The Boston dining scene is one of the country's finest and a Foodies dream. Award-winning chefs have flocked here in recent years, inspiring the locals to step up and win awards of their own. High-end cuisine and comfort food has reached gourmet levels. The local staples are still omnipresent; what's Boston without clam chowder, lobster rolls, and Boston Cream pie? Seafood tastes better with waterfront views and a cappuccino in a North End cafe can't be topped without visiting Italy itself. Boston chefs outdo themselves with signature specialties made from the freshest local ingredients. New restaurants and old favorites cater to every palate and pocketbook. Contemporary cuisine, traditional New England fare with a twist and an eclectic mix of international and ethnic dishes make for unparalled dining. Foodies will find themselves in gastronomic heaven during Restaurant Week Boston®, which takes place in both March and August where you can enjoy 3-course prix fixe lunches and dinners at over 200 of Greater Boston’s finer restaurants. Gourmet meals from Asian to Argentinean, from French to Italian, from tapas to sushi are served over the two week period. You can celebrate the grape at both the annual Boston Wine Festival (January-April) and the Boston Wine Expo (late January). The Boston Wine Festival, created by the talented Chef Daniel Bruce continues a three decade long celebration of exceptional food and wine parings with renowned winemakers. Novices and connoisseurs alike can uncork one of life’s pleasures during the 2-day wine Expo when 1800 wines are poured for your tasting pleasure. Many area restaurants host special Wine Dinners and Wine Tastings with informative discussions throughout the year. Beer lovers can tour and taste at the Boston Beer Company, brewer of Sam Adams. And for a revolutionary twist on beer, lagers and ale sign up for the Historic Pub Crawl to hear the tales of treasonous events brewed in four of Boston’s historic taverns. There are Cooking Classes, some are chef demonstrations, others hands-on-all include sampling the class projects. Culinary tours, cooking classes on foot, reveal insider cooking tips, pointers on how to purchase the right ingredients and naturally include tastings. You can elect to tour the North End (Boston’s Little Italy), Chinatown, or tours of Russian and Jewish cuisine. For those with a sweet tooth why not sample the Chocolate Trolley Tour (January-mid-April) or a walking tour of America’s favorite confection.