Dogfloydapalooza 2

Visit Bottom Lounge for a rare opportunity to enjoy the specialty beers of Dogfish Head Brewery from Milton, Del., and Three Floyds Brewing Co. from Munster, Ind., in the company of brewers Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head and Nick Floyd of Three Floyds. The event on April 6, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m., will feature 10 special beers on draft, to be revealed at the event; five each from the two award-winning breweries. Music by Andre Williams with The Goldstars at 9:30 p.m., and Jon Langford and The Cashed Johnnies at 11 p.m. Tickets available in advance at www.bottomlounge.com or at the door if still available.

Bottom Lounge
Volcano Room & Patio
1375 W. Lake Street
Chicago, IL 60607

When: Tuesday, April 6, 2010, 9 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Price: $20 (includes first pint of beer)

Event phone number: (312) 666-6775

Event Web site: www.bottomlounge.com

Event contact: Mike Miller, Owner

The Publican beer dinner

Chef Paul Kahan and his crew present a six-course dinner paired with beers from Michigan's New Holland Brewing Co. and Colorado's New Belgium Brewing Co., including a unique "blending course" that combines beer from both breweries. "Eat with the Brewers" seating with brewery notables at 7 p.m. The full menu also be available to all other guests that evening, and includes: Kushi oysters with pine mignonette and New Holland Mad Hatter IPA; shrimp with slow toasted garlic, fried plantains and wild onions, and New Belgium Abbey Ale; artichokes and burrata and New Belgium Bier de Mars; rillettes and buckwheat crepes and New Holland Envious; grilled game and New Holland's Charkoota Rye (pictured, right) and New Belgium's La Folie; and buñuelos and New Belgium's LeFleur Trans Atlantic Kriek alongside New Holland's El Mole Ocho. Limited seats available. Reservations highly recommended!

The Publican
837 W. Fulton Market
Chicago, IL 60607

When: Friday, April 9, 2010, 7 p.m.

Price: $75 per person (plus tax and gratuity)

Event phone number: (312) 733-9555

Event Web site: www.thepublicanrestaurant.com

Event contact: Michael McAvena, beer director

Calagione, Kahan and Segal nominated for James Beard Awards

Good luck to Sam Calagione of Dogfish Head, who is a semifinalist for a James Beard Award for Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional. Also congrats to our Culinary Council members who are also nominated: chef Paul Kahan of Blackbird, Avec, The Publican and Big Star for Outstanding Chef; and chef Mindy Segal of HotChocolate for Outstanding Pastry Chef. The awards will be announced Monday, May 3, at Avery Fisher Hall, Lincoln Center in New York City.

But hey, shouldn't it be Outstanding Beer, Wine and Spirits Professional? This writer agrees (from www.brewersassociation.org):

The annual James Beard Foundation Awards semifinalists list is out. One of the award categories is titled "Outstanding Wine and Spirits Professional." Four of the semifinalists, though, are respected craft brewers with long histories of excellence in promoting their beers, great craft beer, beer and food and helping to reshape the way chefs look at beer. Here are Brewers Association members on the list:

• Larry Bell, Bell's Brewery, Inc.
• Sam Calagione, Dogfish Head Craft Brewery
• Jim Koch, Boston Beer Co.
• Garrett Oliver, The Brooklyn Brewery

Methinks it is time to rename the award the "Outstanding Beer, Wine and Spirits Professional." Finalists will be announce March 22 in New Orleans. Winners will be named May 3 in New York City. Best wishes to all the semifinalists.

--Paul Gatza

Pairing beer and seafood

Check out this article on beer and seafood, featuring Craig Fass of the Bad Apple and the Glunz Beer Culinary Council!

http://www.chefmagazine.com/digitals/2010/0210CHEF/17.html

--Lacey Griebeler