BostonZest

Pretty Things Tasting Notes....

Hope you had a chance to take-in last Thursday's Pretty Things tasting at Bauer Wine & Spirits.

 
 

We met friends there and enjoyed this opportunity to meet the beer brewing couple who's had the local beer community buzzing for more than a year.

Dann Paquette and Martha Holley, creators of "Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project," treated us to pours of four of their creations: Jack D'Or, Baby Tree, St. Botolph's Town and Babayaga.

 

We each had favorites. Our buddy Peter liked "Baby Tree"- a quadruple brewed beer with dried plums. David still likes Jack D'Or the best. While for me, "Jack" is hard to top, Babayaga got my loudest applause. My weakness for stouts plus the malt smoked with rosemary probably had something to do with it.

Dann and Martha are great story tellers, and every beer has a story.

Dann told us about walking through a market in London, seeing arms-full of rosemary tossed onto the fires of vendors smoking meats, and coming up with the idea that eventually added a touch of rosemary smoke to the Babayaga.

The couple is constantly tossing ideas back and forth, as they look to craft their next great concoction. When one of them becomes obsessed with a thought, it makes its way into at brew. 

While Martha was quick to add that they're always looking for ideas from their fans, it's obvious they have plenty of their own.

What's next for these brewmeisters? 

A "style-twisting Mild" beer is set to bow in February- a re-creation of a London brew from the 1800's. And, there's talk of a Springtime beer.

 

Our advice for keeping up with these brewing dynamos?

Any time they show up in public, be there!

These guys are easy to talk to. You feel like you've known them for long time.

 

They're just fun to be around...a lot like their beers!

On the Pretty Things site I found that Dann agrees with me about glassware for beer. He says, "Find a glass with a stem. That way the beer stays colder longer and you can look at the beer while you're drinking it. For cleaning's sake get one that you can easily reach the bottom of with a sponge or shammy." Something like this.

Details:

Writer: Ed Cherubino

Photos: © 2010 Penny Cherubino

Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, Inc.
P.O. Box 426037, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.prettythingsbeertoday.com

Check here for upcoming appearances

Bauer Wines and Spirits
330 Newbury Street, Boston MA (map) 
Phone: (617) 262-0363 
www.bauerwines.com

"Pretty Things" Beer Tasting, and You're Invited!

What kind of brewmaster names his company "Pretty Things?"

This guy...

His name is Dann Paquette. And, he's fast becoming a local phenom. Dann's been getting raves from the beer community ever since he launched "Pretty Things Ale and Beer Project." in Cambridge a year ago.

I discovered the brew early last summer, when Penny and I were having brunch at Craigie on Main. I needed something to go with my Buttermilk Pancakes/muscovado stewed banana masterpiece. 

(Full report on that here: http://www.bostonzest.com/2009/07/craigie-on-main-brunch.html ) 

Bartender, Carrie Cole suggested "Pretty Things" flagship beer, Jack D'Or. It was a surprisingly perfect match, and I've been a fan ever since.

But, don't just take my word it. Come Taste Pretty Things for yourself!

Bauer Wines (also a great resource for beer lovers) has invited BostonZest readers to join their "Pretty Things" tasting this Thursday, January 7th from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m.

See you there.

On the Pretty Things site I found that Dann agrees with me about glassware for beer. He says, "Find a glass with a stem. That way the beer stays colder longer and you can look at the beer while you're drinking it. For cleaning's sake get one that you can easily reach the bottom of with a sponge or shammy." Something like this.

Details:
Writer: Ed Cherubino
Photos: Courtesy of Pretty Things Beer and Ale Project

Bauer Wines and Spirits
330 Newbury Street, Boston MA (map) 
Phone: (617) 262-0363 
www.bauerwines.com

Pretty Things Beer & Ale Project, Inc.
P.O. Box 426037, Cambridge, MA 02142
www.prettythingsbeertoday.com

Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli - Our Link This Week

Tonight will be Tom Schlesinger-Guidelli's last night behind the bar at Craigie on Main. We knew that tonight would be wild so we spent last night in our favorite corner at his bar. The place was packed from the moment they opened so we weren't the only ones with that thought.

