How can one not love a loungey neighborhood nook where the hostess podium provides books of matches that advertise the place is air conditioned? In an antifumerian world with wireless climate control and posh push button window shades it was like walking into a retro movie scene. The kind of scenes we love.
William (TBF)and fellow food blogger Lingbo Li.
Throw into the mix a group of food writers who were both knowledgeable and quite humorous and then season it with a deliciously boozy four course hot dog menu and you have the type of evening that makes one fall in love with just how fun food is all over again.
Salad of Baby Arugula - balsamic vinaigrette, goat cheese and hot dog lardons.
It was a good mix, needless to say. On my left was Dave, the Boston Editor of Thrillist and across the table was Michele of FoodieMommy. The conversation and laughs were non-stop as we started with an arugula salad. I loved the match of ginger beer with this but, really, all of the food/beverage matches were great.
Hibiscus Infused Cachaca, Lime and Ginger Beer.
The Ponzu Braised Banh Mi Dog, a colorful pack of cucumber-carrot salad, sweet soy aioli and pickled sweet onions.
The Banh Mi dog was colorful and spicy, adding just the right amount of flavorful crunch to the salty dogs. The Pinot Blanc Cuvee was, again, spot on.
2008 Lucien Albrecht, Cuvee Balthazar Pinot Blanc, Alsace, France.
Franks and Beans - Applewood Smoked Bacon, Baked Beans, Melted Jack and Aged Cheddar.
Next up was the Franks and Beans, over the top flavor loaded with bacon and cheeses. The only thing better than digging into this hearty dish was the BBC Porter they served with it. Filling and satifying, I greedily ate up every last bit.
Berkshire Brewing Company Coffee House Porter.
The rich and buttery cornbread. One of the best we've had.
The side of cornbread we asked for was a major surprise, maybe just the very best in Boston.
The Cheesecake Dog With Bacon Caramel Sauce.
The cheesecake dog dessert was matched with a lofty Sauternes, the sophistication of which threw us a final curve. VERY nice indeed and certainly worthy of a fine dessert wine you'd get at any upscale restaurant.
2003 Chateau Fontebride, Sauternes, France
We suggest you bring your friends and your bibs. This is for diners (with an appetite for food and a great time) looking for an evening of very cool fun from people who know their dogs and drinks.
Trina's Starlite Lounge
3 Beacon Street
Somerville MA 02143
617.576.0006
BBC Coffee House Porter hits all my roasty toasty bitter buttons, and I'm sure it was such the hit with porky beans. Such New England umami! Very envious here.
ReplyDeleteRob - I had never had it before. What a great, complex flavor and great match for the dish. I've added BBC to my brew dashboard. Can't wait to try more of their stuff.
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