The L Lounge is a very well conceived venue. When I first walked in. I couldn’t help notice the simplicity of the eastern style mixed with the industrialism of the western style. The acid green custom sofas and plaster makes a an intriguing contrast with the walnut finished
The upper dining level gives the area a sense of exclusivity while the full windows leading out to the patio provide spaciousness.
The menu on many levels impressed me. First the ingredients are local, seasonal, and sustainable. All the selections suggest a simple elegance of the food.
I loved the fact that the plates are small. It makes it so easy to sample all the sensuous flavors that Chef Ame Harrington creates. Another advantage to the small plates is that it makes it fun and adventurous to share while sampling great beers.
I took the opportunity to attend a Sunday Supper. This event featured Chuck Silva of Green Flash Brewing Company. Chuck and Ame collaborated the menu for the dinner to pair with six of his beers. When I arrived, I felt as though I was at a New York soirée with very well dressed 20 and 30 something’s.
To start the event Ame served a amuse bouche. It was the first time I had an amuse bouche. An amuse bouche is different than an appetizer for several reasons. It is not on the menu, rather designed by the chef for the event and is plated. It consists of one or two bites.
The amuse bouche for this dinner a prawn and pepper salpicon petitaco (little taco) paired with West Coast IPA.
The second course was Tripple battered halibut, crispy pommes Anna served on a bed of fennel Frisee salad and a sauce of preserved lemon butter. This was paired with the Trippel. I loved the spiciness of the fennel, the bitterness of the frisee and the pungent preserved lemon butter with the Trippel. It made all the things I love about the beer style stand out.
The real treat was the Intermezzo. An intermezzo is a smaller plate intended to act as a palate cleanser or freshener. It has been my experience that these are ices or sorbets. Ame choose to stay with the classic example. She served a honeydew sorbet with crisp prosciuto and orange zest. It introduced a new beer, not yet sold in stores. It is a double IPA with a Belgian style trippel. Not only was the beer a huge hit but so was the combination with the intermezzo.
Following the intermezzo were grilled Merguez Sausages served with toasted couscous, leeks, peach and Harissa Oil. The Merguez sausage is a spicy sausage commonly made with lamb. It is very popular in Tunisia. The Harissa oil is also a Tunisian accompaniment. It is commonly served along with the couscous. The leek seemed to calm the spiciness down and the peach added a nice sweetness to contrast with the spiciness. All this to pair with a huge Imperial IPA.
Finally, after all were wowed by the flavor combinations of the spiciness, the bitterness, the savory, sweet, and citrus. Ame out did herself again with an ice cream float of Ginger Ale, mango, mint and Green Flash Stout Sabayon. This was served with a small pour of Chuck Silva’s Stout.
The ginger ale in the float nicely cut the bitterness that is prominent in stouts. Hop bitterness will fight with sweetness and I was wondering how she was going to pull off this combination. Everyone ooh-ed and ahh-ed at the bits of mango and the chiffonade of mint as they took spoonfuls of it all mixed with the sabayon.
Ame Harrington’s ability to pull from her repertoire and compose a culinary palate in collaboration with Brew master Chuck Silva shows off her skills as a true culinary artist.
Although the showing for the event was soft, the response was overwhelming. The establishment is looking forward to doing another brew master dinner. You will not want to miss it. It is a true culinary experience not easily found.
Whether you are able to make it to the next Brew masters Dinner and Beer pairing or just come down for a good beer and several small plates to share with friends. Your experience at the L Lounge and Urban Kitchen will be not one easily matched.
Open T-Sat 4pm-10:00, midnight on Saturday
L Lounge is located on 1801 L st.
443-6970
www.lwinelounge.com
No comments:
Post a Comment