GUEST TAP


Savor Your Beer – Slowly The Slow Food, Craft Beer Connection


By Kate McDevitt


We’ve all had that beer. You know the one. It’s the one you want to savor. You sip slowly to make it last. Well, believe it or not, there’s an international movement that encourages you to take this kind of unhurried plea- sure in the delectable bounty of sustainably-made, local food and beer: it’s called Slow Food. Have you heard of it? The Slow Food movement was founded in Italy in 1989 to counteract fast food and fast life, our diminish- ing interest in the food we consume, where it comes from and how it tastes. As a movement, Slow Food works to link the pleasure of food with a commitment to the environment and the local community by providing education on how our food choices affect the rest of the world.


Here in San Diego we are lucky enough to serve as a mecca for thriving food, farming and brewing commu- nities. As such, it’s perhaps no surprise that San Diego is home to not one but two Slow Food Chapters: one in North County (Slow Food San Diego) and the other closer to downtown (Slow Food Urban San Diego). As a member of the Board for Slow Food Urban San Diego, and a devout lover of the San Diego beer scene, I can assure you that both chapters fully support and celebrate our craft beer community.


Slow Food Urban San Diego regularly puts on events to showcase the important work of our talented


MIHO Gastrotruck Continued from Page 5.


“I’d been to beer dinners Juan and Kevin had put on at home for 30 or so people, so I had a lot of confidence they would do a good job,” says Chandler. “I have a real love of beer dinners, but there’s a gap between what you can do at home and having a three-hour sit-down meal at a restaurant. Having the option of getting eight-dollar food paired with one-dollar beers, plus beer-infused yogurt from Fiji Yogurt next door makes for a reason- able, casual, unpretentious experience. And how often do you get to hang out and eat at an operating brewhouse or in a barrel room?” Since the initial “Behind the Brewery,” which drew a decent crowd that went forth and spoke well of the first run, MIHO and Ballast Point have held three other events, the latest of which took place on March 2 and drew nearly 200 people. The entire facil- ity, from the main floor of Home Brew Mart to the brewhouse and the barrel room, was teeming with smiling consumers enjoying Creole-spiced shrimp skewers and creamy grits paired with chipotle-infused Ballast Point Black Marlin Porter. The pairing was stellar, as was the opportunity for fans of the food and beer to offer kudos directly to the cooks and brewers responsible for the evening’s offerings.


local brewers. These have included a beer class with Tomme Arthur from The Lost Abbey, a beer tasting class at the Cooks Confab Craft Beer dinner, and a series of mixers at Slow Food-minded restaurants that highlight locally-sourced beers, wines and produce. AleSmith Brewing Company’s Peter Zien has even come out to teach Slow Food Urban San Diego members about his second passion: cheese-making. Keep an eye out this Spring, as Slow Food Urban San Diego is in talks with Ballast Point to host a homebrew class using local hops. You heard it here first, West Coaster readers. Up in North County, Slow Food San Diego has a strong connection with Stone Brewing Company, whose CEO and Co-Founder Greg Koch serves as a Board Member Emeritus. Stone Brewing World Bistro and Garden’s Executive Chef, Alex Carballo, has made ex- tensive efforts to support local farmers and even grows some of the restaurant’s produce on their property. They have been great advocates and have generously hosted a number of beer-focused events in support of the Slow Food movement.


What San Diego beer enthusiasts can be sure of is that if they show up to a Slow Food event around town, they will be in good company. The Slow Food community has a true appreciation for the brewers’ craft and their important and delicious local products.


L to R: Slow Food Urban San Diego Special Projects Chair Kristen Goodrich, Slow Food Urban San Diego Food Justice Chair Kate McDevitt, Slow Food member Diane Hennelly. To get involved, visit Slow Food’s websites: slowfoodurban- sandiego.org, or slowfoodsandiego.org (North County). For event info, join their Facebook page: Slow Food Urban San Diego


Order up! @ Home Brew Mart March 3rd


A welcome sight to famished beer drinkers


The Behind the Brewery events have proven so successful that they are now slated as monthly occurrences and have prompted MIHO to team up with another high-traffic craft beer spot—Normal Heights’ Blind Lady Ale House (BLAH), which hosts a largely foodie and beer nut clientele.


When asked how it came about, Ho replies, “We already knew the BLAH family and we all wanted to make some magic. It’s cool for them because they don’t serve food on Mondays. I know the kitchen crew loves having the break. And our [fans] get to eat our food in an awesome setting with one of San Diego’s best beer lists.” Upcoming collaborative events for MIHO include the latest iteration of Behind the Brewery at Ballast Point in Linda Vista on April 20 from 4 to 7 p.m. The gastrotruck will also occupy curb space at the Subtext Gallery in Little Italy on April 15, providing edible art to go with a show called “Plug Me” featuring new works by artist Mark Murphy; their art circuit continues with an event at the Mingei Museum on April 21. There will also be stops at the National Homebrewers Conference when it hits America’s Finest City in June and the San Diego Brewers Guild Festival in November. HOMIs (the playful term created to describe MIHO devotees), you’ve been notified.


And speaking of notice—venues of all types, be aware that MIHO is open and eager to partner with anybody who shares their vision and belief in responsible gastronomy. “It’s one of the coolest things about being mobile,” says Ho. “We want to collaborate with anyone bringing quality, forward thinking and class to San Diego.”


We couldn’t have said it better ourselves! We lend out Guest Tap every month to someone involved in the local industry with an interesting perspective or story to tell. If you fit the bill, send an email to mike@westcoastersd.com with what’s on your mind and we’ll run it (may be edited for size, content). -Ed


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