Portland Dumpling Week 2016

February 4, 2016 by 6 Comments

Last year, the Oregonian/OregonLive.com hosted Dumpling Week in February. Now, they have brought it back for this year. Portland Dumpling Week 2016 will be from Saturday February 6 – Saturday 13, 2016. Essentially, Dumpling Week consists of highlighting a dozen Portland restaurants and food carts offering dumplings.

For each place you visit and enjoy their dumplings, you receive a sticker to add to a Dumpling Passport – one sticker per restaurant. Based on how many stickers you collect, you are entered for different levels of prizes! 1-3 Stickers offers a chance to win a $50 gift card, 4-8 stickers $100 gift card, and 9-12 a $200 gift card. In addition, you can expect the Oregonian/OregonLive.com to also include dumpling articles, including restaurant crawls and recipes every day during the week. You can see the articles from Dumpling Week 2015 here, including a slideshow of the dumplings of last year.

I participated in Dumpling Week last year (see my 2015 Dumpling Week Recap), though I didn’t win anything… Well, I do consider enjoying so many dumplings a win. Quite a few of the places offer a special edition limited time dumpling just for Dumpling Week!

The list this year (you can also find the Dumpling Week 2016 Participanting Restaurants and Dishes list here with their location) that I have ranked based on likelihood that I will visit:

  • Imperial: Beef and pork khinkali with melted butter, black pepper and dill. I actually visited Imperial TWICE to enjoy this dumpling, and I will probably do that again! I mean, look at what I enjoyed last year and how juicy it is…
    Imperial went back to Chef Paley's roots in offering Khinkali for Dumpling Week. The $8 dish were 2 palm sized Georgian pork and beef dumplings with herb yogurt Imperial went back to Chef Paley's roots in offering Khinkali for Dumpling Week. The $8 dish were 2 palm sized Georgian pork and beef dumplings with herb yogurt Imperial went back to Chef Paley's roots in offering Khinkali for Dumpling Week. The $8 dish were 2 palm sized Georgian pork and beef dumplings with herb yogurt
  • Sizzle Pie: A team-up of Sizzle Pie and Korean BBQ food cart Kim Jong Grillin’  has resulted in the most unique offering of Dumpling Week in my opinion: Korean BBQ-inspired pizza muffins served with three stone oven-baked dumplings. The three options are either Meat, Vegetarian, or Vegan to make sure everyone can enjoy, which is very thoughtful of them. These will be ONLY be available at the West Burnside location at 926 W Burnside.
    • Meat pizza dumplings: Jjajang smoked pork, Sizzle Pie cheese blend, scallions, fermented black bean paste with pickled yellow daikon and a gochujang dipping sauce.
    • Vegan pizza dumplings: Kim Jong Grillin’ housemade vegan kimchi and “Follow Your Heart” vegan mozzarella with Sizzle Pie’s housemade vegan ranch dip.
    • Vegetarian pizza dumplings: shiitake mushroom, Sizzle Pie cheese blend, spicy tofu, scallions with soy plum drizzle and dipping sauce.
  • Kachka: Mushroom and potato vareniki with porcini pumpernickel breadcrumbs, French onion smetana and scallions. I already love’s Kachka’s vareniki normally (see below), and this special edition version will probably be as melt in your mouth as every single time the past 12 times I’ve eaten dumplings at Kachka. Last year, their Lamb Pelmeni with adjika butter, smetana, cilantro and mint for $13 was my second favorite of all the dumplings.
    Dumpling Week - Kachka offered a Lamb Pelmeni with adjika butter, smetana, cilantro and mint
  • Ecliptic Brewing: Duck liver ravioli with lamb bacon, kale and brown butter. A dumpling and beer? Yes please.
  • Grassa: Italian soup dumplings. Last year they also participated and I was very pleased with their generous serving of dumplings so plan to visit them this year as well  (see my recap of last year for more details on their dumpling offering last year)
  • Bollywood Theater: Duck, sweet potato and kale momos with red chili chutney. Available at both locations. This was voted the 2nd most popular dumpling last year – and the most popular one is closed (Son of a Biscuit)
    For dumpling week Bollywood Theater's two locations offered a chicken or vegetarian momos, steamed Nepalese dumplings found in Northern India. These are the vegetarian momos
  • Smallwares: Cabeza potstickers with chipotle gochujang, sour cream, brodo and cilantro. I’ve never had anything from Smallwares that didn’t rock it.
  • Mama Chow’s Kitchen: Pork, wood ear mushroom and water chestnut dumplings served with a ginger hoisin-black vinegar dipping sauce. Please be aware that Mama Chow’s is a food cart, and they make everything to order. So go early in the day because they will run out, and do expect a line. 
    For dumpling week $7 Mama Chow Kitchen offered a pan seared version of their wontons from their standard wonton soup, these are Chicken and Taiwan Cabbage dumplings on a bed of baby green bok choy served with a spicy dipping sauce
  • ¿Por Que No?: Empanada filled with chorizo, potato, roasted poblano and queso oaxaca.
  • Viking Soul Food: Caraway-roasted cabbage and potato dumpling in meat broth with a Jarlsberg and Teutonic Wine fondue.
  • Umai: Meat and veggie gyozas. The meat dumplings will be stuffed with lamb, fennel and shiso. The veggie ones will be made with adzuki beans and chard. Both will be wrapped in Umai’s house made gyoza skins.
  • Salt & Straw: Baked salted caramel apple dumplings with double fold vanilla ice cream.

