29. Tomorrow night (March 11, 7 p.m. to 9 p.m.) is the last "fight," pitting Coppa and Tico against each other, focusing on dishes inspired by the spice trade route between Europe and Africa. Lincoln Tavern hosts. Tickets are $20, which gets attendees pizza and snacks from Lincoln, the competing dishes, and two cocktails, plus a discount code for Share Our Strength tickets. [Official Source]

SOMERVILLE — Celebrate Nowruz, the Persian New Year, with a dinner involving Josh Lewin (Beacon Hill Bistro), Katrina Jazayeri (Belly), Geoff Lukas (Sofra), Jeff Gabel (Kitchen Kibitz), and Louisa Shafia (author of The New Persian Kitchen). Attend the post-dinner cocktail reception (with food and activities) for $35 or the whole multi-course event for $125, which includes a signed copy of Shafia's book. The event takes place on Sunday, March 23 (6:30 p.m. - 11 p.m.) at Cuisine en Locale at Anthony's. [Eventbrite]

FORT POINT — The latest opening date for Pastoral is one week away — March 17, next Monday. [UrbanDaddy]

HUB-WIDE — As reported in the fall, "urban oasis" Life Alive wants to add more locations. A press release sent today indicates that the company has just brought onboard a COO, Stephen Anderson, who has "30 years of multi-unit restaurant industry experience." The goal is "to expand [Life Alive's] storefronts to more locations in the Boston area and beyond." [Press Release]
[Photo: Coppa/Cal Bingham]