These hand made Lobster Ravioli are a great way to celebrate National Lobster Day this week (September 25). Paired with Rodenbach Grand Cru.

Since it’s Double Cheeseburger Day today (September 15^th) and Cheeseburger Day this Friday (September18th) it’s time to double down on some homemade beef-and-veggie-blend burger patties loaded with all of the fresh fixings straight from the garden! The single patty burger had gruyere cheese, homegrown tomatoes, garden fresh lettuce, onions, homemade quick pickles (made from homegrown cucumbers) topped with a fried egg, mushrooms, and covered in a Steak au Poivre inspired sauce. The double burger had all the fresh garden toppings and some thick sliced, medium-strength, melted cheddar for a hearty traditional burger experience. Such loaded burgers need a loaded pairing, and Tree House Brewing’s unfiltered, kettle and dry-hopped, double IPA Haze (Alt. Link) delivered; bringing some slightly sweet peachy-tropical juice flavors to the party to round things out.

This chilled lemon pudding cake with lemon butter was just the thing to cool down with when paired with this vintage lemongrass beer.

Since National Cheese Pizza Day is just around the corner (September 5th), it seemed as good an excuse as any to chop some wood and fire up the brick pizza oven to test out some new cheesy pizza recipes! One winner was the shrimp and sausage pizza paired with a refreshing gose; the perfect pairing to savor while enjoying these last few weeks of summer!

Using some of the colorful peppers from the garden to make some buhn mi (banh mi) sandwiches served with Vietnamese Soup made with homemade shrimp stock, homemade coconut noodles, ginger, homegrown lemongrass, lime juice, coconut milk, fish sauce, and galangal.

Coconut Noodles: vital wheat gluten, salt, coconut flour, oil, water, egg, 00 flour.

When you get deep-down into those sizzling hot days of summer it can be tough to find relief. But this mango themed beer pairing brought all cooling power of a crisp, refreshing, tropical downpour. Each bite through the refrigerated mango chili sauce coated outer layer complemented the crispy tempura-fried jumbo shrimp interior that was only improved by a passion fruit and mango filled sip of chilled Mikkeller’s Tropical IPA Tiger Baby (Open Windows Open Hills).

Made with: fresh mangoes, dried chili-powder, fresh homegrown peppers, jumbo shrimp, sushi rice, sesame seeds, fresh whole coconut, tempura,

It may not officially be summer yet, but it’s past Memorial Day and its hot enough to make a hen lay a hard boiled egg; so a tall glass of Radler and a refreshing lemon-fennel flavored summer beer pairing is just the thing to cool you off. This soup is made with tender fresh homegrown asparagus, lemon juice, and fennel seeds, for a refreshing tart pick-me-up; while the slaw contains sliced chilled fennel bulb for a mildly lemon-ish liquorish-like flavor, sugar snap peas for their cool vegetable sweetness, and the whole thing is drizzled in dressing made with freshly squeezed lemon juice. Complementarily paired with (Heineken’s) Amstel Light’s “Amstel Radler” a revitalizing lager-lemon juice blend perfect for summer sipping (if don’t believe me, Bon Appetit’s June issue has some Radler suggestions on page 30).

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It’s National Hamburger Day, and around here that means it’s time for a beer pairing. These juicy, melt in your mouth sliders were made with 100% bison meat for a lean, yet flavorful burger; served riding astride tender, fresh out of the oven, home baked sesame and flax seed buns with a hefty side of homemade potato chips, it’ll make you wish every day was Burger Day. Paired with Against the Grain Brewery’s “Brett the Hipman Hop”, a well balanced wild IPA with a floral, sweet, citrus-like hop profile married with all the funk that three different strains of brettanomyces could kick up.

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Strawberry Panna Cotta, Streusel-topped Rhubarb Cake, and Strawberry Jam for Memorial Day:

The 4^th of Julys and Memorial Days of my youth were always filled with striped patriotic Jell-O’s and toothpick flag flying cupcakes; so in homage to those childhood treats, this scrumptious summer-time adult version of those desserts plays on the time honored relationship between fresh summer strawberries and rhubarb. The sweetness of the sun kissed strawberries contrasts with the tart stalks of the rhubarb plant making for a complex and delicious summer flavor. Served with New Glarus Brewing’s Strawberry Rhubarb to keep the dance between the flavors going strong.

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