I’ll be part of the crowd I’m sure Tweeting and Instagramming with the hashtag #dumplingweek. I will be definitely looking at the feed too to see if I can be convinced to have a dumpling based on pictures from other dumpling lovers.

Are you participating in Portland Dumpling Week 2016, which is coming up in only a few days? Which dumplings sound appealing to you?

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Japan Travel – Winter Illuminations

February 2, 2016 by 13 Comments

My trip to Japan occurred during Christmas and New Year’s. For the Japanese, Christmas is not seen as a religious holiday, which makes sense since they don’t share the Christian religion, with Shinto and Buddhism dominating as the national religions instead. But, they have carried over one major thing – the idea of lots of sparkling holiday lights which they call Winter Illuminations.

In the Western world not all those that celebrate Christmas are religious either of course. Nowadays Christmas often leans more towards being a cultural holiday involving family gathering together. It’s also a consumerist holiday involving a lot of shopping and holiday sales in the name of gift giving and holiday parties.

But the Japanese don’t really celebrate Christmas in either of those ways either, with the only 2 exceptions being the pushing of Kentucky Fried Chicken as a Christmas meal, and the promotion of Christmas Cake. You can reserve your KFC meal ahead of time, and there are lines! I was somehow charmed by Colonel Sanders Santa every time I saw him though.
Kentucky Fried Chicken heavily markets its fried chicken as a Christmas meal - so much that you can pre-order family meals, and there are lines for Christmas! Colonel Sanders Santa! Kentucky Fried Chicken heavily markets its fried chicken as a Christmas meal - so much that you can pre-order family meals, and there are lines for Christmas!

For the Japanese, instead it’s New Year’s that is the time for gathering with families – many people close down their shops or leave work for extended holidays to return to their hometowns. Similarly, it’s the rationale of New Year’s for their end of year holiday parties, and big New Year’s sale with heavily discounted grab bags.

As for presents, I won’t try to touch the explanation for gift giving in Japanese culture that has a whole etiquette involved in terms of presentation, social obligation, reciprocation, and the many many reasons and occasions that call for gift giving, including coming back from a trip or as thanks (or even as a thank you for a thank you…). For Christmas, only children who believe in Santa might receive gifts – Santa doesn’t give gifts to non-believers, which apparently includes all adults.
Christmas Cake and more in Japan Christmas Cake and more in Japan
At least everyone gets to eat Christmas Cake, adults and kids

Instead, Christmas Eve and Day are regular work days. Some who might celebrate Christmas view it more as a romantic holiday where a couple goes out to celebrate on Christmas Eve. This explains why when I saw Christmas decorations, hearts sometimes showed up as a motif, and there were mostly couples not families who were out for Christmas.
Heart on Tokyo Tower as part of its Winter Fantasy ~ Orange Illumination from November 23 2015 to February 29 2016
Heart on Tokyo Tower as part of its Winter Fantasy ~ Orange Illumination from November 23 2015 to February 29 2016

The holiday lights are the most noticeable way that the Japanese celebrate Christmas. Most of the holiday lights I saw were in large public areas, often by a lot of stores, often in a park area and/or down entire streets. Though I don’t know if I can really call them Christmas lights, since some of those major light installations go up in early November. Although some of the lights might go down on December 25, others light installations might stay until even mid or end of February!

