A hearty brew
Guests were treated to a perfectly crafted menu matched to exceptional Tuatara Brewing Co. beers at a recent Dine with Dish event at The Grounds restaurant.
Being greeted with a champagne flute of effervescent Tuatara Weiz Guy Hefeweizen kicked off a fun evening of delicious food and hearty brews at Dine With Dish at The Grounds.
From the start, diners were wowed by the mouth-watering choice of canapés – a selection of Crayfish and Scampi Sausage Rolls, leaving them in little doubt of the culinary treats that were in store from talented head chef, Ben Bayly.
Once seated, the first course arrived on cue – Grilled Squid with freshly, and thanks to Ben, flamboyantly hand-carved Jamon Iberico, romesco, rocket and sourdough bread served with a perfectly matched glass of Tuatara Helluva Lager, a smooth, balanced beer with hints of lemon and bready malt.
A perfect partnership of two original brews – Tuatara Mot Eureka Pilsner and Sauvinoa Single Hop Pale Ale – were a seamless match to the robust flavours of the second course, Te Mana Lamb, Roasted Loin and Crispy Belly.
The third course of Long-cooked Wagyu Short Rib, served on the bone with winter spices, Jerusalem Artichokes and Heirloom Beets was a tastebud sensation and matched beautifully with the tropical fruits and orange marmalade flavours of Tuatara’s Kapai Aotearoa Pale Ale.
Next up, cheesemonger and twitter sensation, Calum Hodgson, aka @Curdnerd, introduced the fourth course, a selection of farmhouse New Zealand cheeses, all crowd-pleasers, especially the small but perfectly-formed, Cheese with No Name, made even more tantalising by the plum and raison, chocolatey malt of Tuatara’s Dubbel Barrel and the spicy clove and orange sweetness of the Tripel Barrel Belgian Ale.
Dessert came too soon, but finished off the evening as decadent as it began, with a sinfully rich Valrhona chocolate fondant with caramelised pears topped with a smattering of hazelnuts. The Tuatara Amarillo American Dark Ale, with its ruby-coloured hue and serious tangerine swagger was well worth raising a glass to – the perfect end to a flawless and highly-satisfying evening.