Start Off 2014 on a Good Note

I have a childhood friend that runs a local foundation here in Munhall and the foundation always seems to have interesting events going on. He recently had a massive flea market of assorted and donated items. It was at this flea market that I picked up two plain shaker pint glasses (something I haven't been able to find anywhere) and two small brandy snifters I now use as tasters.

I'm almost positive his events benefit the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Western Pa. With that said, I've come across another beer-related event (even moreso than just buying beer glassware) that's coming up early next year.

The event is Pour For A Cure at the Pittsburgh Opera Center. There will be numerous brews to sample as well as cheeses and hors d'oeuvres to pair alongside the drink of your choice.

The event begins at 6 p.m. on January 30 and ends at 9 p.m. You can begin your journey of getting some tickets by clicking right here. There is also an option to buy tickets for designated drivers for the events. That's a great idea as I don't recall too many of these events having such a ticket, but I could always be wrong. The designated driver tickets are $25 per-driver.

Robust

You know when you have one of those moments when it comes to drink or food? Those moments when you feel like you're having a party in your mouth. Ones where life just pauses for a moment and nothing else in the world matters.

I had one of those moments at a beer tasting/pairing last night. I wrote about my visit to my family's restaurant on Route 30 in which there was a wine pairing. Last night was the pairing with Full Pint Brewing Company. If there's anyone that cares about what exactly was served you probably already know due to my posting of the menu I got my hands on after the wine tasting.

I must say the two highlights were the almond crusted chicken paired with the Chinookie IPA and the dessert with the Perc E Bust Porter. The chicken breast was served with a lemon cream sauce and an orange juice reduction. This complimented the grapefruit flavors of the IPA amazingly. You'd like this pairing even if you don't particularly care for IPA's.

The dessert was awesome. It was sweet, but the slight bitterness and strength of the coffee in the porter cut it perfectly. A spoonful of that ice cream and chocolate sauce, with some of the porter already in it, and a quick swig of the porter left me in some sort of a food coma for about 30 seconds. I've always said that if you haven't experienced this you haven't lived!

Pair Away

Cabernet Savignon at the wine tasting.

In case you didn't know, I have close family that has ownership in Teddy's Restaurant and Lounge just off of the Irwin exit (Pennsylvania Turnpike) along Route 30. Last Wednesday, I was there for the first big wine tasting the restaurant has ever had. To say the least, it was awesome. I was full of awesome gourmet food and sampled some great wine.

The restaurant is going through a transitional period and this was the first step in that direction. It wants to incorporate drinks and plates that are featured in tastings such as these in the future on a full-time basis. The next scheduled tasting features nearby Full Pint Brewing.

It will feature five brews and four meal courses. I've been given a copy of the menu and have written it below. Tickets are limited and are going like hotcakes. If you're interested Teddy's phone number is 724-863-8180. Cost is $45 per-person.

Greeting: Hobnobber

First Course: White Lightning - Orange, ginger, garlic, honey and thai chile marinated chicken breast skewered then drizzled with an orange, red pepper, and soy glaze atop white rice and minced onions.

Second Course: All In Amber - Amber Oysters cooked with spinach, bacon Amber beer cheese and seasoned bread crumbs.

Third Course: Chinookie IPA - Orange, rosemary and almond crusted chicken breast with sun-dried tomatoes, lemon cream sauce over an orange juice reduction wild rice and dried grapefruit garnish.

Fourth Course: Perc E Bust - Porter float of vanilla bean ice cream, drizzled hot fudge, coffee beer and garnished with pirouline artisan-rolled wafers.