Christmas Trees are conceptual rather than any real evergreens or full of lots of ornaments.
Winter Illumination of a tree and penguin friends by Shinjuku Terrace City, a version of Christmas lights Winter Illumination of a tree with light projections by Shinjuku Terrace City, a version of Christmas lights

Overall, there are several places that offer holiday lights where I often saw a lot of couples walking and enjoying it hand in hand (and of course snapping photos). During my trip, we made it to 3 Winter Illumination displays.

Shinjuku Terrace City Illumination

Shinjuku Terrace City is sort of an outdoor shopping space that has a small park between the stores. Within this park, they light up 300 globes and 235,000 LED bulbs on the trees.
Christmas lights - though really Winter Illuminations since it goes from November through February - by Shinjuku Terrace City Christmas lights - though really Winter Illuminations since it goes from November through February - by Shinjuku Terrace City

These lights are up from mid November to mid February. So even if you are visiting not in the Christmas holiday time, you might be able to catch them!
Christmas lights - though really Winter Illuminations since it goes from November through February - by Shinjuku Terrace City Christmas lights - though really Winter Illuminations since it goes from November through February - by Shinjuku Terrace City

It also included a “Christmas Tree” which is really more like a sculpture in the shape of a tree. The Penguin tree you saw earlier in this post was from this area. Also, there was another tree at the end of the park. Interestingly enough, it was all white and more of a tree shaped sculpture. It was illuminated with a projector that offered different patterns based on people putting hands on pedestal placed a bit in front of it. Each pattern was animated and used different colors, lasting for 30 seconds or so.
One of the displays at Shinjuku Terrace City Winter Illumination included a white Christmas tree like sculpture. Placing your hands on a globe, you can invoke different projections onto the sculpture with colors and animations One of the displays at Shinjuku Terrace City Winter Illumination included a white Christmas tree like sculpture. Placing your hands on a globe, you can invoke different projections onto the sculpture with colors and animations

You can see there were apparently six different possible patterns on the sign to the left. To the right you can see a globe like pedestal with outlines of two hands that people would place their hands on to start a new projection/illumination on the tree.
One of the displays at Shinjuku Terrace City Winter Illumination included a white Christmas tree like sculpture. Placing your hands on a globe, you can invoke different projections onto the sculpture with colors and animations One of the displays at Shinjuku Terrace City Winter Illumination included a white Christmas tree like sculpture. Placing your hands on a globe, you can invoke different projections onto the sculpture with colors and animations One of the displays at Shinjuku Terrace City Winter Illumination included a white Christmas tree like sculpture. Placing your hands on a globe, you can invoke different projections onto the sculpture with colors and animations One of the displays at Shinjuku Terrace City Winter Illumination included a white Christmas tree like sculpture. Placing your hands on a globe, you can invoke different projections onto the sculpture with colors and animations

Roppongi Hills

Roppongi Hills area has a “Christmas Tree” along with lights within a shopping center, and also all down the street of Keyakizaka. There are about 1,200,000 LEDs that switch from a “Snow and Blue” theme to “Candle and Red”. These lights were up from the beginning of November until Christmas Day, so given when you see Christmas stuff show up in stores here in the US, I could justify calling these holiday lights.

I liked the extra sparkle of the tree.
Roppongi Hills Christmas Tree changes lighting color from the Snow and White theme to Candle and Red theme Roppongi Hills Christmas Tree changes lighting color from the Snow and White theme to Candle and Red theme Roppongi Hills Christmas Tree changes lighting color from the Snow and White theme to Candle and Red theme The winter illuminations at Roppongi Hills - this holiday tree changes color. This is a fashionable area (a bit like Michigan Avenue) and we noticed a lot more women making up the population then usual

In the park area, the darker shady areas with the trees around the pond and which was quieter than the shopping area with the stores made for a romantic walk as couples held hands.
They don't celebrate Christmas in Japan like the west does- it's more a romantic holiday, this park in Roppongi Hills is supposed to be very romantic to walk in with these holiday lights They don't celebrate Christmas in Japan like the west does- it's more a romantic holiday, this park in Roppongi Hills is supposed to be very romantic to walk in with these holiday lights They don't celebrate Christmas in Japan like the west does - it's more a romantic holiday, this park in Roppongi Hills is supposed to be very romantic to walk in with these holiday lights

