Beer Tasting and food pairing at Ted’s Butcherblock

Ted’s Butcherblock is easily the best butcher in the Charleston area. They source all their beef from Oregon and have a great selection of cuts you can’t find other places as well as a wide selection of other meats, charcuterie, gourmet gifts, lunch items, prepared foods, wine and now high gravity beers. Tonight they hosted their first high gravity beer tasting and food pairing in celebration of the newly changed SC beer laws, and well I just had to make an appearance. I’ll have to say that it may be the best $15.00 I’ve spent in a long while. Here is the menu in order.

Delirium Tremens from Belgium (Paired with Grilled Chicken with Portobellos.)

Gouden Carolus D’or from Belgium (Paired with Fresh, Local Mahi and Homemade Molé Sauce.)

Great Divide Hercules Double IPA from Denver, Colorado (Paired with Grilled Beef Teres Major.) 

Aecht Shlenkerlina Rauchbier from Germany (Paired with Ted’s Bacon-of-the-month BLT with Cheddar and Broadbent Farms Pepper Bacon.)

Kasteel Bruin from Belgium (Paired with Ted’s Sweet Potato Pie.)

I’d only had Delirium Tremens before so I was excited to try the different ales and lager as well as the pairings. I figured the portions would be small for only $15.00 but I was totally wrong. Scott Shor, resident beer guru, was master of ceremonies and did a fantastic job announcing and explaining  the 5 courses and 5 paired beers. 

EVO Pizza

I’m a freak for fresh ingredients and even more so for local fresh ingredients so when I first heard about EVO Pizza I was psyched. The owners of EVO started out with a wood fired pizza cart (yes you read that correctly) selling pizzas at the farmers market and some catering gigs. They grew a substantial following because of their fresh ingredients and serious attention to quality. They’ve moved up to a brick and mortar location taking the quality with them.

EVO is a unique pizzeria that combines classic techniques with fresh, local ingredients to produce a true Neapolitan pizza. All EVO pizzas consist of hand-made dough, hand-made sauce and hand-pulled mozzarella, freshly baked in a traditional wood-fired oven. The restaurant also features fresh menu items, such as homemade soups, salads, cured meats and sandwiches on fresh baked artisan breads, all made in-house with that great taste for which EVO is known. With local beers on tap and special European wines by the carafe, EVO Pizzeria hopes both new and returning clients will help to make it the best pizzeria in Charleston.

They weren’t lying. I went to EVO for lunch today to give it a first once over try out (I’ll go back with the wife for a full run through) and color me impressed. EVO has the feel of a hip upscale cafe when you walk in. It is in the old Downtown section of North Charleston that is undergoing a deserved and needed work over. The atmosphere is artsy but comfortable with a nice big tall wooden bar and a number of small tables in one room. The menu is small and focused, perfect for a place that specializes in one form of food. Simple can equal great in food. There are a few apps, salads, a few Panini sandwiches and then 5 pre-designed pizzas and the option to build your own. I chose the …prepare for shocker…Pork Trifecta. Here is their description

house made sweet sausage, pepperoni, maple smoked bacon, house mozzarella & sea red sauce

I suck.

Well I’ve been a bad blog daddy. It’s been far too long since I’ve posted anything porky or saucy. That will change. I plan on ramping back up on food, restaurant, beer, whiskey and all otehr of edible goodness posts soon.

 I’ve got a fridge full of beer that need to be drank and I’ll do what I can to report back on them plus I plan on visiting a Pizzaria here in town that promises to be fantastic.