Great beer dinner at Stratto's last night.

Just a brief note to report that last evening’s winter-themed, comfort food beer dinner at Stratto’s was a real blast.

We’re two for two in this particular venue (one each in 2007 and 2008, with a third outdoor even last fall), and with two different chefs. Kudos go to Trevor Semones for organizing and Tish Dean for her representation from World Class Beverages.

Current chef Jerome Pope put together an excellent four-course meal, using stock ingredients from his kitchen, and thus keeping the price reasonable, rather than going whole hog at a higher price point. The result was a sell-out, and great cold weather cuisine: Bacon-wrapped scallops, beef stew, stuffed pork loin and bread pudding.

More people than I expected enjoyed the Hopslam-scallop pairing. The molasses really has come out in NABC’s Old Lightning Rod … and La Fin du Monde makes a fine opening palate tease.

Good work, all.

Beer dinner at Stratto's is filling fast.

I just spoke with Trevor from Stratto’s, and he told me that there are currently 30 reservations for tomorrow night’s beer dinner:

Beer dinner at Stratto’s Italian Bistro this Thursday, February 7.

If you’re still interested, you may want to reserve, as I believe they’ll cut it off around 45. Remember, this food and beer pairing costs only $20!

Meanwhile, I’ve been rehearsing: Juggle growlers of yeast slurry with two feet; saw an Anheuser-Busch rep in half with my hands; all the while performing Sinatra’s “My Way” with a kazoo.

I hope that’s floor show enough for ‘em. Sometimes I wish I could just play bass with the opening act …

Beer dinner at Stratto’s Italian Bistro this Thursday, February 7.

Trevor, Tish and I have been working on this one for a while. The idea is to pair cold-weather, winter-themed beers with a hearty menu conceived by Jerome Pope, Stratto’s chef.

Yesterday’s advertisement in the Tribune featured my name in a ridiculously oversized font (am I obliged to provide comic patter, soft shoe and perhaps karaoke to justify the billing and my comp?), but more importantly, it quoted a price for all this of only $20 per person!

Folks, that’s a steal. Call Stratto's for reservations at (812) 945-3496. The dinner starts at 7:00 p.m., and the restaurant is located at 318 W. Lewis & Clark Parkway, Clarksville.

I’m off to practice my warbling … a bit of Bobby Darin is guaranteed to slay ‘em. Meanwhile, here’s the menu and pairings.

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Opening beer course: Unibrue's La Fin Du Monde

Starter: Bacon wrappped sea scallop skewers with Wasabi vinaigrette
Beer: Bell's Hopslam Double IPA

Soup: Hunters Stew with cornbread muffin (beef, bacon, carrot, celery, onions)
Beer: NABC Old Lightning Rod (Colonial-era recipe)

Entree: Stuffed Pork loin with sweet potato mash, and Swiss chard (onion cornbread stuffing)
Beer: Samuel Smith Winter Welcome

Dessert: White chocolate raspberry bread pudding
Beer: Lindeman's Framboise

Grassroots Festival at Stratto’s is tonight. Hint: There’ll be plenty of microbrews …

There’s a special outdoor beer event taking place tonight, and seeing as the forecast calls for a brilliant autumn evening (is it possible?), readers in the Louisville area should consider coming out.

From 6:00 p.m. to 10:00 p.m., the Grassroots Festival will fill tree-canopied patio of Clarksville’s Stratto’s Restaurant, which is housed in the historic, renovated McCullough House on the quiet end of Lewis and Clark Parkway.

Featured will be gourmet brick oven pizza, craft beer and what is being described as rockin’ bluegrass music. For the Curmudgeon, two out of three ain’t bad.

Hope to see you there.

Stratto’s Restaurant, 318 W. Lewis & Clark Parkway, Clarksville, IN 47129 (Ph: 812-945-3496). Tickets are $12 in advance and $15 at the door, and include pizza and unlimited beer samples ($3 pints also will be sold).

Tickets are available at these locations:

Stratto’s Restaurant

Bluegrass Brewing Company/BBC Taproom (Clay and Main, downtown Louisville)

Keg Liquors (Lewis & Clark Parkway, Clarksville)

Cumberland Brews (Bardstown Road, Louisville)

New Albanian Brewing Company (Plaza Drive, New Albany)

Tickets may be purchased by phone only from Stratto’s Restaurant: 812-945-3496

Beer

Bluegrass Brewing Company (Clay & Main)

Barley Island Brewing Company

Browning's Restaurant & Brewery

Cumberland Brewery

New Albanian Brewing Company

Music

Kentucky Fried Pickin’

Whistlin’ Rufus

Special thanks to World Class Beverages

Coming September 12: Grassroots Festival, on the patio at Stratto's (Clarksville).

Here's first notice. More information is forthcoming.

Tuscan wine dinner at Stratto's this Tuesday.

Most of the time, we're all about the beer, but there are exceptions.

Stratto's Restaurant (318 W Lewis & Clark Parkway in Clarksville, Indiana) is having a 4-course, Tuscan inspired wine dinner this Tuesday, April 24 at 6:30 p.m. National Wine and Spirits's Michael Pyle, whom the Curmudgeon had the pleasure of meeting earlier this year, will be on hand to guide diners through the evening's wine pairings.

Stratto's GM Linda Stephens reports that "depending on the number of reservations and the weather, we hope to hold this event on our beautiful patio."

We 're hoping to do another beer dinner in that very same spot later this year.

The wine dinner's cost is $50.00 per person, and you can find contact information at the Stratto's website.