Roppongi Hills along Keyakizaka street is a fashionable area (reminds me a bit like Michigan Avenue) and we noticed a lot more women making up the population then usual who were dressed really well. The blue and white lights along the classy street were on every single tree. We were on our way to Midtown so didn’t linger long enough to see the change to the Candle and Red theme.
Every single tree on the street is lit up in blue and white lights here in Roppongi Hills along Keyakizaka street. There are about 1,200,000 LEDs turning from a Snow and Blue theme to Candle and Red theme Every single tree on the street is lit up in blue and white lights here in Roppongi Hills along Keyakizaka street. There are about 1,200,000 LEDs turning from a Snow and Blue theme to Candle and Red theme Every single tree on the street is lit up in blue and white lights here in Roppongi Hills along Keyakizaka street. There are about 1,200,000 LEDs turning from a Snow and Blue theme to Candle and Red theme Every single tree on the street is lit up in blue and white lights here in Roppongi Hills. along Keyakizaka street. There are about 1,200,000 LEDs turning from a Snow and Blue theme to Candle and Red. And you can see the hearts here reflecting how Christmas is more a romantic holiday than the US

Midtown Christmas

Similarly, the Midtown Christmas, by the Galleria shopping center, has its display from mid November to December 25 also count as holiday lights to me. You can easily walk between Roppongi Hills to Midtown in order to see both these Winter Illuminations. The ones at Midtown include 180,003 lights and a “starry sky illumination” theme that include lights that appear to be shooting stars or falling stars, all set to music in a park in the back that they call a “Starlight Garden”.

It’s very organized even though it’s extremely popular – there is only one way to enter the park and then you walk counter clockwise, with cones and security there to maintain order. Here’s a look at the Starlight Garden from a balcony to get an idea of the size!
A look back as we walk towards the street of the size of the Midtown Christmas Lights 2015 to get a look of the size of the Starlight Garden A look back as we walk towards the street of the size of the Midtown Christmas Lights 2015 to get a look of the size of the Starlight Garden

The lights – the way they slowly turn on just the blue at the time, and then adding more, the way they move with the music slowly downward while twinkling, upward like shooting into the sky, or fast horizontally on a circular track like a shooting star… it was breathtaking.
The beautiful Midtown Christmas Lights 2015 with 180,003 lights and a starry sky illumination technology light show set to music for its Starlight Garden alt=
The beautiful Midtown Christmas Lights 2015 with 180,003 lights and a starry sky illumination technology light show set to music – in the background from this view you can see Tokyo Tower and its updated lighting that changes over time during the evening

These photos just don’t do it justice. So here’s a video we took, though that still doesn’t do justice to how it looked in person.

This is where I found a listing of the Winter Illuminations:

What do you think of how the Japanese celebrate Christmas? Is there anything you’d miss, or something you like about their view on Christmas? Have you been in a foreign country during Christmas before and how did they celebrate it that was different?

If you’re one of my Portland readers, and do you know there is a FREE Winter Light Festival for us too? Check out the family friendly Portland Winter Light Festival coming February 3-6, 2016 along the East Bank Esplanade and by OMSI.

Here’s a summary of my Japan Travel post series:

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Departure’s December Peking Duck Dinner

November 30, 2015 by 8 Comments

Tomorrow starts December. While signifying the holiday month, it also signals that it’s Departure’s December Peking Duck Dinner month! This is a special dinner menu only available every December! This has been a tradition for several years – I think starting from 4 years ago?
Departure drink menu Departure's December Peking Duck

So from Dec 1 – Dec 30, Chef Gregory Gourdet at Departure will do his 24 hour preparation of a peking duck that involves curing the duck in 7 spice (cinnamon, star anise, allspice, coriander, clove, nutmeg, fennel and chili),  salt and sugar overnight. Then, after the initial bath, the duck gets a second quick flavor bath when it is dipped in a blanching liquid of Shoaxing rice wine, honey, salt and 7 spice.

Chef Gregory then hangs the whole ducks for 24 hours. This will dry the skin so that it both will help concentrate the flavor and is a step towards what will be crispy skin when it arrives on your table after being next roasted for an hour and then flash fried!

The duck is presented whole at the table, and then carved in the kitchen for you so you don’t have to worry about how to cut and extract all that moist meat.
Departure Peking Duck - the whole duck is presented at the table for you before it's taken back to the kitchen to be carved for you

The carved duck is served with pickled kumquats and a side of duck fat mandarin pancakes in a steamer to keep it warm. The accompaniments include little dishes of cucumbers, sliced scallions, house made plum and hoisin sauces to make your own mini wraps with all these ingredients.
Departure Peking Duck - carved by the kitchen and served with pickled kumquats and for the DIY pancakes with duck fat mandarin pancakes in a steamer to keep it warm. The accompanmients include little dishes of cucumbers, sliced scallions, house made plum and hoisin sauces to make your own mini wraps with all these ingredients

My only complaint was with the pancakes being too thick and I wanted more crispy skin. I shared this as a meal for two, but for a meal for four I would suggest ordering some additional appetizers before the duck main course appears unlike us who just had cocktails and wine.