Everyone from the folks on Chowhound to the Boston Globe, is asking about his plans. He says he's taking some time off. That makes us happy because we know how hard he's worked over the past year to build the reputation and success he's achieved.

We're making Tom's Twitter address our link this week. If you want to know what he's doing, you can follow him at:  http://twitter.com/TSGBone.

For those who have not yet had the pleasure of meeting Tom

He's been an important element in our enjoyment of Craigie - one of the reasons we came back again and again. It speaks well of Tom as a manager and leader that we also have excellent service when Carrie Cole is behind the bar. He's good at all aspects of his job.

While others follow Tom for his renown skill as an artist with cocktails, we're wine drinkers who have found his wine recommendations and knowledge outstanding.

Last night, as we were ready to order dessert, we decided to have one of the great drinks that we've seen him craft for others. Tom created a special drink to match our favorite gingerbread dessert.

It was a bourbon-based drink because he knows we both love bourbon. He added notes to it from three or four bottles and mixed until it met his high standards. It was delicious and a perfect match.

Thank you Tom, for all the enjoyable hours we've spent in your very capable hands. Make the most of your time off and know that we'll be waiting to hear about the decisions you make and directions you take in the year ahead.

Details:

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Artwork: From Tom's Twitter page

Downtown Crossing Holiday Market is Our Friday Link

Last Sunday we visited the Downtown Crossing Holiday Market to do one of our Market Scene reports for Serious Eats. Maybe this is a start to finding a location in Boston where farmers can operate further into the winter.

We visited with Abe from Stillman's Farm and were happy to hear that they were signing up new CSA (Consumer Supported Agriculture) shareholders who live and work in this neighborhood.

And, we stocked up on basics– carrots, honey and such at Keown Orchards. This farm also seemed to be making new friends among the Sunday shoppers. We heard that weekdays, especially around lunch hour, can be very busy.

If you check the list of vendors for each week, you'll find other farmers' market favorites. And, you may also discover some new friends.

One of our favorite new food finds was Charles McGonagle's "Crazy Camel Dessert Hummus."  This chef, with 25 years of experience creating great food, was trying to introduce his picky teenage daughter to traditional hummus. Their site says, "She blurted out, 'yuk!' Can't you add some peanut butter to this? And that's how it started."

Today Chuck adds flavors like Chocolate Mousse, Toasted Almond, Peanut Butter, Gingerbread, and Caramel Apple. He also removes the fat, so the finished product has about the same calories as most hummus but is full of dessert flavor.

Across the aisle we were thrilled to find a "When Pigs Fly" bakery booth. We were able to stock up on their great breads without a separate trip to Somerville or Brookline. Our choices for the day were a French loaf and two of the seasonal breads– "Curried Squash with Pears and Raisins" and the one we call "stuffing bread," because it tastes exactly like the holiday stuffing you have on Thanksgiving.

We think these two companies should get together. Their creative flavors seem made for one another. We loved the gingerbread hummus on the curried squash bread.

This marketplace is also supporting area artists and craftspeople. Each week you'll find photographers, fabric artists, furniture makers, and jewelry artists offering the opportunity to buy unusual and high quality gifts.

More after the ad...

When you're not shopping local, be sure to support your local source of information by beginning all your Amazon shopping right here at BostonZest. Click on any link to Amazon from here and your purchases will help keep information like this coming your way.

The Downtown Crossing Holiday Market is open Monday through Saturday 11 am to 7 pm, and Sunday 12 noon to 6 pm through December 24th. It's located next to Macy's on Summer Street in Downtown Crossing. (Map)

Details:

Writers: Penny & Ed Cherubino

Photos: © 2009 Penny Cherubino