the passionate life of rick gresh

Posts Tagged ‘Goose Island Brewery’

So I’ve been busy, give me a break already!

So let me start this post with an apology, I’ve been a tad bit busy and typing up my life has not ranked high on the priority list.  I’m sorry for ignoring all of you, so what have I been up to the last few months?  lets see….

BETTY -

No I wont show her yet.  No woman wants to be seen before she is completely ready and I’m not going to do that to my girl.  Betty is my motorcycle I decided to build from scratch.  Yes from scratch, I didn’t buy a built engine like you see on tv and put it in the frame etc…  I rebuilt the engine piece by piece, hunting for the parts to get just what I needed.  Nothing was a kit, it was hand fabrication and lots of hours of making her mine!   No rules besides what the state of Illinois says of course to make her legal, I just built what I thought fit my personality.  So many people have asked me why a harley (can you see me in a sport bike?) like really I give off a sport bike vibe?  I need to change that immediately, I know if you are on two wheels its already cool but me on a crotch rocket?  ehhhh not so likely.  I like vintage, I love everything old school.  Give me a rat rod and some doo wop and you will see the inner greaser in me smile from ear to ear.  I love that style, I love that era.  I love all things vintage, if only the perfect “pin up” girl was out there!  ahhh a boy can dream right?  So for me to have a 32 year old engine and a 39 year old frame plus some newer parts mixed in just makes me happy on the inside.  You may have your cruise control, power steering blue tooth enabled whatever, but I have vintage, and in my head I have just a bit of extra cool!  hehe.  Hey I can always build another one, havent you figured that out yet?  Why build just one?

THE KICKER -

I had to get my motorcycle license.  Yes I didnt know how to officially ride, but i knew I would love it.  Build first, ride later.  Same thing applied to my hockey career, i told my mom in 2nd grade “I want to play ice hocke”y, she replied “you have never been ice skating”.  Ehh details, I played hockey!  Let me tell you that I’m so happy with my class and my instructor Kathy!  She was awesome and really taught me how to be a good biker not some db that we all know we have seen.  I recommended everyone taking a class from www.lrn2ryd.com.  Both Larry and Kathy made learning to ride the bike very easy and a ton of fun, thanks you two!

THE GARDEN –

400 seedlings to get my garden going this year.  plus there is that whole yard clean up and getting everything ready for summer enjoyment.  Don’t worry its all planted, looking great and Im excited to have some fantastic crops!  this year Im  clipping my bush berry plants and making them root to expand my stock of berries, approx 90 Feet of mixed raspberries, blueberries and blackberries!  I moved my strawberries to a better spot and gave them a proper netting cover to keep the birds, rabbits etc out of them!

WORK -

Oh right I still have that little hotel and restaurant to run!  Everything is great and I’m  looking forward to a great summer.  Speaking of a great summer, I plan on really enjoying my summer.  I read the handbook and it had this whole paragraph on “work/life balance” :) seems to be a life balance moment for me!  As one of my friends has dubbed this the “Summer of Gresh”, please say hello if you see me out!

CITRINE BOMBSHELL -

Brewed that little number with Goose Island, so delicious!  Not going to lie, brewed a homebrew batch afterwards.  Hey a boy has to keep some goodness around when all of you drink it up!  Thanks for loving it!

WEIGHT LOSS CHALLENGE -

Myself and Roger Herring both decided to “clean up our acts” and loose the weight.  it was a simple challenge, who can lose the most weight in 6 weeks.  Well I’m happy to say I’ve lost 23 pounds and still going strong.  For those of you who don’t know this chef lifestyle I eat and drink better the anyone else out there.  It just adds up, there is always an event to be at or an after party etc.  I’m a new man, a new discipline, a new world!  Its not over, I’m dropping more weight and I’m not happy until I reach my goal!  I’m going to keep using my “Daily Burn” App because it’s the greatest!  It makes me think about what I’m eating, nibbling on etc.  If you want to lose weight, try it out, be disciplined and it will work.

