Notebook: Washington DC

Last night was the first of a monthly series of beer tastings at Saint-Ex that have restarted since tapering off last December. The theme for the night was a quirky combo of Denver, 'shrooms, and Hunter S. Thompson, and, of course, suds -- on this occasion provided by Colorado-based Flying Dog Brewery, whose samples ranged from the fruity Heller Hound Maiboch to the thick, sweet Road Dog Porter. While 'Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas' played on the screens and the Flying Dog guys schooled us on the beer, we ate our way through four courses starting with a portobello, arugula salad and a sage-smoked shiitake potato hash, then meandering through a main course of tender pork shank with oyster mushrooms and, finally, a light, airy apple turnover.

Each dish was paired precisely with the seven beers by Saint-Ex's new executive chef, Barton Seaver, formerly of Jaleo. The CIA graduate is planning to overhaul the whole menu, lowering the prices (yay!) and infusing it with his sense of the traditional paired with the unexpected.

FYI: Two doors down, Saint-Ex's sister spot, Bar Pilar, will be opening in the next month or two. Look for its Hemingway-in-Spain motif and menu of comfort food.

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• #2 Comment from baboonwarrior 
  4/12/05 1:40 PM | Permalink

  it was a rad evening. can't wait for the next one!
• #1 Comment from nycnotebook 
  4/12/05 10:25 AM | Permalink

  "The theme for the night was a quirky combo of Denver, 'shrooms, and Hunter S. Thompson, and, of course, suds..."
  
  Wow -- this sounds like my college self's conception of valhalla.  Makes me sorry to live in New York...