Agave Dinner: 6 Gastronomic Pairings - Friday 1/22/16
Agave Dinner: 6 Gastronomic Pairings - Friday 1/22/16
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Agave Dinner: 6 Gastronomic Pairings - Friday 1/22/16
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Post #1 - December 24th, 2015, 11:44 amHey everyone,
For those of you who attended this awesome event, here's your chance to further expand your knowledge, familiarity and appreciation of Agave-based spirits. And for those of you who missed it, here's your chance to jump right in.
On Friday January 22, 2016 at 6:30 pm our friend, Agave Maven Lou Bank, will host a 6-course dinner prepared by Charles Welch (Sepia, MK Restaurant, Thyme) and Jonathan Zaragoza (Birrieria Zaragoza, Masa Azul). Here's a glimpse of the planned menu:
Carnitas: Roasted pork, orange marmalade, cilantro, onion, handmade tortilla
Nopales: Cactus, caramelized onion, guajillo chile sauce, queso fresco, pickled banana pepper
Chorizo: Chorizo étouffée, grits, scallion
Empanadas: Roasted chicken, pipian chile, yogurt, cucumber, pickled red onion
Crudo: Salmon, avocado, lime, radish, serrano chile, pumpernickel
Paleta: Cajeta, peanut
Menu subject to change
Tickets for the meal are $65 (plus a small fee charged by EventBrite.com). And Lou will be on hand to pair rare mezcals, raicillas, and destilados de agave with each course for anyone making at least a $1 donation to the greenhouse or library programs he sponsors in rural Oaxaca. To purchase tickets, please click here. All donations will be collected at the event.
This event will be capped at 40 attendees and will be available exclusively to LTH members until January 10th, after which ticket sales will be open to the general public. We really hope to see you there.
Where:
Chicago Literacy Alliance/Literacenter
641 West Lake Street - Ste 200
Chicago, IL 60661
When:
Friday January 22, 2016
6:30 - 8:30 pm
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #2 - December 24th, 2015, 11:26 pmAttending:
ronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #3 - December 25th, 2015, 3:27 pmronnie_suburban wrote:Attending:
ronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
=R=
The first one was great and this one looks even better!Objects in mirror appear to be losing.
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Post #4 - December 25th, 2015, 8:45 pmKman wrote:ronnie_suburban wrote:Attending:
ronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
=R=
The first one was great and this one looks even better!
ronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
Kman
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #5 - December 26th, 2015, 1:03 pmI just want to clarify that all proceeds from this event -- donations made at the event, as well as ticket sales (after expenses) -- will be donated to the Greenhouse and Literacy programs in Mexico. It'll be a great event that will help support some very worthy causes.
Thanks,
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #6 - December 29th, 2015, 12:32 amAttending:
ronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
Kman
Isiah Tibar
Isiah Tibar +1
irisarbor
irisarbor +1 (Frank)
irisarbor + 1 (Laura)
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #7 - January 5th, 2016, 7:17 pmAttending:
ronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
Kman
Isiah Tibar
Isiah Tibar +1
irisarbor
irisarbor +1 (Frank)
irisarbor + 1 (Laura)
Cookie Monster
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #8 - January 15th, 2016, 11:05 amI just want to remind everyone that this dinner is one week from tonight and tickets are still available. It promises to be an informative and delicious experience . . . and the proceeds go to some very worthy causes.
Thanks,
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #9 - January 15th, 2016, 2:04 pmI'm going to be out of town for this dinner and I'm so bummed, I heard such good thing about the last one that I really wanted to attend, please report back and make me jealous. <sad sigh>For what we choose is what we are. He should not miss this second opportunity to re-create himself with food. Jim Crace "The Devil's Larder"
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Post #10 - January 18th, 2016, 12:37 pmronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
Kman
Isiah Tibar
Isiah Tibar +1
irisarbor
irisarbor +1 (Frank)
irisarbor + 1 (Laura)
Cookie Monster
Michael Sanders
Michael Sanders +1
Michael Sanders +1
Michael Sanders +1
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #11 - January 18th, 2016, 12:54 pmIf anyone needs any encouragement to attend, Jon Z just returned from a week or so in Mexico, eating and cooking with a Bourdain-worthy collection of folks--the pics of his food from there make me think he'll have some pretty special things to share with us."Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." Miles Kington
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Post #12 - January 19th, 2016, 3:27 pmronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
Kman
Isiah Tibar
Isiah Tibar +1
irisarbor
irisarbor +1 (Frank)
irisarbor + 1 (Laura)
Cookie Monster
Michael Sanders
Michael Sanders +1
Michael Sanders +1
Michael Sanders +1
milz50
milz50 +1
David Mason
Pierre Francois
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #13 - January 20th, 2016, 10:51 amQuestion?
will things kick off promptly at 6:30, or will there be sort of a cocktail time?
(For those who may be challenged arriving promptly...)
trains, cars, weather, etc.
Thx"If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion and avoid the people, you might better stay home."
~James Michener
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Post #14 - January 20th, 2016, 5:32 pmirisarbor wrote:Question?
will things kick off promptly at 6:30, or will there be sort of a cocktail time?
(For those who may be challenged arriving promptly...)
trains, cars, weather, etc.
Thx
We'll want to start fairly promptly but there will be a 10-minute grace period before we rev it up.
