Tuscan Gun Dishes with Beer? Michelangelo and da Vinci Give Two Thumbs Up

This is my Christmas present to Gabriele so I actually did do some thinking before just typing. Yeah, I know you’re surprised. What I’m going to do is make beer pairing recommendations for the last handful of food dishes that Gabriele posted on this site. Now, some of you may know that this little project will take me a bit out of my comfort zone (I usually pair beer with just a glass), but I think you’ll enjoy this little exercise. After all, though not an expert, I’m not an idiot either. Shhh. Be quiet! This is a little long, but remember it’s a recap of 7 of Gabriele’s dishes along with some beer ideas for each (and I numbered and bolded each for you low-attention-span readers).

1. Gabriele recently posted a recipe for Scorze di Arancia al Cioccolato. Those little orange critters look so awesome I almost tried the recipe on the spot with Clementine rind and chocolate cake frosting left over from my birthday cake. Still might. I closed my eyes to imagine what beer to bring to the table with this dessert. I chose Tripel Karmeliet, an awesome fruity and spicy Belgian beer that will work wonderfully with the candied orange peels and chocolate. Its creamy texture, awesome carbonation and perfect alcohol accentuation will impress you, I’m sure. This is a Delicious Dessert Duo!

2. Linguine with Santa Barbara Spot Prawns? Yes please, with a Brooklyn Brewery Sorachi Ace. I can already taste the al dente pasta with the lightly spicy and super fresh sauce. Add the seafood with each bite. Mmm. A sip or two of the Sorachi Ace between each bite, marrying the wonderful spicy and peppery flavors of the beer with the food. It’s lemony bitter refreshment and enjoyable fruity complexities enhanced even more by the next bite! Yeah!

3. The first thing I needed to do when I came across Evelina Corcos’ Radicchio and Taleggio Pizza Roll was go online and figure out what those words meant. Very cool idea.  And whether you go with the original or substitute another veggie and cheese (like the suggested Spinach and Brie), I have a great beer for this meal. That is Great Lakes Dortmunder Gold. The toasty buttery flavors of the beer will match up wonderfully with the pizza roll dough, while the spicy, hoppy balance complements the vegetables and cheese. And of course since this was made by Gabriele’s daughter, I decided to offer Colombiana as a non-alcoholic option. The fruity orange and peach and excellent fine carbonation will be great with the food and leave a tell-tale mustache on the kids.

4. Wood Fired Leg of Lamb “I love to play with fire!” Last words before sentencing, and of course a favorite line from the iconic Beavis and Butthead (come on, it’s an 8 second video). LOL. Oh, cooking with fire, right. The lamb recipe described here sounds fantastic, especially the rub, and the fire-cooked crispy skin has my mouth asking for an invitation. (BTW, I’m wearing my “Let There Be Blood” T-shirt right now!) Anyway, if you want a fabulous beer with this dish, do yourself a favor and grab a six pack of Terrapin Rye Pale Ale. If you’ve never had a rye beer before, the spiciness that it offers will complement the marinated crispy skin and rich meat while its awesome fruitiness will add more wonderful flavors to the meal. An Extra Virgin meal, no doubt.

5. One of the sexiest food photos I’ve ever seen: Mascarpone Amaretti Cup. Not sure why but it reminded me of a Long Duc Dong quote from 16 candles (again, take 15 seconds.) I spent a lot of time thinking about the perfect beer for this luscious dessert. And I am positive that Samuel Smith’s Organic Strawberry Ale is a match made in Heaven. The beautiful fruit flavors will taste amazing with the cheese and cookies in this recipe. Put me on your Christmas Card List after you try this pairing.

6. Mozzarella in Carrozza So basically this is sophisticated Grilled Cheese, even moreso because it’s written in Italian (Americans are suckers for the language, LOL). Man, you haven’t lived until you’ve had mozzarella grilled cheese with a Three Floyds Moloko Milk Stout. Creamy chocolate and vanilla with hints of vanilla in a beer? And hints of coffee too? Damn, you better serve this combo at brunch next Sunday. For Real!

7. Carciofi alla Fiesolana (Braised Artichokes) Artichokes? Come on, no one eats those. Ah, I see what you did. Not only did you season them wonderfully, you added pancetta or guanciale to the recipe. No one can resist those. I picked the nice-bodied Ellie’s Brown Ale to meet this food head on. This excellent, rich beer with a nice roasted quality will handle the dish and leave you begging for more food and beer. Imagine brown sugar flavors braising your artichokes and light citrus hitting on your bacon. Dude! Come on!

If you try these pairings or something similar, be sure to let me know how it turns out. Also, if the oppressive beer laws of this country prevent you from finding these beers, ask me for a stand-in alternative and for your Senator’s email and phone number to complain. Yes, it’s really that serious!