LoveLikeBeer’s “Love Affair”
I mentioned previously that I don’t put much weight on Valentine’s Day. That being said, it is typically light any other night for me - yoga class, cooking in, & unwinding with a glass of wine. Even if I was “attached” I am not sure I would do things much differently. But I am always up for a LoveLikeBeer event. Especially when it involves dessert.
So even though this was a “Valentine’s Day” event, I didn’t let the “title” shy me away, as this event was open to all - friends, couples, families - with a shared love of vegan food, beer, & decedent dessert.
“Love Affair” was LoveLikeBeer’s 5th pairing event & the first of the new year. Tiger!Tiger! Tavern was the chosen location & I’ve been so excited to try it. TTT located in the North Park neighborhood, is San Diego newest craft beer gem, conceived by the owners of Blind Lady Ale House.
Tiger! Tiger! serves a simple menu of farm fresh salads, artisan style sandwiches & gourmet snacks that are prepared on the signature wood burning oven. Unlike BLAH, you won’t find a pizza on this menu, but like BLAH, you will always find vegetarian, vegan & vegan adaptable options, & thoughtful selection of unique craft beer. The decor is casual, yet urban, with a rich reclaimed wood interior & communal style seating. The vibe is laid-back, comfortable & friendly.
For this special evening, there was love in the air with handmade (by Kory of LLB) hearts floating above head & red rose petals upon the tables…
While this was originally a “dessert pairing” event, the kitchen got together & planned a little Valentine surprise…Special vegan dinner options in addition to their regular menu! We’d planned to come early anyway, to beat the crowds & have some dinner, knowing there would be a few items of the menu that we could eat, but what a glorious surprise to find options abound.
My “Valentine Dates” were my buddy P, my sweet Mom & our dear friend Giulia. We ordered one of each sandwich, nibbling on each other’s so we could try a bit of everything. The collective favorite were the “Vegan Sliders,” ordered by Mom & P. These little babes had wonderful flavor & were the perfect size for snacking or sharing. The patties were moist & hearty, & I loved the extra zing from the house pickles & pickled onion. Rumor has it these are usually on the menu. Yay!
Vegan Sliders: Mushroom & Lentil Patty, House Pickles, Butter Lettuce, Cilantro, Tahini-Chipotle Spread on a White Bread Bun.
Giulia ordered the “Tofu BBQ,” which I thought was awesome. Upon first bite she said it tasted like a veggie dog, which wasn’t quite appealing to her, but I said bring it on - veggie dogs are one of my favorite naughty treats. I loved the flavor & texture of the tofu & thought the coleslaw topping was clever & tasty.
Vegan BBQ: House Smoked Tofu with Kumquat Marmalade, Vegan Slaw on a White Bread Bun
I went with the “Vegan Fried Polenta.” I love polenta. I was a bit skeptical about eating it in sandwich form, but it sounded so comforting & I am all about the comfort food these days. However, my instincts were right, while it was good, somehow it didn’t quite work for me sandwiched between slices of foccacia. I now know that I prefer polenta alone with a side of veggies. I opted to switch out my side of “chips” for the “Vegan German Potato Salad” which was excellent. I am not one for traditional, gloppy, American-style potato salad, so this was just how I like it - full of vinegar & fresh dill. I also asked the bartender for a beer pairing suggestion & he recommended one of my known favorites, “Ommegang Hennipin” which was awesome as I know practically nil about beer, but know that I enjoy a crisp Saison.
Vegan Fried Polenta: Black Trumpet Mushrooms, House Pickles, Griffin Farm Arugula on Foccacia with a side of Vegan German “Heirloom” Potato Salad.
How we had room for dessert after these filling sandwiches, I do not know, but we weren’t about to stop there. As we were enjoying our dinner, my friend Anil joined us. Having already eaten dinner, he ordered one of each of the dessert pairings & gave us a play by play. We knew we had to try them all, & how could we resist this line up…
What the heck. Let’s indulge. My Mom, Giulia & I ordered all three & split the beer three ways. We began “lightest” to “richest” starting with the rice pudding. I really liked it. The presentation was lovely & I am a fan of anything coconut & love to add sweetness to dessert or smoothies by blending in some dates. I can’t say my Mom loved it as we have a bit of an off putting family “inside joke” when it comes to rice pudding. We all agreed that Lee Chase’s (of BLAH & ABC) limited rare release “Automatic 3-Speed Coffee Brown” was delightful & I thought it paired beautifully with the creamy rice pudding.
Coconut “Date Night” Rice Pudding, paired with Automatic Three-Speed Brown
Next up…doughnuts! Admittedly, I am a bit of an occasional junk-food vegan…. Daiya covered pizza, Cinnaholic, cupcakes, Justin’s Dark Chocolate Peanut Butter Cups…Not a daily indulgence, but put veganized junk food & I’ll eat it. I’m not ashamed. Besides, doughnuts=comfort, & as I said, I am in comfort mode, & will make up for the indulgence with 4 mile runs & hot yoga classes. Yum. These were more oozy gooey, than light & fluffy, but fine by me just the same. I think I was the only patron at the table that enjoyed the framboise, but I am a girl-girl who loves fruity bubbles & the pairing tasted like….jelly doughnuts…Enough said…
Almond Browned Sugar Glazed Doughnuts, paired with St. Louise Framboise
Our third & final delight was the brownie. Talk about saving the best for last! This was the favorite. Who doesn’t love the combination of peanut butter & chocolate, every one’s favorite perfect pairing, right? Hello Valentine Lover! This was mind-blowing. Rich, creamy, decadent, sinful, deliciousness. Gimme Gimme! The beer pairing brought out even more chocolatey goodness, without being too heavy. Triple match made in heaven chocolate, peanut butter, porter. More please.
Chocolate Peanut Butter Brownie with Caramel Sauce & Salted Peanut Brittle Paired with Hangar 24 Chocolate Porter
LoveLikeBeer, you’ve done it once again - bringing fantastic vegan food & beer pairings to San Diego & raising funds for a deserving cause (this time: Jeans for Justice). Thank you, thank you for all you are doing for to help our vegan community flourish while raising not only money, but also raising awareness about important local organizations.
***If you’re new to this blog & want to learn more about LoveLikeBeer, read my interview with them here, or in the first issue of Chickpea Magazine.
