Great American Beer Fest #2: Garrett Oliver Beer Dinners - Austin, TX Oct. 15th & 18th and Slow Food Austin Fundraiser Oct. 21st

Love craft beers and love food? There are two events in Austin that you do not want to miss.  In every profession, there at least one or more respected paradigm mover.  In food, there's Julia Child.  She brought French cooking to America.  In dog training, there's Cesar Milan.  Regardless if you agree or disagree with Cesar's methods, there is no denying that Cesar Milan got dog owners thinking about dog behavior and interested in training their pets.  In beers and food pairings, that person is Garrett Oliver.  Until recently, food and wine dominated formal dinner tables, but The Brewmaster's Table changed that.  Beer dinners are now popping up all over the map, and Austin is no exception.

Getting my book signed at the Great American Beer Festival by John Knox

If you haven't started reading The Brewmaster's Table yet, start now.  Not only is the book chock full of beer information, it is very obvious that Garrett is an skilled chef and fantastic writer.  The book can make me hungry, thirsty, and laugh all in one paragraph.  Read what he writes about pork belly and smoked beers.  This man is passionate about real food and real beer.  Not only is the book information and entertaining, the first few sections describe how Garrett started in the beer, by following a passion he developed while tasting fine beers in Europe.  I have the utmost respect for people who find a passion, enjoys it, works at developing it, and spreads that joy (yes, beer is joy!) to others.  Austin is very lucky to have Garrett Oliver, award winning brewmaster of Brooklyn Brewery, to host two dinners in Austin.  He will also be hosting a tasting event at the Dixie Cup in Houston (their server is down, sorry), and Slow Food Austin will be hosting a cheese, honey, and beer tasting.



Thursday, Oct. 15th. 7pm.  Olivia. 2043 S Lamar Blvd  Austin, TX 78704   (512) 804-2700  $75 per person, includes tax and tip. 

I recently visit Olivia when they had their first year anniversary and Bon Appetit celebration.  Bon Appetit named Olivia one of the top ten new restaurants in the United States.  Photos by John Knox. 

Lamb Corazon: lamb heart wrapped in jalapeno and prosciutto served with yapon honey

 

 Bison Tartare

 

 Milk braised pork shoulder on gnocchi

Brooklyn Brewery Beer Dinner Menu

7 pm Thursday October 15^th, 2009

Brooklyn Lager

Aperitif

*

Brooklyn East India Pale Ale

Oyster Diablo baked gulf oyster with a spicy-tequila butter, house-made bacon and a parmesan crust

*

Brooklyn Local 1

Yellow Fin Tuna Carpaccio, boggy creek farm arugula salad with a black truffle aioli and black lava sea salt

*

Brooklyn Local 2

Orriccietta Carbonara with house made guanciale and texas quail egg yolk

*

Brooklyn Brown Ale

South Texas Antelope Petite Filet au Pouve with a apricot demi, pure luck feta cheese and smashed fingerling potatoes with mesquite infused texas olive oil

*

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout float with crème fraiche ice cream and toasted salty beer nuts

via Alamo's website

Brooklyn Beer Dinner at Alamo Lake Creek 13729 Research Blvd, Austin, TX 78750  General Info:512-219-5408

Sunday October 18th 7:30pm $50 (Price includes admission, feast and beer pairings)

The Alamo Lake Creek is pleased to announce our latest beer tasting event featuring Brooklyn Brewery from Brooklyn (duh), New York. The night will feature a multi-course meal paired with many of the fine Brooklyn beer offerings. We are very lucky to have the man himself, Head Brewmaster at Brooklyn, and author of The Brewmaster's Table: Discovering the Pleasures of Real Beer with Real Food, Mr. Garrett Oliver. Garrett will be in attendance to describe the brewing process and answer all of your questions while presenting each food and beer course. Get your tickets now, while they are still available!

The Menu will include:

-Poutin
Frites with Wisconsin cheese curds, brown gravy, and peppered bacon

*Paired with Brooklyn Local 2

-Chingri Malai
Prawns, curry, lemongrass, and coconut milk

*Paired with a super secret Brooklyn offering you will just have to come and find out for yourself

-Waterzooi
Belgian chicken stew with baguette

*Paired with Brooklyn Local 1

-Pumpkin graham crackers
Local 2 marshmallows, and Belgian chocolate smores

*Paired with Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout


Also, in Houston, the Garrett Oliver will also be having a food and beer tasting at the Dixie Cup.  Details are still TBA as their server is down, but I do have the menu.  

Live Oak Hefeweizen(Traditional German Hefe) – Salad: greens, fresh goat cheese, roasted red peppers, balsamic vinaigrette.

Fredericksburg Oktoberfest (traditional) with Bratwurst and Senf
512  IPA (American, fruity hop profile) with Indian-spiced crab cake
Uncle Billy’s Smoked Schwartz (Very malty, porter-like) – Fatty brisket brioche slider

Uncle Billy’s Keller Pils (GABF category winner) -  Shrimp Satay
Real Ale ESB cask (traditional ESB) – Extra-crispy deep-fried chicken wings

Brooklyn Wild 1 – Mozzarella Company Blanca Bianca (washed-rind cheese, Dallas)

Brooklyn Black Chocolate Stout – Chocolate Mud Cake

Another beer and food event coming up is the 1st annual Slow Food Austin Fundraiser 

Raw Talk & Tasting: Raw-Milk Cheese Meets Local Hops and Honey

In the United States, the sale of raw milk cheeses that are aged less than 60 days is illegal. Fortunately, Slow Food’s Presidia program is working to protect this delectable artisan food, and at the recent Cheese 2009 event in Bra, Italy, Slow Food focused on pairing beer with cheese.

Cathy Strange, Global Cheese Buyer for Whole Foods Market, will lead an educational presentation and tasting of raw-milk cheeses complemented by the hand-crafted beers of Austin’s (512) Brewing CompanyRound Rock Honey. and local honey from

At this first annual fundraiser for Slow Food Austin you will enjoy an evening of unique flavors, meet some of their producers and mingle with other Austinites who share a passion for slow food. 

And don’t plan on leaving empty-handed. Our silent auction is chock full of Austin’s most delicious and quaffable goodies, as well as unforgettable culinary experiences. Tour the Austin Farmer’s Market with a local expert, then have dinner cooked at your house using the market’s most mouthwatering offerings. Join a CSA. Expand your culinary skills with lessons from a local chef. Leave Barr Mansion with your arms laden with premier wines, gift certificates to your favorite local merchants, and organic taste treats. Featuring Austin Wine Merchant, Thai Fresh, Wine Styles, Edible Austin, Green Gate Farm and many more, this silent auction will be the most delectable in Austin’s history.

Get your tickets in advance to ensure a seat at the table in the beautiful Barr Mansion setting.
October 21, 2009
6:30–8:30 pm
Barr Mansion
Tickets: $50 ($40 Slow Food members)