Prosit! Dinner in the Beer Garden
New Book of Lore, Recipes and More
“On a warm summer evening, I love to watch light filter through the leaves of the dogwood and viburnum, with a beer in hand, salad on the table, listening to the conversation of friends as I refill their glasses. ‘Why is it,’ I wonder, ‘that food and beer taste so much better together when we’re in the beer garden?’” – Lucy Saunders
There is something special about the combination of summer sunshine, friends, good food and fresh beer. If you’re looking for a potential guide for bringing these four things into your life, beer guru Lucy Saunders has you covered. Her newest cookbook, Dinner in the Beer Garden, is for people who enjoy carrots and kale, but also love beer, cheese and chocolate.
Profiles of beer gardens and tips on pairing beer with fruits and vegetables appear in between recipe chapters, with lots of stories and tips on pairing. Recipes were contributed by chefs such as AJ Hurst from Vintage Brewing Co., chefs from the Kohler Festival of Beer, as well as home cooks like Lucy.
The Milwaukee-based author has written three other beer-centric cookbooks and expanded into vegetarian territory because she “looked around and couldn’t see anything about pairing beer and vegetables.” In all cases, but especially with regard to seasonal produce, you have to taste your ingredients before cooking—that way you can better determine a proper pairing. Lucy’s cookbooks help guide you through that process.
The cookbook is available locally at Brenner Brewing Co., Lakefront Brewery, Sprecher Brewing Co., Milwaukee Art Museum gift shop, Larry’s Brown Deer Market and the Milwaukee Domes gift shop. Or, order it online from the Master Brewers Association of the Americas by visiting the online store at www.mbaa.com.
