Beer and Food Pairing

This event is a must for students, especially if you have ever thought about taking a wine or beer tasting course. I like to enjoy a beer every now and then but this event has changed the way I look at beer. I normally only think about pairing food with wine, but last night I realized that beer is just as versatile and tasty!

The night started with Kichesippi blonde beer and spring rolls for appetizers as you waited for your seats. I had tried this beer before so I was eased into the experience.

The pairings for the night were:

• Kichesippi: Natural Blonde – spring rolls
• Kichesippi: 1855 – barley soup and cream of broccoli soup
• Big Rig: Lon’s ESB – pulled pork with Rosti potato and red cabbage
• Beyond The Pale: Rye Guy – Jerk Chicken with jasmine rice and pineapple papaya salsa
• Beau’s: Lug Tread – Fish & Chips with tartar sauce and coleslaw
• Beyond The Pale: The Darkness – Chocolate Cakes pops with orange sorbet

Sarah enjoying the food.

The pairing that I enjoyed the most was the Rye Guy with jerk chicken. It was a great balance between the flavor of the beer and the spice of the chicken. The pairing that surprised me the most was The Darkness with the chocolate cake pops.

I love that all the breweries featured are located in the Ottawa area.  It showcases a side of the city that I have not experienced yet. There are a few breweries that host their own tours and tastings, and this was given out as a prize at the event! At the end of the night we were given a booklet to take home, detailing each pairing and tells you where the brewery is located. 

This was the first time I have been in the Restaurant International, and I was very impressed with the food that night. I will definitely be returning for dinner, and students even get a discount.

I had a great time and this is a perfect event for a few or even a group of friends. I enjoyed each beer and dish that was served, it was a awesome night! This is an event that I will definitely be doing again.

- SAO blogger Sarah Raphael