Food and beer/wine/spirits pairing dinners worth your time and money
It seems like each week a new restaurant announces a beer/wine/spirits pairing dinner. These dinners tend to come with quite a hefty price tag. How can diners know which ones are worth the money and which ones are just a fly by night pairing dinner “sponsored” by the local Jameson rep?
To help the smart people of Charlotte determine which pairing dinners are worth their money, here’s a list of regularly occurring dinners around the Queen City that will appeal to both your palate and your inner food nerd.
Oyster Sessions at Sea Level
At Sea Level, the pairing dinner is all about the oyster. On a select Monday each month, Sea Level hosts an oyster pairing dinner. The dinner aims to educate customers on sustainable seafood practices and proper oyster pairings. Each dinner will host a limited number of guests at the oyster bar along with a special guest like a seafood expert, guest chef, winery or brewery.
Cost: $40 for five courses, including bar pairings.
Next dinner: Aug. 15
Sea Level: 129 East 5th St., Charlotte.
Wine Dinners at Napa on Providence
Napa on Providence aims to host a bi-monthly Wine Pairing Dinner. What makes these dinners unique is that they will only host a winery if the winemaker or winery owner can attend. Thus, the frequency depends on winery availability. At Napa’s next dinner, Michael Mondavi, son of Robert Mondavi, will be the special guest.
Cost: Varies according to the wine, and includes four courses with pairings.
Next dinner: Sept. 22.
Napa on Providence: 110 Perrin Place, Charlotte.
Community Supper and Off the Bone at Dogwood Southern Table
Dogwood Southern Table puts a lot of creativity into their two regularly occurring monthly pairing dinners. The first dinner, Community Supper, is hosted twice a month. Special guests range from guest chefs and bartenders to brewers, wine makers and farmers. Dogwood aims to highlight a unique facet of the industry with each dinner in a setting that is informal and fun.
Cost: $50 and includes four courses with pairings.
Next dinner: TBA
The second event, Off the Bone, is a new concept to Dogwood. Once a month, the restaurant hosts a rather primal feast where diners eat without silverware. The next event, a fried chicken and Moet Champagne pairing dinner, takes place on July 28.
Cost: Varies depending on the wine (or beer) but will always include three courses with pairings.
Next dinner: July 28, $70. Reservations: 704-910-4919.
Dogwood Southern Table: 4905 Ashley Park Lane, Charlotte.
Monthly Wine Dinner at The Fig Tree Restaurant
The Fig Tree Restaurant has been hosting a Monthly Wine Dinner since it opened 11 years ago. The intimate dinners are quite exclusive, with only 38 spots available. The Fig Tree Restaurant only advertises the dinners on their email list, and the dinners typically sell out within a week. The dinners feature items not traditionally found on the menu. The next one is scheduled for July 20 and will feature Bollinger Champagne. Be on the lookout for their annual game dinner in the fall.
Cost: Varies according the courses and winery featured.
Next dinner: July 20.
The Fig Tree: 1601 E. 7th Street, Charlotte.
Monthly Wine Dinner at Foxcroft Wine Co. SouthPark
There’s always something special going on at Foxcroft Wine Co. Southpark, from Wine Club Member Wine of the Month Night to Pop-up Tastings. However, the real star of the show is the Monthly Wine Dinner. Each month, Foxcroft forms a structured dinner around a winery. Last month, they featured Domaine des Baumard from the Loire Valley with vintages ranging back to 1992.
Cost: $45 and includes four courses with wine pairings.
Next dinner: TBA.
Foxcroft Wine Co.: 7824 Fairview Road, Charlotte.
Adventure Dining at the U.S. National Whitewater Center
The U.S. National Whitewater Center hosts three unique Adventure Dining series. The first, Zip Line and Dine, offers a zip lining experience before a wine or beer pairing fireside feast. Unwined begins with a stand-up paddle boarding experience and concludes with a fireside wine pairing experience. Lastly, Microbrews Cruise follows a similar pattern as the previous two events but begins with flatwater paddling before a beer paired fireside dinner.
Check out the U.S. National Whitewater Center web site for event specific dates and prices.
Photos: Bryan Richards; Dogwood Southern Table; Jonathan Cooper; U.S. National Whitewater Center Facebook.
This story was originally published July 20, 2016 at 1:00 AM with the headline "Food and beer/wine/spirits pairing dinners worth your time and money."