Tim and Nancy Cushman run o ya, a lauded Japanese restaurant in the Leather District (9 East St. at South Street). Their second Boston venture, Hojoko at the new Verb Hotel (1271 Boylston St. at Yawkey Way), will be a Japanese izakaya, or gastropub. It’ll be “funky, high-energy, and different,” the Cushmans’ manager, Alyssa DiPasquale, tells the Globe. The restaurant will open in late fall.
Hojoko “will showcase a whole different side of Japanese culture for Tim and Nancy to explore, kind of Tokyo pop,” says DiPasquale. “We’ll be able to offer things we can’t offer at o ya.” One of those things will be creative maki rolls, say the Cushmans, who were drawn to the hotel’s rock ’n’ roll vibe.
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In fact, their band, Blue Cheese, might occasionally perform in the dining room.
The Cushmans also operate Roof at Park South in New York City, where they serve a Mediterranean menu. The Verb Hotel opened earlier this month.
Bread & Salt Hospitality, a Middle Eastern pop-up concept from Josh Lewin, will begin a residency at the South End’s Wink & Nod (3 Appleton St. at Tremont Street) starting Sept. 1. The speakeasy maintains a rotating kitchen program; Lewin used to be the chef at Beacon Hill Bistro. Kate Holowchik, current pastry chef at Downtown Crossing’s JM Curley, will handle desserts.
Sudbury’s Siena Farms and Watertown nonprofit ChopChop Kids have launched a kid-focused farm share program. Kids’ Share is designed for young chefs 6 through 12. The shares include weekly vegetable deliveries, kid-friendly recipes, games, and puzzles. Siena owner Chris Kurth created the program on the advice of his 8-year-old daughter (and his farm’s namesake), Siena. The share costs $250 for 12 weeks, kicking off Sept. 1. Registration is available at www.sienafarms.com.
Kara Baskin can be reached at kcbaskin@gmail.com.