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

Branch 27 Chimay Beer Dinner

Chef John Manion of Branch 27 presents a four-course dinner featuring a whole pig from Slagel Family Farm of Fairbury, Ill., paired with authentic Chimay Trappist beers from the Abbey of Scourment in Belgium on Wednesday, Feb. 24, at 7:30 p.m. The courses include assorted charcuterie; grilled radicchio and Brussels sprout salad, Pecorino Romano, dill and pork cracklings paired with Chimay Triple; papardelle with braised pork ragu and ricotta salata, paired with Chimay Red; porchetta, roasted garlic whipped potatoes, braised winter greens and pork jus, paired with Chimay Blue; and bacon, walnut and chocolate tarts with maple gelato. Reservations required.

Branch 27
1371 W. Chicago Avenue
Chicago, IL 60642

When: Wednesday, Feb. 24, 2010, 7:30 p.m.

Price: $60 per person

Event Phone Number: (312) 850-2700

Event Contact: Cary Michael, general manager and partner, Branch 27

Branch 27 presents a Chimay Beer Dinner

Branch 27 announces a new monthly beer dinner series to be held the last Wednesday of every month. Each dinner will feature a four-course seasonal menu prepared by executive chef John Manion and paired with four select beers from a featured brewer. The series will launch with the Chimay trappist ales of the Abbey de Scourmonton Wednesday, Feb. 24, 7:30 p.m. ($65/person). Reservations are required and can be made by calling 312-850-2700.

Branch 27
1371 W. Chicago Ave.
Chicago, IL
312-850-2700

Casa De Puros Cigar & Beer Tasting

Come to Casa De Puros Thursday, Feb. 4, 6 to 9 p.m., for complimentary beer samples with suggested cigar pairings featuring Rocky Patel Cigars. Special pricing available on cigars for event! Beers to be featured include: Anchor Old Foghorn barleywine, Hirter Morchl dark lager (platinum winner in the World Beer Championships), Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald porter and Dogfish Head Palo Santo Marron American brown ale.

Featured Rocky Patel Cigars include:

• ITC 10th Anniversary - honors Indian Tabac Compan, Rocky's roots in the cigar industry. It is peppery yet sweet on the palate, reminiscent of the Havanas of old. The Dogfish Head Palo Santo can stand up to this legacy.
• Rocky Patel Vintage 1990 - named to the Top 25 Cigars of the Year in Cigar Aficionado. Renowned for its elegance and balance as a medium-body cigar with a nutty, caramel essence. Try this with Hirter Morchl ... heaven.
• JAVA - mild- to medium-bodied cigar infused with the flavor of coffee, chocolate and a hint of vanilla. Great Lakes Edmund Fitzgerald will make you float away ...
• Nicarao - medium-bodied cigar comprises an all-Nicaraguan blend, including a lush Colorado wrapper that's packed with woody flavors. Pair this with the Anchor Old Foghorn Barley Wine and honor the ancient Indian Chieftan this cigar is named for.

Casa De Puros
7410 Madison Street
Forest Park, IL 60130
708-725-7180

Dogfish Head Ancient Ales dinner at The Publican

The Publican's monthly beer dinner for January features four historical brews from Delaware's Dogfish Head Brewery: Midas Touch, Chateau Jiahu, Sah'tea and Theobroma, carefully paired with the gourmet creations of chef Paul Kahan. Dogfish Head representatives Adam Lambert and Donn Bischel Jr. will lead the discussion. Since 1999, Dogfish Head has worked closely with Dr. Patrick McGovern, a molecular archeologist and one of the world's leading experts in ancient beverages, to bring ancient brewing history back to life, recreating recipes that have been found in ancient tombs and burial grounds.

The Publican Restaurant

837 W. Fulton Market

Chicago, IL 60607

When: Sunday, January 17, 2010 - 7 p.m. to 10 p.m.

Price: $45, with beer pairings available for an additional $15-$20; Reservations highly recommended

Event phone number: (312) 733-9555

Event Web site: www.thepublicanrestaurant.com

Event contact: Publican beer director Michael McAvena