The GOODS from The Irish Heather

Vancouver, BC | The Heather Hospitality Group partnered up with Vancouver Craft Beer Week for one of its headlining events: Cicerone vs Sommelier. Close to 60 attendees gathered at the Irish Heather’s Long Table last week to watch Adam Henderson take on Mike Mitchell in a four course pairing battle of beer against wine. With the event being a part of VCBW, Mitchell knew he was the underdog going in as the ‘guy who brought wine to a beer fight’, but that didn’t seem to bother the guests (there was a fairly even number of beer and wine lovers at the table). The event saw guests treated to a dish paired with a beer, a wine and a pencil. It was up to them to decide which pairing was better. The menu featured dishes from HHG executive chef Paul Haldane, inspired by his menus at Bitter, Judas Goat, The Irish Heather and Salt. It was a close battle for each course, but Mitchell was victorious, giving wine the win for the second year in a row with a final score of 4-0 (Neil Ingram from Boneta won last year’s event).

Menu and pairings from the dinner…

Round 1

‘Bitter’ Wellington
Chicken Liver Sausage Wellington
served with ’Bitter’ Mushroom Ketchup

Beer Pairing: “Vitamin P” Pilsner, Steamworks Brewing Co. Gastown, Vancouver, BC
Wine Paring:  Alvear Amontillado, Montilla Morilles, Spain

Round 2

Spot Prawn Three Ways
Gazpacho with Spot Prawn Salad,
Ceviche with Endive,
Citrus Grilled Prawn

Beer Pairing: “Saison Erpe-Mere”, Kleinbrouweij Glazen Toren Erpe-Mere, Belgium
Wine Pairing: Argiolas ‘Costamolino’, Vermentino 2010, Sardinia, Italy

Round 3
Pork Tenderloin
with Pigs Head Croquette,
Celery Root Purée, Lyonnaise Potato,
Asparagus, Wild Mushroom Pork Jus

Beer Pairing: 3 Monts “Biere de Garde” Brasserie St. Sylvestre, St. Sylvestre-Cappel, France
Wine Pairing: Alvaro Palacios ‘Petalos’ Mencia 2008, Bierzo, Spain

Round 4

Point Reyes Blue Panna Cotta,
Okanagan Apricot Chutney,
Mini Brioche

Beer Pairing: Guldenberg “Tripel” Brouwerij De Ranke, Dottignies, Belgium
Wine Pairing: Chateau Loupiac-Gaudiet, Sem/Sauv Blanc 2003, Bordeaux, France