Real Ale, Real Feast @HighballAustin & Join the "Last Call"

@Hopsafari and I were very fortunate to be invited to a mouth-watering beer pairing dinner at the Highball.  Tim Schwartz from Real Ale and the wonderful chefs at the Highball put on a tasty meal that craft beer lovers would appreciate.  If you want to join in on another really awesome beer event at the Highball, word on the street is that the "Last Call" event should not be missed.  That's right. If you miss it, you will be sad. You might cry.  The even includes some favorite beers, some extremely rate beers, and tasty food pairings by Highball Chef Matt Richter.  Abridged menu follows:

• (512) Brewing - Whiskey Barrel Aged Double Pecan Porter - Cask,  ONE Brandy Barrel Aged,  TWO Double IPA
• Real Ale - 2009 Sisyphus - Cask, Coffee Porter, Devil's Backbone, Mysterium Verum (a secret whiskey barreled aged beauty)
• Live Oak - Old Tree Hugger - Cask,  Liberation Ale - Cask
• Independence Brewing Company - Stash IPA - Cask,  Convict Hill Stout - Cask,  6th Anniversary Braggot,  Groovin' Leuven - Head Brewer Justin Rizza's Red IPA!
• Saint Arnold Brewing Company - Christmas Ale
• Cheese Plate - Featuring Chimay, Guinness Cheddar, Bleu, Wisconsin-Aged Cheddar, Fireman's 4 Beer Bread, Hops-Pickled Vegetables, Nuts, Fruit, Crackers
• Sweet Potato Gaufrettes - Herbed Creme Fraiche
• Beef Roulade - Smoked, Beer Braised Kale, Apple Mostarda
• Pretzel Sliders - Pretzel Bread, Beer Braised Sausage, Slaw
• Chocolate Stout Cake - Framboise Raspberry filling, Ganache coating

Tickets to the "Last Call" are only $35, and you will get $10 off you membership to the Texas Craft Brewer's Guild.  Membership levels are at $40 and $75, not including the $10 off.  There will be two "Last Call" sessions on Saturday night.  Membership to non-breweries only opened this week, so hop on it to join.  Now let's get back to food porn business.  Photos by John M. P. Knox.

First course of the Real Ale dinner was beer nuts and Fireman's 4.  This is was a great, snack-y way to start off the meal. 

Next up was the Peach Soup with Devil's Backbone Foam paired with Devil's Backbone.  This mildly sweet and light soup was a great foundation for the Devil's Backbone Foam.  The foam had quite a bit of a body as did the soup, so that both were balanced, and neither was lost in the other. 

Brewer Tim Schwartz introduces the next course. 

Hans Pilsner Braised Pork Belly on grilled beer bread, mustard, and pickled onions served with salad and bacon vinaigrette paired with Han's Pilsner.

These pork belly sliders were done right *in a twangy Texan accent.*  Fatty (read tasty) cuts of meat on malty sweet bread, dressed with spicy mustard, and tart, pungent onions.  I'm drooling again, and I just had dinner. 

Pairing the pork belly sliders with Han's Pilsner is oh-so-delicious because the clean, crispy beer cuts the fat of the pork belly.  Cuts the fat meaning holds up to the richness by counterbalancing it.  Yum.

The crowd awaits the next course. 

IPA rubbed tenderloin, cheddar mash, and haricot verts paired with Lost Gold IPA.  This hearty dish was fanastic with the Lost Gold IPA.  Also, I have thing for haricot verts (French beans).  I love them. 

Brewhouse beer caramels paired with Barrel-aged Lost Gold IPA.  The last course was a real treat as barrel-aged beers can be incredibly complex and intense in flavors.  Paired with a malty beer caramel and chocolate pretzel, this was a tasty dinner and beer to remember. 

