Thursday, November 25, 2021

PW Pizza 4 Hands Beer Dinner 2021

The second PW Pizza beer dinner this month also featured another local brewery, and 4 Hands is one of Patience's favorites. There were no surprises as far as the beer was concerned, but one of our favorite pizzas is the Thanksgiving pizza that they serve every year in November.

4 Hands Lineup

We started off with the Ripple White Ale, which is probably my favorite beer by 4 Hands. Perfect patio pounder in the summer, and it was paired with a fall salad. With the apples, cranberries, and goat cheese, I was happy there were some leftovers the next day.

Fall Salad

The famous City Wide beer is too hoppy for me since it's an APA, but this is an everyday beer for Pai, This stood up with to the Popeye and Olive Oil Pizza. I'm guessing it was named that for the spinach? 

The Thanksgiving Pizza always has turkey, mashed potatoes, and cranberries ON THE PIZZA, smothered in a brown gravy. It's actually quite delicious and this is probably our second favorite pizza of the year next to the prime rib pizza last month. With all those flavors mixed together, this was paired with the Incarnation IPA, which comes in at a whopping 7.0% ABV.

Popeye and Olive Oil Pizza (left) and Thanksgiving Feast Pizza (right)

Dessert wasn't chocolate this time, but the Chocolate Milk Stout, Pai's favorite beer by them unless you count the Peanut Butter version, did pair well with the Raspberry Torte.

Raspberry Torte

4 Hands Beer Dinner Menu

Resources:

PW Pizza = https://pwpizza.com/

4 Hands Brewery = https://4handsbrewery.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Monday, November 22, 2021

La Pâtisserie Chouquette

To book end our half birthday celebrations, Julia and I FINALLY visited La Pâtisserie Chouquette and I am very sorry I waited so long. Definitely another St. Louis gem.

La Patisserie Chouquette

While it's easy to be distracted by all the beautiful macaroons in the first glass case...

Macaroons in so many colors!

The rest of the front case...

including the croissants (chocolate for me of course)!

Chocolate Croissant

Just be sure to take your time reviewing the shelves in the back as well! 

Various packaged treats on the back shelves...

That's where I found these adorable almond-type cookies for Patience.

Amaretti

Be sure to play tourist in your own city or when you need a gift. Or maybe a cute to spot to meet up with a friend. 

Resources:

La Pâtisserie Chouquette = https://www.simonefaure.com/

Sunday, November 21, 2021

Big Macs & Burgundy Wine Class - #2

Since the first version of the Big Macs & Burgundy Wine Class was so popular, Beth from Cocktails R Go held another one in early November. This time, Patience and my wine club friends got to join me to make it even more fun!

The pairings were slightly different this time around, so it was still worthwhile for me to go again, other than the headliner of a Big Mac paried with a wine from Burgundy region of France. (Although I totally would have done it again no matter what!)

Big Mac paired with a wine from Burgundy

To kick the night off, we had bubbles paired with Crab Rangoon...all that acid was needed to cut through the cheesy insides of the appetizer.

Freixenet Brut Blanc de Blanc paired with Crab Rangoon

I never thought to pair a Chenin Blanc & Viognier blend with Mac & Cheese, but again, the wine cut through all the cheese, which Beth made herself. (I had seconds and thirds thanks to my tablemates.)

Pine Ridge Chenin Blanc & Viognier blend paired with Mac 'n Cheese

A brilliant combinatin of Lambrusco, a jammy and sweeter red wine, paired with PB&J was magic to me. Beth also makes a damn fine PB&J with peanut butter on both top AND bottom breads.

Manicardi Lambrusco Grasparossa di Castelvetro D.O.C. paired with PB&J

And to finish off the night, Beth had discovered that a Tawny Port was able to match the sweetness of wedding cake (or any white cake). Well...what was left of Pai's cake. I definitely would have never thought to put those two together either.

Cockburns Fine Tawny Porto paired with white cake


Big Macs & Burgundy menu

This class is so awesome, that I decided to request a class of my own for our wine club!

Resources:

Big Macs & Burgandy = https://www.amazon.com/Big-Macs-Burgundy-Pairings-World/dp/1419744917

Cocktails Are Go = https://cocktails-are-go.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon

Tuesday, November 16, 2021

PW Pizza Big Muddy Brewing Beer Dinner 2021

It has been a couple of months since we've done a PW Pizza Beer Dinner, so it was cool to see a "local" brewery for this month's pick and I'm not sure I've had any of their beers before.

Big Muddy Beers

I think what hooked us for this month was the "Bleus Pizza", which included prime rib and Bleu cheese. The fancy meat pizzas are among our favorites. This pizza required a more flavorful beer, but the Saluki DunkelDog was still easy to drink.

The T-Rex pizza had a little bit of a kick to it with Andouille sausage and pepperoncinis, so of course the Galaxy IPA was paired with the heat. This IPA combines Australian Galaxy and American Hops, but Patience didn't think it was too hoppy if you can believe that!

Bleus Pizza on the left, T-Rex Pizza on the right

The first pairing, a Blueberry Salad, was perfectly matched with the Blueberry Blonde. Still fairly high ABV at 6% for a "light ale".

Dessert was also a winner since it was chocolate - a brownie with marshmallows and a caramel drizzle. Patience loved the Smores Stout, whereas I preferred the brownie!

Brownie with Marshmallows and a caramel drizzle

Big Muddy Brewery Beer Dinner Menu

Resources:

PW Pizza = https://pwpizza.com/

Big Muddy = http://bigmuddybrewing.com/

Photos by Patience Scanlon