Fine Dining and Exceptional Beer at Bistro Vendôme

For beer lovers, there's no better dining experience than enjoying amazing food paired with world class beers. Bistro Vendôme, in Denver's Larimer Square, recently showcased a French culinary masterpiece at its Big Belgians & Barleywine beer dinner. It was the kind of event that proved yet again that beer is complex, diverse, and flavorful enough to be a powerful match to even the most elegant food.

Bistro Vendôme is a wonderful French restaurant that's been around since 2003. For this dinner, the chef and staff worked with their beverage distributor, Elite Brands of Colorado, to craft food and beer pairings that elevate each other. Several of the beer selections were Belgian beers, including Maredsous Blonde and Brown ales, Cuvée Van De Keizer Belgian Blonde Ale, and Brasserie des Rocs Amber Plum. Green Flash Barleywine, Ommegang 3 Philosophers Belgian-style Quadrupel, and Elevation Fanboy Double IPA were beers from American craft breweries that were also served. A pour of each beer was paired with a different small plate, so the variety of flavors was incredible.

The whole meal was outstanding, but my top three highlights were the scallop, quail and duck dishes. The scallop dish, paired with the Cuvée, was a pan-seared scallop with mussels, clams and crab. The rich seafood flavors melded perfectly with the complexities of this amazing Belgian strong pale ale. The quail dish, pictured below, was garlic sausage stuffed quail with a smoked honey lacquer. It was excellent served with the Amber Plum, a Belgian dark strong ale. The duck dish was roasted duck breast with Brussels sprouts, cherries and mustard emulsion. The 3 Philosophers was a perfect pairing that highlighted the strong flavors of the duck and kept the cherry flavors going through its dark malts and elements of candied sugars and fruits.

At the end of the evening, the staff had the guests vote on which beer they liked best. The winner was the Cuvée, which, as a result, will now be featured on Bistro Vendôme's year-round drink menu. I suggest stopping in and trying a glass of your own while enjoying some delicious French cuisine!