Departure Peking Duck - carved by the kitchen and served with pickled kumquats and for the DIY pancakes with duck fat mandarin pancakes Departure Peking Duck - carved by the kitchen and served with pickled kumquats and for the DIY pancakes with duck fat mandarin pancakes in a steamer to keep it warm. The accompanmients include little dishes of cucumbers, sliced scallions, house made plum and hoisin sauces to make your own mini wraps with all these ingredients

After the carving, while the main meat is being swaddled into your do it yourself mini pancakes for your main course, the kitchen takes any of the leftover duck – every single little shred from of the duck from innards to drippings is used – to make a duck fat fried rice to be served.
Departure Peking Duck - all the leftover duck after carving for the mini pancakes are prepared into a duck fat fried rice

There is only a limited amount of Peking Ducks cured each night. So you need to make a reservation at least 24 hours in advance that includes mentioning you want to reserve one of these ducks. The 2 duck courses, which serve 2-4 people, are a total of $92 for everything mentioned.

You can read the story about how Chef Gregory listed Peking Duck as one of the 10 dishes that has made his career for an article from First We Feast Gregory Gourdet The 10 Dishes That Made My Career (as of Feb 2014, so admittedly before his Top Chef season).

Make sure you order dessert to finish off after all that duck for the best delicious ending. These desserts shown below are from last year so probably are not on this year’s menu, but they give you a hint at how fabulous the desserts at Departure are and they are an underrated secret here in Portland.

Since Departure is open until midnight Sunday – Thursday and until 1 am on Friday and Saturday, getting a cocktail and dessert here is an incredible way to end a date or night out.
Dessert at Departure, December 2014 Dessert at Departure, December 2014

So who wants to have duck for the holiday, especially Departure’s December Peking Duck? Have you had Peking Duck, and what do you think of it?

PS The crazy lil sticker I have of Chef Gregory is from a mobile app game Kitchen Rush you can get from the iTunes store where you can play Chef Gregory and chop through stuff, ha ha.

Departure Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

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Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Recap

November 25, 2015 by 6 Comments

Last week, I had a fancy and fun time at the 14th Annual Beaujolais Nouveau festival held by the French-American Chamber of Commerce and the Alliance Française of Portland with their partners, the Heathman Hotel and the Heathman Restaurant & Bar. As I mentioned in my pre-event post, every third Friday of November, a red wine called Beaujolais Nouveau that is bottled only after a few weeks after harvest for immediate drinking is opened after a race to deliver it around the world and celebrated at parties and other festivities annually.
This year their will be the 14th year of the West Coast's largest Beaujolais Nouveau festival at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015

Naturally at the Beaujolais Nouveau event on November 20 at the Heathman, there was plenty of 2015 Beaujolais Nouveau fresh from France by Georges Duboeuf available – the wine company most commonly associated with Beaujolais Nouveau so much that they are called le roi du Beaujolais, aka the king of Beaujolais. Also available though were other Beaujolais Nouveau, as well as wine from local Oregon and Washington producers.
2015 Beaujolais Nouveau fresh from France by Georges Duboeuf Ruby Vineyard at Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015

Here’s my pictorial Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 recap of the night.
Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Bountiful Buffet Plate

The bountiful French themed buffet impressed, with the Heathman manning carving stations for Roast Leg of Beef and Slow Roasted Carlton Farms Pig;
Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 carving stations for Roast Leg of Beef and Slow Roasted Carlton Farms Pig

Looking spectacular was a Northwest Seafood station bursting with poached prawns, steamed clams and mussels and smoked salmon and poached salmon, as well as oysters shucked expertly before you
Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Northwest Seafood station bursting with poached prawns, steamed clams and mussels and smoked salmon and poached salmon, as well as oysters shucked expertly before you Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Northwest Seafood station bursting with poached prawns, steamed clams and mussels and smoked salmon and poached salmon, as well as oysters shucked expertly before you Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Northwest Seafood station bursting with poached prawns, steamed clams and mussels and smoked salmon and poached salmon, as well as oysters shucked expertly before you Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Northwest Seafood station bursting with poached prawns, steamed clams and mussels and smoked salmon and poached salmon, as well as oysters shucked expertly before you Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Northwest Seafood station bursting with poached prawns, steamed clams and mussels and smoked salmon and poached salmon, as well as oysters shucked expertly before you

