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The Dish with Jess Harter ~ Pursuing food and fun across the East Valley

Archive for the 'SanTan Brewing' Tag

5 to try: East Valley brew pubs

November 6th, 2009, 9:42 pm by Jess Harter

A PBS special earlier this year declared craft beer is the new wine. And never before have beer drinkers had so many choices of small-batch ales and lagers produced right here in the Valley at a growing number of brew pubs that also offer full menus of food. Here are five to check out:

SanTan BrewingFour Peaks Brewing Company: The best-known and most-honored Valley microbrewery for the past 13 years makes eight mainstays, led by its popular Kiltlifter Scottish-style ale and British pub-inspired 8th Street Ale. It also has concocted more than two dozen various seasonal ales, such as its current Pumpkin Porter. 1340 E. Eighth St., Tempe, (480) 303-9967.

SanTan Brewing Company: This downtown Chandler brew pub (pictured at right), launched in 2007 by the longtime brewmaster from Four Peaks, showcases an every-day roster of six ales, plus a seasonal selection or two (currently, Strawberry Wit and SanTamber). Look for its most popular seasonal, Winter Warmer, to return later this month. 8 S. San Marcos Place, Chandler, (480) 917-8700.

BJ’s Restaurant & Brewery: This California-based chain operates 87 locations nationwide, including ones in Chandler and Mesa. The beer list includes seven standards, plus a seasonal selection (currently, Pumpkin Ale) that changes every two months. 3155 W. Chandler Blvd., Chandler, (480) 917-0631; 6622 E. Superstition Springs Blvd. Mesa, (480) 324-1675.

Rock Bottom Restaurant & Brewery: This Colorado-based chain, which also owns Old Chicago restaurants, has 40 brew pubs, including one in Ahwatukee. The beer list features five standard ales and lagers, plus a monthly seasonal (the next, London Smoked Porter, will be tapped Thursday). 14205 S. 50th St., Phoenix, (480) 598-1300.

Gordon Biersch Brewery Restaurant: The Gordon Biersch Bottling Company actually sold off its restaurant group - which now numbers 46 locations, including Gilbert and Tempe - to Tennessee-based Big River Breweries a decade ago. The beer list offers five standard selections, plus a seaonal (currently, an Oktoberfest). 2218 E. Williams Field Road, Gilbert, (480) 722-0883; 420 S. Mill Ave., Tempe, (480) 736-0033.

Posted in: Ahwatukee • Chandler • Gilbert • Tempe • • • • • | Post a Comment »

Chocolate-covered bacon – and beer!

August 19th, 2009, 5:22 pm by Jess Harter

Is this National Chocolate-Covered Bacon Week or something? Just a day after receiving a photo of Lynn’s Restaurant chef John Corey’s latest creation, SanTan Brewing sent me the menu for its next Tuesday Night Tasting.

The downtown Chandler brew pub’s Sept. 8 event features five courses with beer pairings, concluding with chocolate-covered bacon lollipops — thick-cut jowl bacon on a stick dipped in chocolate granache — for dessert.

Other items on the evening’s menu: proscuitto-and-melon salad, grilled flatbread pizza, stuffed portabella cap and a kiwi sorbet beer shooter. (See menu and beer pairings)

The TNTs, which start at 6:30 p.m. and cost just $25, sell out fast. Reservations: (480) 917-8700.

Posted in: Chandler • | Post a Comment »

Chandler Whole Foods to host beer dinner Thursday

July 22nd, 2009, 12:21 pm by Jess Harter

SanTan Brewing Co.

Chandler’s Whole Foods and SanTan Brewing Company are teaming up for a four-course beer dinner at 6:30 p.m. Thursday.

Whole Foods, located at Ray Road and the Loop 101, will host the dinner and provide the food. SanTan brewmaster Anthony Cavecchia will pair each course with one of his ales.

The courses and pairings:

• Fontina cheese and figs on Marcona almond crust garnished with lavender, lemon zest and caramel sauce (paired with Sun Devil Ale)

• Ceviche made with shrimp, scallops and tropical fruit garnished with fresh parsley and served with tortilla chips (Sunspot Gold)

• Braised short ribs topped with fried egg and garnished with candied ginger with mashed sweet potatoes and baby bok choy (HopShock IPA)

• Brie and berry sandwiches made cocoa spread and fresh berries with a sprinkle of powdered sugar (Gordo Stout)

Cost is $30. RSVP: (480) 821-9447 or e-mail sp.chr.marketing@wholefoods.com.

