Throughout the summer there are going to be a number of wonderful pairing dinners by some of the city’s most talented chefs and beverage directors, where they will match fresh ingredients to world class beverages. We will try to highlight some of our favorites throughout the summer, and hopefully you will like them as much as we do!
Even just a few years ago, it was virtually unheard of in D.C. to have any kind of food- and drink- pairing dinners that didn’t simply revolve around wine. Beer was the unloved stepchild kept in the corners of Brickskeller, while cocktails were in their infancy, barely maturing past a sub-par martini or Manhattan.
But the emergence of D.C. as a city to not only visit but also live in has helped spur on a wave of quality beer bars, cocktail lounges, speakeasies, and even a few great venues for wine. Perhaps one of the greatest aspects of this influx of quality drinks is how common food- and drink-pairing dinners have become. ChurchKey/Birch and Barley, Pizza Paradiso, Smith Commons, and Blue Duck Tavern all have embraced the format—and it’s quickly spreading to other restaurants.
For many it’s a great way to combine learning about not only the ingredients but also how they pair with each other. Flavors often combine to show off secondary tastes that may not originally have been noticeable. Other times the combination is an agreeable match that accentuates the positives of the flavor marriage with varying levels or assertiveness based on the chef’s interpretations.
On Friday, July 27 at 6:30 p.m. craft brewing pioneers Anchor Brewing Company will be hosting a dinner in the Loft Dining Room of The Hamilton with a menu created by Executive Chef Sal Ferro and Anchor’s Brewmaster of 40 years, Mark Carpenter. The menu will showcase the flavors of summer alongside some of Anchor’s award-winning beers. Included in this menu is the formal D.C. premiere of Brekle’s Brown, which is not available yet in the area.
Tickets are $60 per person and include a pint glass. They may be purchased online. The full menu is below.
Steam Ale (aperitif)
Pennsylvania Heirloom Tomato Salad
Yellow doll watermelon, Chapel Creamery Bay Blue, aged balsamic
Humming Ale
Maryland Soft Shell Crab
Maryland sweet corn salad, chanterelle mushrooms, sun gold tomatoes, basil, aïoli
Liberty Ale
Virginia Pork Loin and Belly
Molasses stewed greens, spicy pickled peaches, Wades Mill Cheddar cheese grits, pork jus
Brekle’s Brown
Chocolate Icebox Cake
Dark chocolate cake, espresso malt semifreddo, Westmoreland Berry Farm blackberries
Anchor Porter