A long L shaped multi-table Charcuterie & Cheese Spread
Just part of the Charcuterie and Cheese spread at the Heathman for the 2015 Beaujolais Nouveau Just part of the Charcuterie and Cheese spread at the Heathman for the 2015 Beaujolais Nouveau

A Foie Gras & Sweet Breads station where the Foie Gras was sliced and topped with honey for you and Sweetbread was accompanied by a rich and creamy cauliflower sauce
Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Foie Gras & Sweet Breads station Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Foie Gras and Sweet Breads Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Foie Gras and Sweet Breads

Passed Hors D’Oeuvres included Duck Breast and Mango Brochette with Coca Nibs, Smoked White Fish Mousse with Caviar, Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Strudel, Savory Leek Tarts, and more
Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Passed Hors D’Oeuvres included Duck Breast and Mango Brochette with Coca Nibs, Smoked White Fish Mousse with?Caviar, Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Strudel, Savory Leek Tartes, and more Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Passed Hors D’Oeuvres included Wild Mushroom and Goat Cheese Strudel and more Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Passed Hors D’Oeuvres included Smoked White Fish Mousse with Caviar and more

A huge dessert room – with at least 3 tables worth of sweets- that included a station of fire and butter and firing Grand Marnier in making freshly made Crepes Suzette that made the whole room smell intoxicating – as well as a Croquembouche (tower of petits choux, or choux pastry balls, with caramelized sugar) surrounded by the daintiest macaroons and tarts and eclairs and more.
Crepes Suzette station at Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Desserts galore at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015, including a Croquembouche (tower of petits choux, or choux pastry balls, with caramelized sugar) surrounded by the daintiest macaroons and tarts and eclairs and more Desserts galore at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015, including a Croquembouche (tower of petits choux, or choux pastry balls, with caramelized sugar) surrounded by the daintiest macaroons and tarts and eclairs and more Desserts galore at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015, including a Croquembouche (tower of petits choux, or choux pastry balls, with caramelized sugar) surrounded by the daintiest macaroons and tarts and eclairs and more Desserts galore at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015, including a Croquembouche (tower of petits choux, or choux pastry balls, with caramelized sugar) surrounded by the daintiest macaroons and tarts and eclairs and more Desserts galore at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015, including a Croquembouche (tower of petits choux, or choux pastry balls, with caramelized sugar) surrounded by the daintiest macaroons and tarts and eclairs and more Desserts galore at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015, including a Croquembouche (tower of petits choux, or choux pastry balls, with caramelized sugar) surrounded by the daintiest macaroons and tarts and eclairs and more Desserts galore at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Desserts galore at the Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015

There was even more spectacular food I missed as I was with such great company that I couldn’t stop listening and chatting so I missed other great glimpses I saw only later on Instagram. Throughout the night the performances by the live musicians kept the vibrant atmosphere even more classy and just that je ne sais quoi to the ambiance, and a silent auction let you try your luck at winning.

It was an incredible event with hundreds toasting to France that night and really embodying the spirit and national motto: Liberté, égalité, fraternité (liberty, equality, fraternity).
Heathman Beaujolais Nouveau 2015 Bountiful Buffet Plate

Although the event is over, you will still be able to find Beaujolais Nouveau at your stories, and the fact that it is a red that is bottled so young means it doesn’t absorb the usual red tannins, making it a great compromise between a white and a red. And, keep your eye out for this annual event next November. As you can see, the food and drinks were splendid. It also was great to have a fancy dress up event for a change, where you can pull out your little black dress to all out sequins and gowns that I saw among the guests.

Vive la France!

Disclosure: I was graciously provided a media pass for this event, but I will always provide my honest opinion and assessment of all products and experiences I may be given. The views and opinions expressed in this blog are entirely my own.

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Denver Beer Vacation: Celebrate GABF outside of GABF

November 17, 2015 by Leave a Comment

Even though you may not have tickets to a session of GABF, during GABF week in Denver there is so much going on with special tappings all over town that you can have an amazing time trying new beers from all over the US without even stepping into the convention center. Here’s a look at some of the hubs for outside GABF activities to check out.

