've always loved the idea of bringing home some bacon and frying it up in a pan. With its crispy, salty goodness and smokehouse aroma, this tasty treat makes everything taste better. So when I heard about EatBoston’s first annual Bacon and Beer Fest, coming Saturday (April 24), I made my plans for pig greatness. An afternoon of Boston’s bacon best, all washed down with cold beer? Not the daintiest side of my countenance, but hallelujah! Alas, this event was no secret. The pull of the pork was so strong that all 300 tickets sold out in two minutes. So you and I are left to fend for ourselves.

But don't despair. If you think bacon has jumped the pig as a bizarre ingredient, I found a few new funky uses around town that are sure to change your mind. Rejoice, pig lovers! Here's a bacon guide to Boston:

Trina’s Starlite Lounge, one of my favorites for comfort food in Somerville, has three words for you: chocolate-covered bacon. Add a French toast sandwich of banana, peanut butter, and still more bacon and you have the Velvet Elvis French Toast. Thank you very much.

There must be something about Somerville and salty meats. Gargoyles on the Square in the ‘Ville does what I do every day: think really hard about bacon. I mean it. They have a dish called Concentration on Bacon, which is aerated brioche, egg salad, bacon jam, and bacon powder. I have no idea what bacon powder is, but I would like to replace my Trish McEvoy compact with it.

Newton Upper Falls’ Biltmore Bar & Grille boasts day boat scallops pan-seared over spring-pea grits with sweet bacon jam. I know, I know.

You don’t need to “fancy up" the Millionaire's Bacon at Scup’s in the Harbor in East Boston. Just order a plate. Sweet and spicy, it’s cherry-smoked with hot pepper spices and brown sugar.

Jake's Dixie Roadhouse in Waltham recently add candied bacon ice cream to its menu, taking Nieman Ranch center-cut bacon and candying it with light brown sugar. But that's not all: It also added a candied bacon chocolate-chunk cookie.

Fest or not, today I celebrate the bacon. But make no mistake: I will get tickets to next year’s bacon and beer celebration. Mark my word: The next time I give up another bacon opportunity like this will be when pigs fly.

Small Bites:

This week, all slow bar drinks are free at Pavement Coffee House, a new slow bar café, which opened Friday. Brought to you by the people behind Bagel Rising and Espresso Royale, it offers a selection of roasted java and sandwiches to complement a lazy afternoon lounging on the artisanal furniture in this rustic, brick-walled space.

The owners of Allston’s Mt. Everest Kitchen tomorrow (Thursday, April 22) open Yak & Yeti, a Nepalese eatery, in Ball Square. Enjoy the view of famous frosted mountains across the walls while grubbing on authentic Nepalese and Indian dishes.

The home of the seven-for-$7 menu deal, the Halfway Café, has opened a new location in Maynard serving solid game-time eats including wings, steamers, and sliders.

And newly appointed Chef Raymond Southern of the Stanhope Grille in the Back Bay Hotel launches his spring menu tomorrow (Thursday, April 22), featuring fresh spring dishes using local ingredients from local farmers' markets.

Additional reporting by Yumi Araki.

Find more bacon secrets.

Also read Cheryl Fenton’s health and beauty blog, Easy Peasy.