Teri took me to Birch & Barley for my birthday dinner. It is a favorite restaurant of ours with one of the best beer selections anywhere. The chef can put together some fine food to match. We had early reservations at 6:15 and had to boogie over after work. We started off with the Crispy Creamy Polenta that included Sauteed Mushrooms, Taleggio Fonduta, and Artichoke Hearts. It was like a delicious cakey cornbread with tasty mushrooms and some other stuff dripped on top. To accompany our appetizer I had the Great Divide Belgica on cask and Teri had the Huyghe St. Idesbald Blond. It was a great start to the rest of the dinner. We also ordered 4oz samples of the Starr Hill Cryptical for myself and the Mort Subite Kriek for Teri. The Kriek was sweet, light bodied, and pretty yummy. Their bread plate had some new items on it and was good as ever.
After some discussion we each ordered a pasta dish and agreed to share. Teri ordered the Hand-Cut Tagliatelle w/ Rabbit that included Sauteed Mushrooms, Parmesan, and Fresh Herbs. I ordered the Ricotta Cavatelli with Roasted Pork, Broccoli Rabe, Pine Nuts, and Aged Provolone. Both were excellent. Teri's had wide long noodles with a slight nutmeg or cinnamon taste to it. Mine was a dumpling like thing that tasted great just like Teri's with all the ingredients combined. Teri had a Het Anker Gouden Carolous Classic with her dinner and I had a Bell's Double Cream Stout on cask. The Double Cream Stout was nice on cask but I've been spoiled lately with some velvety chocolate stouts. Teri's Gouden Carolous Classic was really good. It's a strong dark Belgian ale that had a some tart/sourness to it similar to the 2006 Goudenband I had at Birch & Barley awhile ago. It was well balanced and one I want to note to seek out again.
We headed to the P Street Whole Foods to check out the beers distributed to the District of Columbia. Goose Island is the main one I notice that I can't get in VA. We picked up some Stone Vertical Epic 10/10/10 and some Harpoon 100 Barrel Series Catamount Maple Wheat for the beer stock. The express line was about 100 feet long; it stretched to almost the back of the store but went relatively quick.
It was a good bday dinner. Teri got me some nice wireless speakers as well.
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