Above: Our first kiss. Micah has written the sweetest post about it here.
Happy anniversary to us! Last year we celebrated with an intensely food-and-drink-driven daytrip to Raleigh. This year, we're celebrated with an intensely food-driven beer dinner. Our favorite local brewery paired up with a gastropub and created a five-course meal, each course being highlighted by one of their beers. CHECK OUT THIS MENU IN ITS ENTIRETY:
1st Course: Cackalacky “Rockefeller”
Grilled Blue Point Oysters, Wilted Watercress, Ginger-Jalapeno Herbed Panko, Cackalacky Spiced Hollandaise Sauce
paired with Fullsteam's Cackalacky Ginger Pale Ale
2nd Course
Shaved Kale Salad with Common Good Caramel Roasted Apples
Soft Poached Egg, Crispy Pancetta, Aged Parmesan, Toasted Walnuts, Meyer Lemon Vinaigrette
paired with Fullsteam's The Common Good
3rd Course
Cherry Wood Smoked Duck Sausage with Roasted Cherry Tomato
Warm Citrus Salad with Fennel, Endive, Radicchio, and Mint
paired with Fullsteam's Rocket Science IPA
4th Course
Hickory Grilled Ribeye with Smoked Chili Sauce
Spiced Rosemary Doughnut with Foie Gras Mousse, Grilled Escarole, Portabella Mushrooms
paired with Fullsteam's Hogwash Porter
5th Course: Coffee and Caramel
Coffee Parfait, Caramel Spice Cake, Fresh Tangerine, Coffee Emulsion, Creamed Coffee Gelee, Caramel Sauce
paired with Fullsteam's First Frost Winter Ale
It was seemingly created exclusively for our tastes and the occasion at hand, and has already set the bar very high for future intensely-food-and-drink-driven anniversaries. I can't wait (but I must – it's not until tomorrow night).