A bid farewell to peas and blooms and asparagus...see you next time around

Summer's officially around the corner and we just bid farewell to Spring in the most proper fashion of which we know....a pairing with awesome friends, a full house and the freshest ingredients....

This pairing just felt good. We were organized, time lines were executed flawlessly, we had awesome help and the courses were alive. That's not to say we didn't have a lot to think about leading up to the pairing. I dedicated a separate post to prep this time :)

Crispy & Delicious Asparagus & Potato Tart served with Sabzi
Paired with THE LOST ABBEY AVANT GARDE Farmhouse Style Ale
This was a great pairing to start with. The asparagus and the sabzi showcased the grassyness of the Avant Garde, the beautiful floral aroma and the hint of sweetness from this delicate golden ale really went well with the cheddar cheese, while the tart's dough complimented the yeastyness.



Alaskan Amber Salmon served with Spring Ragout
Paired with BALLAST POINT GINGER BIG EYE IPA
I had always wanted to pair this beer with this salmon and my wish was granted when Jeff was on board to brew this special batch. I think it was many guests' favorites and I can't blame them. The salmon marinates for 24 hours in Alaskan Amber beer, cilantro, garlic, soy sauce, and of course ginger. The hoppyness really cut through the salty soy sauce and the ginger brought out all the herbal flavors. The spring ragout's favas and peas brought balance and fresh spring to the entire dish. Absolutely delicious!


Fennel with Tarragon Vinaigrette on a bed of Purslane
Paired with THE BRUERY TRADEWINDS Belgian-Style Ale Brewed with Rice and Thai Basil
You know, come to think of it I almost like this pairing better than the salmon. This beer by The Bruery is phenomenal, comlex, a beautiful bouquet of aromas, light and just a treat to drink. The fennel and tarragon brought out the light herbalness in the beer from the Thai basil. The light creamy dressing complimented the purslane's sticky, crispy yet soggy texture. The beer really has this fruity aroma, which needless to say that the strawberries really finished off the pairing all the way through.

Triple Ginger & Lemon Quark Whoopie Pies
Paired with BEAR REPUBLIC Pete Brown Tribute Ale
I won't talk about my ongoing battle to pick another dessert since I was told by many that I should just listen to Farra. I know! Yes, this was great. The creamy quark cheese from Spring Hill Dairy balanced the hint of spice from the triple ginger cookies, not to mention the lemon which just refreshed your mouth all together, while the brwon ale's molasses complimented the sweetness and offered a smooth finish which left your mouth ready for the next bite.


A definite tradition...a pairing can't end without Krupnik! Thanks, Agnieszka for the introduction...

A huge thanks to Kevin and Jackie for their expert help in the kitchen. We all worked so well together and as a result assembled, delivered and executed dishes that were full of Spring!

Another huge thanks to John for photographing this evening so we can share it with everyone!

Another huge thanks to Jeff for brewing awesome beer just for us!

And another huge thanks to everyone who supports what we create!

Summer, here we come!!