Tag Archives: Nate Sellergren

The Dionicess VIII Double Header: The Bruery Lunch & Dinner at The Foundry on Melrose

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The people (and The Bruery beers) you need to know: Nate Sellergren, Dave Watrous, Gev Kazanchyan, Chef Eric Greenspan, Randy Clemens and Ben Weiss

I’m always game for a Dionicess event. What that means is, pairings of top-notch brews with delicious food. But this time, the ante has been upped and the result looks to surpass anyone and everyone’s expectations.

Late February’s extravaganza yields not one meal but two – in the same day. It’s Placentia-based Famille Rue’s brewery, The Bruery, taking center stage at The Foundry on Melrose. I think the only way to do justice to this amazing event is to go for all 10 courses and make a day of it, because $115 is sooo worth Chef Greenspan’s amazing food, alone.

And the beer. At this event, only, will you be able to experience 2 beers not normally distributed past The Orange Curtain plus 3 others that are limited release or non-release special edition brews. The Bruery is one of my favorite local breweries – or anywhere – and along with their Provisions store, ties my dentist as the most common reason I will make a drive to Orange County.

Take a gander at the menu below for what is in store on this day:

Lunch Menu (The Bruery beer pairing)

  • Goat Cheese and Orange Rillettes / flatbread / herbed oil (Orchard White)
  • Endive Salad / taleggio / Asian pear / hazelnut oil (Saison Rue)
  • Confit of Rabbit / lemon / date / olive / harissa (Loakal Red)
  • Pecan Coconut and Cocoa Tartlet / bourbon ice cream / corn flakes feuilletine (Very Rare Dessert Beer)

Dinner Menu (The Bruery beer pairing)

  • Charred Mackerel / grapefruit juice / oil (Saison de Lente)
  • Crispy Skin Loup de Mer / spicy lemongrass broth / siriacha kimchee mushroom ragout (Mischief)
  • Fried Chicken Oysters / cheddar cheese / biscuit bread pudding / collard greens / honey & black pepper gastrique (Premiere)
  • Mascarpone and Black Pepper Gelato Quenelle / strawberry gooseberry cranberry compote / balsamic reduction / tarragon (Very Rare & Limited Release Beer)
  • Duck Breast “Reuben” / mustard / sauerkraut (Rugbrod)
  • Dark Chocolate Crepes / burnt orange marmalade / cinnamon and nutella ice cream (Very Rare Dessert Beer)

If you have scheduling conflicts and must only go to either lunch or dinner, separate pricing options are available. So go forth and reserve your space now, because spots will fill up! And do report back so I can live vicariously. Loves are loves, and this love of beer and food unfortunately conflicts with my love of snowboarding (I’ve committed to Colorado).

Enjoy.

Sunday, February 27, 2010

Tickets:
Lunch – $45 (1 PM)
Dinner – $85 (6 PM)
Both (no repetition in course or brew) – $115

The Foundry on Melrose
7465 Melrose Avenue.
Los Angeles, CA 90046

Beer vs. Wine: A Contest For the Ages

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Photo credit to xd360 Flickr

Oh yes, they did. Let’s put away all niceties and put on the gloves, shall we? Beer geeks and vinos (or shall we say brewmasters and master sommelier?) will be going head to head this coming weekend at College of the Canyons to determine just which – beer or wine – goes better with food. Guiding you will be Gev Kazanchyan – who is a Professor of Culinary Sanitation, Environmental Health, Food Safety at College of the Canyons, Cal State University Northridge and El Camino College.

Expect three rounds of pairings – cheese, entree and dessert paired to wine and beer, each – during which you are the judge. Experts will give you the run-down on each dish and paired wine and beer before you taste. To keep things on an even playing field, price points for beer are limited to $35 per bottle and $45 per bottle of wine. Carefully complete your scorecard because it ultimately determines the winner. Heading the wine pairings will be Elizabeth Schweitzer, the only master sommelier in Los Angeles and 1 of 8 female master sommeliers on Earth - as well as fellow tastemasters of her choosing.

And check out the heavyweights in beer’s corner: Manneken-Brussel Imports & Lost Coast Brewery rep Jay Baum, Beachwood BBQ chef-owner Gabe Gordon, Blue Palms Brewhouse proprietor Brian Lenzo, Stone Brewing Co. sales rep Nate Sellergren, Verdugo Bar/The Surly Goat co-owner Ryan Sweeney and former Fifth Amendment Alehouse beer consultant Dave Watrous, who is now head bartender at Tony’s Darts Away. After the contest is done, pick their brains and even enjoy a few more tastings…you’ll undoubtedly come away that much more knowledgeable about beer and wine – and their contrasts to each other.

Ticket sales close at the end of tomorrow and only a few spots are left, so don’t sleep on this once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Further reading:

Epic College of the Canyons Beer Vs. Wine Battle – Food GPS

I-CuE Asks Community: Beer or Wine? – The Signal

Sunday, March 28, 2010

2 – 5 PM

Tickets – $55 each, $100 for pair
Under ‘donation information’ choose OTHER & type ‘Beer vs. Wine.’

College of the Canyons Institute for Culinary Education
23400 Town Center Drive
Santa Clarita, CA 91355
Info: 661.362.3434