Mike of The Food Monkey has joined Bostonist to share his thoughts about cooking, food history, restaurant trends, and any other Epicurean issues. He promises to discuss what tastes good, but not always what is in good taste. For more on consuming the opponents and other food news, go to The Food Monkey website. To contact Mike, go to the Food Monkey's contact page.

I was born and raised Jewish, but upon arriving at Taste of the South End 2008 and being surrounded by stand after stand of some of Boston's best cuisine, I finally learned the true meaning of Christmas.

The Taste of the South End is a charity event supporting the AIDS Action Committee of Massachusetts, and brings together Chefs from over 40 different restaurants from Boston's South End district to raise money for AIDS awareness and research whilst making many many tummies very very happy in the process.

I had a very harrowing experience at Taste of the South End last year (which you can read about here), so I'm very glad I could be at this year's in top form and raring to eat.

The benefit was held inside the Cyclorama at the Boston Center for the Arts. The Cyclorama has become the South End's default function venue, and I've enjoyed many an event there, including the Johnnie Walker Multimedia Branding Experience. The capacious circular space (originally built to house a 360 degree painting of the Battle of Gettysburg) was buttressed with tables on opposing sides and had two more aisles of tables going up the center. Each stand had a placard above it that was emblazoned with the name of the restaurant providing the spread below. The whole setup reminded me a lot of the way vendors are situated at most scientific conferences--but thankfully these tables bestowed food upon the happy visitor, as opposed to a poxy scourge of corporate logo squeeze-toys and pens.

Wherever there was not a table, there were people--flowing through the interstices like a stream of liquid locusts with exotic palates. Among and a part of them, I journeyed from booth to booth--eating, chatting, enjoying.

Of the many wonderful offerings that evening from over forty restaurants, I have space to recant but a sampling. The dish that stood out the most for me this evening was from the 33 Restaurant and Lounge. It was Cantaloupe and Champagne with Coconut Foam and Basil Seeds. I could drink this all year round. The champagne and cantaloupe was sweet, effervescent, and juxtaposed well with the coconut foam and basil seeds. I think I had at least four samples of this and can't wait to make it for myself.

More on the tasty treats at Taste of the South End after the jump! For more articles like this, go to The Food Monkey website.

Also great was the Beef Tenderloin of Focaccia with Shallot Mustard Aioli and Microgreens from Mistral. This was a great example of how the right sauce really makes the meal. While this was for all intents and purposes a steak sandwich, the shallot mustard aioli had just the right amount of kick and spice to make it something special.

Next from Icarus was a New England Family Farm Raised Hot Smoked Bacon and Beans, which filled out my bacon quota nicely. There is little better than hot thick-sliced bacon. It will open up your mind to the possibilities that exist beyond the store-bought paper thin strips. The beans counteracted the saltiness of the meat well and made it a great hearty winter dish.

My favorite part of the evening was the live cooking demonstration from Joanne Chang (seen above heating what I think is a ganache with a blowtorch) from Flour Bakery + Cafe. She made a pâte à choux, which she turned into cream puffs. My birthday is next week, and I've been inspired to make this for all of the guests at my party, along with some savory gougères filled with something exciting (read: most likely bacon).

Overall this was a fantastic time, and more importantly, it raised over $90,000 for for AIDS Action Committee's programs and services. I'm already drooling in Pavlovian anticipation of next year's event. See you there!