You can also consider this a list of places to sample a huge variety of beers from different breweries with their many taps in the downtown Denver area, whether GABF is happening or not. Perhaps you are on a Denver beer vacation and want to only stop at one or a few places where you can get a big buffet of beer options all in one sitting? Then this is your list.
Snifter of Avery beer

Tap Takeovers at World of Beer

World of Beer is a franchise with three locations in Colorado and one in Renton, Washington. Even without the special tap takeover when we visited, World of Beer offers 500+ beers. You read that right, more than 500 beers!
The tap handles during the Avery Tap Takeover at World of Beer, Lodo The tap handles during the Avery Tap Takeover at World of Beer, Lodo

And, they open from lunch until evening, so you don’t have to necessarily wait until after work when most bars open – great if you’re say, on vacation like I was. The beer menu is well organized into styles with helpful descriptions to help you make sense of their selection.
Avery Tap Takeover during GABF at World Beer, Lodo location on 1555 Blake Street Avery Tap Takeover during GABF at World Beer, Lodo location on 1555 Blake Street

The 500 beers includes bottles and drafts, and I focused mostly on the drafts.
Chalkboard menu during the Avery Tap Takeover at World of Beer, Lodo

In particular, during my visit there was an Avery Brewing tap takeover with almost all of its year-round and seasonal beer. I loved the Avery Tectum Et Elix Barrel Aged #26, a funky American Wild with earthy flavors soured with Pediococcus and aged in cabernet barrels for 9 months, and the Avery Uncle Jacob’s Stout, an Imperial Stout at 17.4% but so smooth.
Avery Tectum Et Elix Barrel Aged #26, a funky American Wild with earthy flavors soured with Pediococcus and aged in cabernet barrels for 9 months Avery Uncle Jacob's Stout, an Imperial Stout at 17.4%

Also available at World of Lodo on our visit was Utah’s Wasatch Brewing with brewers and swag for their annual Polygamy Party and some beers from Coronado Brewing and Cigar City.
Wasatch Brewery from Utah was also present with swag and brewers to promote their beer Wasatch Brewery from Utah was also present with swag and brewers to promote their beer

World of Beer also offers tavern food, with a dozen some appetizers, flatbreads, salads, burgers and sandwiches. One of the recommended starters is their German Pretzel, they have a cool way of presenting their giant Bavarian pretzel served with housemade mustard and for a little extra, housemade beer cheese sauce. That’s a regular snifter glass for size comparison there in the photo. I didn’t have room for dessert, but was tempted by their beer infused Belgian Waffle S’mores with toasted marshmallow, graham cracker crumbles and Kahlúa fudge sauce.
The impressively sized pretzel with cheese and mustard is served on hanging to better show fof it's size at World of Beer, Lodo

World of Beer offers happy hour as well as “Beerunch” – that’s right, a beer brunch that includes breakfast and unlimited bloody mary, mimosa, and beermosa bottomless booze brunch special (with food item), and a build your own bloody station. On their menu besides beer, they also had some interesting shots: Cinnamon Toast Crunch with Fireball and Rumchata, Irish Breakfast with Jameson, Butterscotch Schnapps and OJ, Baby Guinness with Patron XO and Bailey’s Irish Cream, and Duck Fart with Crown Royal, Bailey’s Irish Cream and Kahlua… and more
Some of the Shots available - Cinnamon Toast Crunch with Fireball and Rumchata, Irish Breakfast with Jameson, Butterscotch Schnapps and OJ, Baby Guinness with Patron XO and Bailey's Irish Cream, and Duck Fart with Crown Royal, Bailey's Irish Cream and Kahlua... and more

So if you are looking for a great variety of craft beer with food, and maybe also a bunch of TVs available to watch a game, World of Beer is a viable option that can satisfy many tastes of beer and food with a big selection.
Various collected tap handles Poetry: Roses are red, Beer is good, Poems are hard BEER
World of Beer Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Tap Takeovers at Freshcraft

Freshcraft, only half a block away in Lodo, offers only 28 taps but the food menu here is more refined, focused specifically on pairing well with beer. Serving lunch and dinner, dishes here sound tasty like a Deviled Pork Belly Wrap with spicy pork belly confit with apples, cabbage, carrots, scallions, jack cheese, and a red wine mustard BBQ sauce; or consider a Cheese Crusted Iowa Style Fried Pork Tenderloin sandwich at lunch. There is even support for a good option for a vegetarian diet, such as their cocoa marinated crimini mushrooms tacos, or quinoa nicoise with Parmesan-crusted quinoa cakes served with fresh greens, cured egg, marinated olives, green beans, tomatoes, and herbed potatoes. (.
Freshcraft, featuring 28 some taps Freshcraft, featuring 28 some taps

