Want to go?
WHAT: Great Lakes Beer and Food Pairing
WHEN: 6:30 p.m. Thursday, Oct. 4
WHERE: J Bistro Downtown, 129 W. Market St., Sandusky
COST: $60/person
INFO: 419-502-2280 or http://jbistrodowntown.com
Ah, fall. The leaves are turning, the weather is getting crisp and football is back in action. This also means it’s Oktoberfest season, with beer and food offerings galore. One of the more interesting choices this year takes place at J Bistro Downtown in Sandusky where discriminating foodies and beer drinkers can live like royalty for a night.
The beer-pairing party takes place at 6:30 p.m. Oct 4 at the downtown Sandusky venue. Funcoast talked to J Bistro Downtown General Manager Barbara Mills about the inaugural event.
Funcoast: First of all, what is the Great Lakes Oktoberfest Beer Pairing Party?
Barbara Mills (BM): The event is a beer and food pairing party with Great Lakes [Brewing Company]. We have not done these before. I think this is actually the first beer-and-food pairing event in this area. We have been working on a lot of interesting events that will be upcoming to make J Bistro the place to go in downtown Sandusky.
Funcoast: We’ve heard of wine pairings. How unique is a beer pairing?
BM: We have had wine pairings before. We had an exclusive with Windsor Oaks Winery in Sonoma, California. We’ve had their signature collection wines, and we’re the only one carrying those for the last four months. We did a lovely food and wine pairing dinner with them in the spring. But people have requested beer pairings. And they obviously like our wine pairing dinners. Part of my skill set was that kind of event planning, so we always want to push the envelope here at J Bistro. Beer pairings are all over the country and have been around for the last nine years. It just took a long time for me to bring them here. Also, beer pairs brilliantly with food, it really does. And it’s much more obvious when things work well together.
Funcoast: So beer-wise, what can people expect at the Great Lakes Oktoberfest Beer Pairing Party?
BM: It’s probably six courses with six different beers, and they’ll bring us some exclusives that will not be available in the area to anyone else. Also, brewmaster Zak Blau will be on hand.
Funcoast: What about the food?
BM: You know, it’s Chef Harris. It’s brilliant food with a twist. We might introduce the first beer float that anybody ever had in Sandusky, Ohio. It’s a beer float, like a root beer float without the root. It’ll feature a house-crafted ice cream as part of the beer float.
Funcoast: How does this fit into the J Bistro Downtown experience?
BM: When people think of our venue they think about great music, brilliant food and they think about a beautiful dining room. And they think about fun. Fall foods are so beautiful with beers. I think it’s going to be interesting, educational and but more than anything else, fun for our customers.
The Great Lakes Oktoberfest Beer Pairing Party includes beer & kielbasa soup, mussels steamed in beer, mustard and beer glazed pork belly, beer braised beef shepherd’s pie and carrot cake with spiced beer cream cheese frosting. J Bistro Downtown is located at 129 W. Market St., Sandusky. Tickets are $60 per person. For more information, call 419-502-2280 or visit http://jbistrodowntown.com.
