Tea Dinner For Nepal at L'Espalier; Bienvenue a Ma Maison

BACK BAY — An eight-magnitude earthquake rocked the Himalayan country of Nepal in April, leaving hundreds of thousands of people homeless, killing 8,000, and injuring nearly three times more. To support ongoing relief efforts, L'Espalier is hosting a five-course tea dinner and silent auction on Sunday, May 31. With seatings starting at 6 p.m., $50 from each $125 prix-fixe ticket will be donated to Direct Relief International, earmarked for Nepal. One hundred percent of proceeds from the auction will also go to the charity. Courses such as tea-smoked Long Island duck breast with wild rice porridge and roasted spiced carrot will be paired with Nepalese teas selected by L'Espalier's tea sommelier Cynthia Gold. Call 617-262-3023 to make a reservation. [Official Site]

BEACON HILL — Say "Bienvenue!" to Jacky Robert's new venture this Monday, June 1 as Ma Maison opens in place of Pierrot Bistrot. Robert, the veteran Boston-by-way-of-France chef, is at the helm in the kitchen, and the fare will be mainly French with some New World twists. Debut menu items include gazpacho with shrimp; "Boston Celtics Salad," which tops four different green vegetables with seared tuna; and calf's liver lyonnaise. The bistro will be open Monday - Saturday from 11:30 a.m. - 10 p.m. Make a reservation now on OpenTable. [Official Site]

CAMBRIDGE — ArtBar in the Royal Sonesta Hotel has an enviable patio, with an unobstructed view of the Charles River. To take advantage of the space, the restaurant is launching special outdoor parties every night of the week beginning this Monday, June 1. Rat Pack Mondays will feature classic cocktails and live entertainment from crooner Rich DiMare; Sweet Relief Tuesdays bring a free dessert to the table with purchase of an entree. Check out the full lineup of weekly events on the restaurant's blog. [Official Site]