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #15 - January 21st, 2016, 11:51 amronnie_suburban
ronnie_suburban +1
boudreaulicious
Kman
Isiah Tibar
Isiah Tibar +1
irisarbor
irisarbor +1 (Frank)
irisarbor + 1 (Laura)
Cookie Monster
Michael Sanders
Michael Sanders +1
Michael Sanders +1
Michael Sanders +1
milz50
milz50 +1
David Mason
Pierre Francois
Jawwad Akhtar
Jawwad Akhtar +1
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #16 - January 27th, 2016, 12:26 pmWe had a great time at last week's event. The mezcal (knowledge) was flowing and the food was stellar . . .
Ok, this must be the place
Charlie Welch preps the grits while Jonathan Zaragoza cooks the empanadas
The ever-smiling Jonathan Zaragoza
The chefs pulled out all the stops, including getting ahold of this IC from Sepia, after the one they brought was not right for use
Lou Bank instructs boudreaulicious on the preferred methodology for tasting the distilados
Siniestro
Rafael's special blend is poured from this repurposed bottle
Salmon Crudo
Roasted Chicken Empanada
Mezcaloteca
Tacos: Carnitas on the left, Nopales on the right
Chorizo Etouffée
Having a lovely evening, thanks
Paleta
Mezcal de los Libres
El Tigre
Jonathan Zaragoza, Charlie Welch, Connie and Lou
That's all folks . . .
Just another great night with tremendous food, paired with distillations that are nearly impossible to find on a retail basis state-side. The event concluded with an informative tasting of a Barill distillation in 4 phases. We got to try the head (beginning of the run, 70% abv), the heart (the main portion of the run, 50% abv), the tail (the end of the run, 6% abv ) and a blend of all the phases (55% abv) that the producer considered to be the optimal representation of the run. It was a great way to experience the process through a tasting.
Lou has also provide me with copies of the pictures he used in his presentation at the event. We hope to have those posted in slideshow form in the near future.
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #17 - January 27th, 2016, 1:25 pmTruly spectacular event on all counts--informative, entertaining and delicious! I am a total Agave/Mezcal noob and Lou's presentation and enthusiasm really lit it up--if you have the slightest curiosity about this spirit, how it's made, where its from and the people who create it, definitely sign up next time it's offered.
As for the food, I always enjoy Jon Z's cooking but he and Charles have a great thing going. I loved everything, but the empanadas, the Chorizo etouffee and that crazy Paleta full of peanuts were truly next level. Ronnie, thanks so much for organizing!!Last edited by boudreaulicious on January 27th, 2016, 5:51 pm, edited 2 times in total."Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." Miles Kington
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Post #18 - January 27th, 2016, 3:14 pmThanks, one and all, for attending, and to Jonathan and Charles for the amazing food -- and, of course, to Ron and Matt for organizing and promoting. Including the very kind contributions at the end, we raised almost $1,000 to send to the various projects we're supporting in Mexico -- the building of a library, the running of a greenhouse (for replanting agave in the wild), and the maintenance of a water-reclamation project.
One quick correction to your post, Ron: The last phase of the tasting -- Barill four ways -- consisted of the head (beginning of the run, 70% abv), the tail (the end of the run, 6% abv), a blend of the head and heart (55% abv), and the heart of the production (50% abv -- the form in which you usually bottle spirits).
Also, only one of the 12 spirits that were poured that evening is available commercially in the USA, and even that bottle -- from Real Minero -- is not yet available outside of California, New York, and Texas. Real Minero is expected to be here in the next six months, though -- but that particular bottle was from 2008, so...
Thanks! And anyone interested in more information about the projects we support will find it at http://tenangrypitbulls.com
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Post #19 - January 27th, 2016, 3:21 pmThanks Lou, for the clarifications/corrections. And thanks again for organizing the event, which was thoroughly enjoyable on so many levels.
Just to avoid any confusion, I'm going to amend the numbers in my post.
=R=By protecting others, you save yourself. If you only think of yourself, you'll only destroy yourself. --Kambei Shimada
Every human interaction is an opportunity for disappointment --RS
There's a horse loose in a hospital --JM
That don't impress me much --Shania Twain
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Post #20 - January 27th, 2016, 3:55 pmboudreaulicious wrote:I loved everything but the empanadas, the Chorizo etouffee and that crazy Paleta full of peanuts were truly next level.
The editor in me believes there is a comma missing in there, unless you actually hated the meal?
Make that two commas if you count the Oxford.The meal isn't over when I'm full; the meal is over when I hate myself. - Louis C.K.
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Post #21 - January 27th, 2016, 5:53 pmTeresa wrote:boudreaulicious wrote:I loved everything but the empanadas, the Chorizo etouffee and that crazy Paleta full of peanuts were truly next level.
The editor in me believes there is a comma missing in there, unless you actually hated the meal?
Make that two commas if you count the Oxford.
Phone typing
"Knowledge is knowing a tomato is a fruit; wisdom is not putting it in a fruit salad." Miles Kington
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Post #22 - January 28th, 2016, 9:35 amThat was truly a delightful event, from the food, to the drinks to the education about mezcal that I received. Lou was truly the best host and speaker.Cookie Monster
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Post #23 - January 28th, 2016, 8:27 pmSo glad I waited for Ronnie to post as his photos, as always, are several orders of magnitude better than my crappy cell phone pics. Hard to believe it could have been more fun than the October event but it was - Lou's passion and knowledge is the fuel that drives these events but then paired with the spirits and the oh-so-terrific food just takes it to another plane. Everything was so good but I was so surprised by the chorizo etoufee (and those grits! fantastic!) and then the paleta - truly unexpected textures and flavors. Some terrific discussions between the attendees and Lou about issues like sustainability rounded out the night. Thanks so much for organizing this.Objects in mirror appear to be losing.
