I Heart The Publican

Last night was the New Holland Brewer's Dinner at The Publican. I mean, really. Is it strange to be in love with a restaurant? I mean, of course my family and my beloved cats take precedence over my relatively new love affair, but if you have the opportunity to visit The Publican, you'll get what I mean. The dinner was just lovely. Four courses perfectly paired with New Holland beers. There was even one beer that was handcrafted a couple of months ago at the New Holland brewery that was a collaboration between the fine brewers at NH (John and Jeff and company) and Chef Paul Kahan and Director of Beer, Michael McAvena. Courses ranged from heirloom tomatoes with charred burrata (which is a delicious cheese, who knew!) This was paired with Golden Cap Saison style ale, about which I have waxed poetic many times in this blogosphere. Second course was sand dabs with sweetbreads, artichokes, and corn. We were a little iffy about the sweetbreads, as my family and myself are basically Indiana folk who tend to shy away from intestines and such, but they were absolutely delicious. We all had sweetbread seconds. This was paired with the biere de garde collaboration brew -- so good. I might have to go have another one tomorrow evening! Next, prosciutto, the best I have ever tasted, paired with Charkoota Rye, the NH brew made partially with smoked malt and rye. I am developing a taste for smoked malt beers, I must confess. And for my money, there's nothing better with ham, bacon, or other piggy deliciousness. Next beer was Blue Sunday. All I will say about this beer is I want a bottle for my birthday. It is a fantastic oak-aged sour ale. We lapped this up with the main course, confit suckling pig. We finished up with Pilgrim's Dole wheatwine and ricotta ice cream served with almond financier, which is not a banking professional but is in fact sort of a dense pound cake type of thing.

OHHH it was so good! We had such a good time! Such good food and beer! And my new dear love not only has amazing food and beer, which certainly is enough, but there is lovely hand soap at the big handwashing station located OUTSIDE the water closets! Unbelievable, but true. I am so happy to have The Publican as an account. I can't move in, but you can bet I will be there as OFTEN as I can.