CLEVELAND, Ohio – A pair of Cleveland-area restaurants have scheduled educational dinners as part of the We’ve Got Proof educational dining program.
This year’s program is in conjunction with Kentucky Owl Bourbon, and a representative from the distillery will guide the tastings.
Over the four-course meal, patrons will learn the difference between a fountain pour and a top spirit, or nuances between brand vs. brand, for instance.
Dinners required $50 deposit.
Here are the menus:
Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse
6:45 p.m. Wednesday, Dec. 11: Hyde Park Prime Steakhouse, 26300 Chagrin Blvd., Beachwood. Cost is $129. Call 216-464-0688.
• Pear salad, mixed greens, fennel, candied pecans, poached pears, balsamic vinaigrette. Pairing: Kentucky Owl Takumi Straight Bourbon.
• Scallops, citrus compote, heirloom carrot puree. Pairing: Kentucky Owl Maighstir Straight Bourbon.
•Ribeye filet, Bourbon butter, crispy Brussels sprouts, parsnip and potato puree. Pairing: Kentucky Owl Confiscated Straight Bourbon.
• Crème brulee cheesecake, salted caramel sauce. Pairing: Kentucky Owl St.
Sora
7 p.m. Thursday, Dec. 12: Sora, 1121 W. 10th St., Cleveland. Cost is $125.
Welcome: Confiscated Boulevardier with Kentucky Owl Confiscated – Amaro Angostura, Aperol, Carpano Antica Sweet Vermouth, orange bitters.
• Crudo Bristol scallop, kizami nori (seaweed), Bourbon barrel shoyu (soy sauce), shiso (herb). Pairing: Kentucky Owl Maightstir – neat pour.
• Sushi tasting:
– Tuna tartare with avocado, jalapeño, tamago (egg), scallions, sambal (chili sauce or paste), fried wonton crackers.
– Unagi nigiri (eel, rice and seaweed wrapper) with spicy bourbon kabayaki (fish-preparation style) glaze, kaiware (radish sprouts), dried kombu (seaweed).
– Shrimp tempura roll with tempura salmon, asparagus, bourbon-sambal glaze, sesame, thai chili.
Pairing: Kentucky Owl Takumi – neat pour.
• Duo of duck – coriander-rubbed duck breast, duck confit, Napa cabbage, charred orange, scallion, duck jus. Pairing: Kentucky Owl Confiscated – neat pour.
• Yuzu cheesecake – Sake-infused chocolate-wafer crumble, sea salt. Pairing: “Forget the Day” with Kentucky Owl St. Patrick’s Edition. Mr. Black coffee liqueur, house espresso cold brew, cinnamon horchata demerara.
Cleveland Independents created We’ve Got Proof, an alcohol-education program, in 2023 to introduce the public to an assortment of premium spirits.
The dinners are crafted to showcase chefs’ creativity and the appropriate pairing of certain dishes with a spirit.
Kentucky Owl was founded in 1879. Its bottles average more than $100, including Mardi Gras XO Cask, which can run more than $499. Stoli Group owns Kentucky Owl.
I cover restaurants, beer, wine and sports-related topics on our life and culture team. For my recent stories, here’s a cleveland.com directory. WTAM-1100’s Bill Wills and I talk food and drink around 8:20 a.m. Thursdays. Twitter and IG: @mbona30. My latest book, co-authored with Dan Murphy: “Joe Thomas: Not Your Average Joe” by Gray & Co.
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