Red, white & brew - Currents

Cheers, July-August, 2002

As you'll find in the beer piece on page tk, brew pubs and craft brew still have plenty of devotees. That's probably why the Park Avenue Caf, and Mrs. Park's Tavern in Chicago highlighted an all-American pairing of craft beers from The Boston Beer Company with contemporary American cuisine specials created by executive chef Todd Downs for a week in June.

Guests at the sister restaurants added a $6 surcharge to entree purchases at lunch or dinner to sample six different Samuel Adams beers. A kickoff beer dinner at Park Avenue matched Sam Adams beers with five courses (prosciutto-wrapped jumbo diver sea scallops with roasted fresh figs and balsamic reduction paired with Sam Adams Boston Ale, and roasted tenderloin of beef with foie gras and vanilla sauce, and creamy wild leeks matched with Sam Adams Cream Stout, for instance.)