'United for Boston's Own' Dinner; Pork Feast at Harvest

SOUTH END — On Monday, April 14, a remarkable line-up of chefs is putting together a nine-course dinner, taking place at Mike's City Diner, to benefit the Walsh-Kennedy Memorial Fund, providing support to the families of the firefighters who lost their lives in the recent Back Bay fire. Tickets are $500, and 100% of the proceeds will go to the fund. The chefs: Ken Oringer (Clio, Toro, Coppa, Uni), Ming Tsai (Blue Ginger, Blue Dragon), Jay Hajj (Mike's City Diner), Michael Schlow (Tico, Via Matta, Alta Strada), Mike Smith (Toro), Ting Yen (Oishii), Jamie Bissonnette (Coppa, Toro), Michael Scelfo (Alden & Harlow), Monica Glass (Clio). [Eventbrite]

HARVARD SQUARE — In preparation for Sunday's COCHON555, in which Harvest's Mary Dumont is competing, Dumont is hosting a pork-focused dinner this Friday night with guests Jody Adams (Rialto), Tiffani Faison (Sweet Cheeks), Matt Jennings (Farmstead), and Colin Lynch (Barbara Lynch Gruppo). Tickets are $125, which includes a cocktail reception at 6:30 p.m. and dinner at 7. Call 617-868-2255 to reserve a space. [Official Site]

FENWAY AND BRIGHTON — The qualifying round begins tonight for El Pelon's annual Fiery Fifteen Chili Eating Contest. Stop by either location any Wednesday in April to qualify for the May finals by eating (and keeping down) 15 habaneros in 15 minutes. You can drink, but "it's not recommended." [FB]
[Photo: Harvest/Official Site]