Posted in: Chandler • • | Post a Comment »

Photos: July’s Tuesday Night Tasting at SanTan Brewing

July 7th, 2009, 10:27 pm by Jess Harter

SanTan Brewing

More than 50 people attended July’s Tuesday Night Tasting, a four-course meal with beer pairings, at SanTan Brewing Company in downtown Chandler. The cost was $25, which included tax and tip.

SanTan Brewing

The first course of the summer-themed menu: Pickled red beets and jicama with shredded papaya tossed in a sweet cider vinaigrette. For a fun twist, Funyons were substituted for onions. The salad was paired with SanTan’s Hefeweizen.

SanTan Brewing

SanTan brewmaster Anthony Canecchia (left) and Ed Gebler of San Diego’s Stone Brewing Company talk about Stone’s Arrogant Bastard Ale. Each monthly tasting features a guest microbrew.

SanTan Brewing

The Arrogant Bastard was paired with the second course, a cold English pea soup with mint and a zesty creme fraiche.

SanTan Brewing

The third course was a pepper-crusted venison chop  with a slice of grilled yam and a blue corn relish. It was accompanied by SanTan’s Gordo Stout.

SanTan Brewing

For dessert, Schnepf Farm peaches were served in a glass of fresh whipped cream with a hint of ginger. SanTan’s new Strawberry Wit was the complement.

SanTan Brewing

Canecchia and SanTan chef Brant Gasparek get some well-deserved applause at the end of the evening.

The next Tuesday Night Tasting will be held Aug. 4. The menu has not been determined, but reservations will be accepted starting Thursday. Be warned: The events usually fill up in just a few days.

Info: (480) 917-8700 or santanbrewing.com.

Posted in: Chandler • | 5 Comments »

Twitter users organize Friday restaurant gatherings

March 24th, 2009, 12:16 pm by Jess Harter

If you’re not already using the free social-networking Web site Twitter, here’s a reason to start: East Valley Friday Nights.

How cool is this? Every Friday, a fast-growing group of  Twitter users meet for an informal social gathering of what it calls “libations, conversations and gesticulations“ at a different East Valley restaurant or bar.

Anyone is invited to attend, even those not using Twitter. There’s no admission fee. There’s no agenda. There’s no dress code. They just meet and have fun.

I ran into the group several weeks ago at SanTan Brewing Company in Chandler. On that night, there were about 20 people there.

The weekly event seems to be catching on. Last Friday, 67 people — the most yet — showed up for food and drinks at Liberty Market (pictured) in Gilbert.

This Friday, the gathering will be 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. at the tapas bar at the Chandler Whole Foods on the southeast corner of Ray Road and the Loop 101.

Twitter users can find out more by searching for #evfn. You also can find the group’s #evfn page on Facebook.

By the way, you also can use Twitter to follow this blog at twitter.com/jessharter.

Posted in: Chandler • Gilbert • Mesa • Tempe • • • • | Post a Comment »

Photos: Tuesday Night Tasting at SanTan Brewing

March 11th, 2009, 10:50 am by Jess Harter

In what’s becoming a hot ticket, SanTan Brewing Company held its second monthly tasting event Tuesday night at the downtown Chandler brew pub. About 40 people enjoyed a three-course, small-plates meal with craft beer pairings for just $10. This month’s spotlight was on stouts.

SanTan brewmaster Anthony Canecchia chats with guests as they start with Nimbus Oatmeal Stout from Tucson. The smooth-flavored beer was served with Camembert cheese toasted on the pub’s beer bread with sliced dates and a Gordo Stout hazelnut syrup.

OK, that’s not a glass of stout. But there’s a reason SanTan’s Sunspot Gold is the pub’s bestseller.

During the meal, guests had plenty of time to discuss beer.

SanTan general manager Jeff Duport fills another 40 glasses of stout.

The second course is petit dejeuner mussels.

The mussels are steamed in a broth of garlic and Gordo Stout with chevre cheese and watercress.

Another round of stout is delivered.

The mussels are paired with SanTan’s own Gordo stout, a dry Irish stout with coffee and chocolate flavors.

Guest speaker Guy Bartmess, brewmaster at Rock Bottom in Ahwatukee, explains the evening’s final beer, Rock Bottom’s Coffee Stout.

Rock Bottom’s stout is paired with a roasted pecan and coffee cheesecake.

The beer-and-cheesecake combination is a hit.

The hour-long event gives Canecchia the opportunity to visit with every table.

As Tuesday’s event wraps up, guests begin thinking about next month’s tasting, which will be held April 14. The featured beers will be announced soon.

Posted in: Chandler • • • • | Post a Comment »
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