By Brooklynn Johnson
Photos courtesy of Wassail
A bright, acidic white wine and a rich triple cream cheese. A good brew and a beefy patty on a pretzel bun with all of the fixings. Some foods have already found life-long partners in their liquid libation counterpart. But with cider still being so new to the North American restaurant scene, it can be tricky to pair it with just the right indulgence. From the East coast to the West, take a look at some of these cider-dinner pairings that are sure to provide for a scrumptious evening, and maybe you will find cider’s soulmate.
Alpenfire Organic Hard Cider || Port Townsend, Washington
Looking for something a little more out of the box than a dinner out on the town? Cider makers and enthusiasts alike are invited to dine among the trees of Alpenfire’s apple orchard on August 9, the day after the city’s Summer Cider Day, from 10 am to 2 pm for a unique cider-breakfast. The breakfast menu is one fit for kings, including pork and apple bangers, meats and cheese as well as roasted vegetables and fresh fruit. To drink, guests can sip on their favorite ciders or enjoy a pomosa, a cider’s take on a mimosa. Tickets are a steal at $20 each, so pick them up here before it’s too late!
Finger Lakes Cider House || Interlaken, New York
Every Friday night at Finger Lakes Cider House a new menu is offered, featuring dishes made from local ingredients, and then paired with different ciders. From 5-9 pm enjoy great food, crisp cider and live music as a different band or artist performs each week. Menus are posted no later than a few days before each dinner, so you can head in and be prepared, and even scope out prices, which vary from dinner to dinner. These events are kid-friendly, non-alcoholic drinks are also available for purchase. Grab a ticket here.
North Brooklyn Farms || Brooklyn, New York
Food Karma Feasts are a series of farm-to-table style dinners in which city-savvy chefs from the Big Apple are matched up with fresh farm ingredients in a collaboration that’s absolutely to dine for. On August 6, Food Karma Feasts presents their Cider Dinner with Aaron Burr Ciders. Chef Kenny Monroe is in charge of the menu for the evening, and has put together quite the cider-inspired lineup featuring cider-cured salmon and apple-braised pork belly with a cider mustard. The $85 tickets for the Thursday cider dinner include food and drinks, as well as a special cider that can’t be purchased locally. Pick up your tickets here.
Capitol Cider || Seattle, Washington
From regular live music to painting with cider classes and game nights, this West Coast cider bar and bottle shop is dedicated to bringing the fun to the table alongside the cider. Executive chef Erik Jackson elevates the entirely gluten-free cuisine with local sustenance quintessential to the Northwest and its apple country. Monthly cider dinners go down with a cast of guest chef characters, each cook preparing their own dish to go with a distinct cider of the multi-course meal. For more information, go here.
SER || Arlington, Vermont
SER stands for Simple, Easy and Real and represents a group of Spaniards that base their restaurant and its food on strong, authentic Spanish influences. Every Wednesday, the restaurant hosts their “Txotx” dinner at 7 pm. Guests get to watch chefs complete their four-course meals, and if they ever hear, “txotx” shouted, they hold their cider glasses high as one of the staff members cracks a bottle of cider, creating a fountain of the scrumptious drink. Tickets are $80 and include the dinner menu as well as all of the cider their hearts desire, and can be purchased here.
Wassail || New York, New York
This veg-heavy cider bar puts an agricultural spin on their menu and proudly stands as New York’s first cider bar. In the restaurant’s monthly Cidermaker Dinner Series, notable producers showcase their ciders in the eatery’s intimate setting alongside the fare from executive chef Joseph Buenconsejo and pastry chef Rebecca Eichenbaum in a four-course seasonal menu. Check for updates and tickets here.