When we visited, their tap takeover I specifically came for was Upslope Brewing Company, where I was able to try special tappings of their beers such as

  • Irish Red Ale- GABF Pro-Am competition Entry
  • Imperial Saison with Merlot Grapes, the Upslope 6th Anniversary Ale
  • Yirgacheffe Coffee Dubel, an Upslope and Dragonfly Roasters collaboration
  • Lychee IPA with Azacca Hops, an Upslope and Half Acre Beer Company collaboration

Freshcraft, featuring 28 some taps and tap takeovers each night. On Wednesday September 23 the featured brewery was UpSlope Freshcraft, featuring 28 some taps and tap takeovers each night. On Saturday September 23 the featured brewery was Odell Brewing and Firestone Walker
Freshcraft Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

Falling Rock Tap House

The biggest beer party of GABF, besides GABF itself, it always Falling Rock Tap House. With 92 taps & over 300 bottled selections plus an extensive Vintage Beer Cellar, Falling Rock has basically been serving as the UnOfficial Headquarters for GABF and are open the latest (2AM!) of the options I’ve listed here. The taps are about 40% Colorado Beers, but also include a great selection of beers from the rest of the US as well as from the World.
Falling Rock Tap House - additional taps are added outside in their parking lot for special tappings multiple times daily during GABF week Falling Rock Tap House - besides the taps inside, additional taps are added outside in their parking lot for special tappings multiple times daily during GABF week

During GABF they expand to their parking lot to have beer trailers in order to offer even more beers, and at in the afternoons through late evenings go through 5 or 10 changing of the kegs to feature other breweries on their taps inside or outside. For instance, on the day we visited they had cycled through Oskar Blues beers at 4 PM; Ballast Point at 9 PM; Shelton Brothers-distributed brews at 9:30 PM; the Verboten/Hoppin’ Frog collab beers at 10 PM; Wicked Week, Cascade, Fremont, Two Roads and Crooked Stave at 10:30 PM; and Trinity beers at 11 p.m.

The parking lot during GABF was cash only, but could truly rightfully claim that “Our Trailer Park has better Beer than your Trailer Park! :-)” with options such as Jolly Pumpkin La Parcela, Mikkeller Double Blueberry, Trois Dames Framboos Saison, Lord Hobo Boom Sauce, and more on the first night we visited.
Falling Rock Tap House - additional taps are added outside in their parking lot for special tappings multiple times daily during GABF week Falling Rock Tap House - additional taps are added outside in their parking lot for special tappings multiple times daily during GABF week

The feel of Falling Rock is a bit like a frat house in that you can probably expect lots of guys drinking lots of beer, but without the immaturity. But, yes, it’s dark woods and the floors are a little sticky. There’s food offered though it’s nothing beyond the normal – you are really here for the beer and in many cases to meet all the fellow beer lovers and brewers who all will be hanging here.
Many, many bottles and tap handles displayed along all the walls of Falling Rock Taphouse Many, many bottles and tap handles displayed along all the walls of Falling Rock Taphouse

They do at least clearly label the bathroom to help everyone out.
Signage to assist you in finding the restroom at Falling Rock Taphouse Signage to assist you in finding the restroom at Falling Rock Taphouse
Falling Rock Tap House Menu, Reviews, Photos, Location and Info - Zomato

All three of these locations are very walkable – only all within 1/2 a mile of each other, and within a mile of the Colorado Convention Center where GABF is held. For my thoughts on my GABF 2015 experience, see my previous post here. I also covered enjoying beer within Denver and visiting breweries outside Denver by Longmont and Boulder.

Other ways to keep on top of the many many beer events in Denver is to check out a month or so before GABF the First Drafts beer blog at the Denver Post or calendar/listing at Westword, a Denver event listing publication.

Overall, it was a fun trip to have the biggest beercation ever for GABF week, and supporting and celebrating Craft Beer. Even with all the various stops I had there were always unique new beer flavors to enjoy among so many styles. Of all the places I’ve visited so far, Denver is the closest to Portland in it’s broad and deep beer scene offerings and having destinations within reasonable distances to each other to go on a beer sampling trip, beating Austin in beer quality and San Diego in how easy it is to visit.

I’ll still pick Portland as the winningest beercation city in the US though. 🙂

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Visiting Denver for Beer Vacation / Beercation and GABF in September 2015

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