Fall Events to leave you stuffed and tipsy

Fall is underway, and that means the food events are picking up like mobile homes in a tornado.  Excuse my sense of humor.  :o)  @windaddict and I will be in Denver covering the Great American Beer Fest over the next week, but here's some upcoming events to satisfy the glutton in you.  I also have some tickets to give away, so make sure you read the entire post. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept 15th, 6:30 pm - Jeff Potter, author of Cooking For Geeks, is coming to Austin on a book tour.  He is giving a talk on the science of cooking and will show some sous vide cooking equipment. Event: Jeff Potter, author of Cooking For Geeks Location: Whole Foods (525 North Lamar Boulevard, Austin, TX‎), Mezzanine Time: 6:30pm Date: Wednesday, September 15, 2010 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept 15th, 7 pm - Maker's Mark Whiskey Dinner at Highball.  Whiskey is delicious. In fact, it's so delicious, that aside from drinking it, sometimes we put it in food. There's going to be a lot of whiskey going around at this dinner, folks. The menu, four-courses of tasty whiskey-enhanced edibles, includes crab bisque served with White Dog, Texas Quail stuffed with a Maker's-infused duck liver mousse and served with underaged whiskey, beef tenderlion with a bourbon basted oyster mushroom duxelle, scalloped sweet potatoes and prosciutto bundled asparagus and served with a fully matured whiskey, and finally, an aniss scented creme brulee with salted shortbread, served with Maker's Mark 46.  Tickets are $57 and include everything listed above.  Purchase tickets here: http://www.thehighball.com/events/whiskey-dinner-7pm-55/   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Saturday, Sept. 18th, 11am - 4 pm - Taste of North Austin invites you to sample good eats, enjoy live music, cooking demonstrations, children's events and fabulous shopping.  Food samplings and children’s activities will require wristbands. Beer and wine will be available for purchase at select restaurant booths. A wristband of 10 tastes is available for purchase for $20 at Simon Guest Services at The Domain. Purchase you wristband before September 12th for $5 off.  Location:  The Domain, 11410 Century Oaks Terrace, Austin, TX.  Contact for more information: Lauren Harris, Area Director of Marketing, 512.873.8099. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Sept. 17-20th - Whole Foods Turns 30!  Join Whole Foods as they celebrate their 30th birthday.  See here for list of events and activities.   ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ It isn't a secret that Indian food has a special place in my heart.  Here's an event I don't want to miss.  Saturday, Sept. 25, 5-9 pm - Taste of India invites you to enjoy Indian Cuisine, entertainment from 6-7:30pm, henna art, and name writing.  Proceeds from this event will benefit orphanages in India and locally to Austin Mobile Loaves & Fishes. $3 for admission to this event that is sure to stimulate your taste buds.  Location: St. Williams Catholic Church in Round Rock.  More information here: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=146498762038181&ref=mf I also have 15 pairs of tickets to give away to this event.  To win a pair: Tweet "@misohungry I want to go to Taste of India! Benefits @MLFNOW!" ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Wednesday, Sept. 30th - 6:00 pm -  Chef Showdown at the Southwest Bistro at the Hyatt.  I've judged several Chef Showdowns, and these are events that will leave you wondering how you managed to eat stuff so much in your face.  Here's the details! WHO: Go Texan restaurant chefs representing the Driskill Grill, Roaring Fork, and Southwest Bistro WHAT: The Hyatt Regency Austin hosts the third Go Texan Chef Showdown, a multi-course gourmet chef competition featuring local ingredients. Event is part of the Go Texan Restaurant Round-up. WHEN: Thursday, September 30, 2010. Cocktail hour begins at 6 p.m.; Chef Showdown at 7 p.m. WHERE: The Hyatt Regency Austin Southwest Bistro | 208 Barton Springs Rd., Austin, TX 78704. TICKETS: $49 plus tax and gratuity. Includes wine pairings. Limited seating. Event reservations are available via opentable.com or by calling 512.480.2035 ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Mondays Starting Sept. 13th - Hotel San Jose announced today the return of steak night, a monthly prix fixe menu prepared by Chef Larry Mcguire of Perla’s and Lambert’s with reservations at 6:30 pm, 7 pm, 8:30 pm, or 9 pm. The meals range from McAllen Ranch NY Strip ($40) with seared mushroom and shallot relish, Niman Ranch Natural Rib Eye ($40) with fennel salsa verde, Certified Angus Beef Filet ($45) with Hollandaise and fresh horseradish, or Ahi Tuna Steak ($40) with smoked paprika chimichurri. Served with salad, grilled asparagus, steak house potatoes and crispy shallots, diners are in for a real treat.  Dessert includes Mexia Pear and blackberry cobbler served with vanilla ice cream. Wine options for the evening include ($9/glass or $34/bottle) Fontsainte Corbieres Rouge from France 2008 vintage or Hugl Weine Gruner Veltliner from Australia 2008 vintage.  If you're craving a steak, the prix fix menu is sure to satisfy your tummy.  Hotel San Jose is located 1316 South Congress Avenue Austin, TX 78704. Reservations are limited, for more information or reserve your table call 512-852-2350. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ Thursday, Oct. 7th- 6:30 - pm - Tour De Vin at Whole Foods Downtown.  I have 3 words.  This event rocks.  This is where I first had StEats last year, and it was absolutely amazing.  Trying food for the first time that tasted like comfort food is kind of mind blowing in that dejavu-Inceptions-meets-Matrix kind of way.  If you like food and wine with from other cultures, you'll love this event.