A few days ago, we attending one of Belga Cafe‘s events that was held in honor of the restaurant’s eight year anniversary. The event was an eight course dinner with a beer pairing for each course. (Executive Chef Bart Vandaele is very talented chef–here is an article about his Top Chef appearance.) The Eight for $80 courses were as follows:

THE SALADE:

This dish (which was referred to as “A Symphony of Carrots”) included several carrot preparatings that feature different textures, such as a carrot mousse, and was paired with De Halve Mann‘s Bruge Zot Blond. The carrot mouse was my favorite component of the dish.

SMOKED PORK BOUILLON:

This pork belly and mushroom soup was served with a crispy pork skin garnish; it was my favorite dish of the evening, while it was tied for first with the rvaioli if you ask Cy (my dining partner for the Evening). The dish was served to me without mushrooms due to an allergy. Beer pairing: Bell’s Amber Ale.

SKATE WING STEW:

Tastes like fish. 🙂 This was served with fried capers, green cabbage, and brown sage butter. It was a delicate and tasty dish. Beer pairing: Houblon Chuouffe.

RAVIOLI OF COD:

This was a favorite of ours, and was served with black garlic, potato foam, leeks, and parsley. Beer pairing: Goose Island Pepe Nero.

CRISPY FRIED SWEETBREADS:

Growing up on Argentine parillada, sweet breads are a food I enjoy. This dish was well executed (including texture and flavor) and included a sweet and sour sauce, onions, and pumpkin puree. Beer pairing: Timmerman’s Pumpkin Lambicus.

FAMOUS CELERY WAFFLE & DUCK CONFIT:

I don’t know how famous this dish is, but it is good, and is served with salsify and orange cotton candy. Beer pairing: Corsedonk Blonde.

BLACK & WHITE CHEESE:

This dish featured Brie de Meaux with black truffles, frisee salad, black dressing (truffles), and white bread…but I am allergic to truffles (so was not served truffles). Beer pairing: New Belgium’s Biere de Mars.

CHOCOLATE & BANANA CROISSANT BREAD PUDDING:

Speculoos — Beer caramel. Beer pairing: Leffe Brune.

Belga has scheduled a Brewer’s dinner with De Halve Mann for tonight (10/30) with 3 courses and beer pairings for $49, but with Frankenstorm having just passed through the area, it is probably cancelled or rescheduled. There is aso a brewers dinner with Straffe Hendrick scheduled for 11/8 ($59 for 4 courses).

Cy‘s notes from the beer pairing:

“Bruge Zot – refreshing, malts, carbonation.  A nice beer for a hot summer day. Sweet.
Bells Amber Ale – hoppy like an amber ale should be. Dry. Bitters.
Houblon Chouffe – dry and crisp with lots of carbonation. Starts balanced between malts/hops but finishes hoppy.
Goose Island – dark malty yummy chocolates and nuts.
Timmermans Pumpkin Lambicus – fizzy with cinnamon and nutmeg. Spicy and light like a cider.
Corsendonk Blonde – complex and fruity, citrusy and yeasty.
Biere de Mars – yeasty and sour. Citrus notes.
Leffe Brune – nutty with a sour finish.”

-JAY