Last Tuesday I had the pleasure of accompanying Joe Hakim of The Hungry Dudes to Foran’s Grand Trunk Pub’s monthly Michigan craft beer dinner series. I love Foran’s and frequent the Detroit establishment for both their awesome selection of Michigan beer, and the beautiful and historic interior.
I was extremely excited to get the invite to enjoy a four course meal prepared by a combination of both the Foran’s chefs and a guest chef from the Whitney. Each course was paired with a beer from one of my favorite breweries, New Holland Brewing Company, and New Holland Beer Ambassador Issac Hartman was on hand to answer questions and give a brief overview of what we were drinking.
The food was killer. We started with a shrimp and tilapia ceviche paired with Golden Cap Saison, then moved on to smoked chicken stuffed peppers paired with the spiced El Mole Ocho. For the third course we sampled Pilgrim’s Dole braised brisket with wild mushroom risotto, and then finished the night with the most amazing goat cheese cheesecake topped with a Dragon’s Milk & balsamic caramel sauce. The food was not only paired with the beers, but all the dishes included the beer as an ingredient as well. It was absolutely fantastic.
The event was actually held upstairs in the Motor City Wine shop. It was a quiet, intimate spot that fit around 30 people or so. Definitely a cool space, I’d love to return for a wine event as well. I was told they fantastic music acts that play on various days.
The Michigan craft beer dinner events run $40 per person, and include all the food and paired drinks. It’s a fantastic value, and you’ll leave incredibly full. I heard that most of the events fill up as was the case with this one. We will try to keep everyone posted on upcoming dinners. You can also check Foran’s website or Facebook page for more information.
Big thanks to The Hungry Dudes, Foran’s and New Holland for the opportunity to attend such a fantastic event!