CHARITY -

I had the luxury of cooking at some great charity events so far this year, man so many I cant list them all.  Some highlights have been Food Fight  and Meals On Wheels in Delaware.  Anytime I can cook with other chefs and we just “let our hair down” ok more like we try to control Steph’s hair is a good time.  Its always fun to just catch up with friends, we are all so busy its nice to see friends out and doing well.

ANNOUNCING –

al GRESHco feast -

Im back but with limited dates and I’ve given myself a little extra time to intensify the offerings.  Only 4 dates this year so make your resos now.

June 16, July 28, August 18 & September 22

JOVE T’s BIG DADDY CONE ICE CREAM SHOP -

I love ice cream, Jove (my pastry chef and fellow punk rocker) makes amazing ice cream.  We came up with this idea of just offering a Friday afternoon treat.  So its simple, we make 2 absolutely killer ice creams every week and serve them just outside jbar (mid block on rush between Ontario and Ohio street) between 3-5 pm.  Now if we run out we run out, get there early.  Not everything in life is unlimited, deal with it.

GREEN CITY BBQ -

July 21, yes I will be there!  Will you?

Talk with all of you soon, lots of fun still to come this summer!  All the best and happy cooking!

rg


Octobeer Fest Begins 10-4-09!!

Daily this will start with a beer reception from 630-7:15

Dinner starts at 7:30 in David Burkes Primehouse

4 course meal/reception costs $55 per person plus tax and gratuity

Purchase  8 courses (2 separate dinners) for $95

or

Purchase all 16 courses (all 4 seperate dinners) $175

cal 312-660-6000 for reservations

 

Chef Ricks Homebrew Dinner

October 4, 2009

Reception

Chef Ricks Selection Of Nibbles

Belgian Blond…snow white head, gold color, spice, malt hops & orange essence

Stoned Wheat…seedling farm peach infused wheat beer, zesty aroma 

Dinner

Beet Cured Sturgeon

grilled brioche, butter whipped brie & spiced bacon mustard

Working Man Champagne…whipped cream head, golden body, toasted bread aroma, malt, fruits & spicy hops

 

Shrimp & Chorizo Cake

charred corn & roasted sweet pepper vinaigrette

I-PAC (India Pale Ale With Chamomile)…malt, toffee, caramel apples and floral hops that finish with chamomile

  

40 Day Dry Aged Slow Roasted Prime Rib

caramelized onion gratin & grilled lobster mushrooms

2 Wood Ale…reddish brown color, sweet aroma, caramel, toasted malt & velvety mouth feel,

started with birch syrup &  finished with african mahogany

 

Sticky Toffee Pudding

chicory creme brulee & chocolate coffee caramel

 Mr. Peabody Porter…rich, full bodied, bittersweet, chocolate & coffee

  

 

Two Brothers Brewing Beer Dinner

October 5, 2009 

Reception

Chef Ricks Selection Of Nibbles

Cane and Ebel…unique red rye beer, full of hop flavor and aroma. 70 pounds of Thai palm sugar is added to each batch which attributes a vanilla-like flavor. A new hop variety call Summit is really showcased in this beer.

Dinner

Seafood Trio

Lump Crab Cake… roasted jalepeno relish

Fried Oysters… homemade pancetta vinaigrette

Chilled Lobster Taco… grilled onions, watercress, lemon crema

Ebel’s Weiss…traditional German Hefeweizen that is naturally unfiltered. It has wonderful malt sweetness and a soft aroma of clove, vanilla, and banana

 

Blackened Benton Bacon Raviolis

roasted pumpkin, toasted almonds & tuscan kale
Heavy Handed IPA…fall seasonal brewed with freshly harvested hops. Since these “wet hops” have not been dried before use, they add a wonderful character found in no other beer.

 

Coffee & Spice Crusted Dry 35 Day Dry Aged Sirloin

potato and onion gratin, fait gras, haricot vert

 Red Eye Baltic Porter …starts with a 9.3% ABV Imperial Baltic porter recipe that can easily stand on its own. Then we loaded it up with 100% organic, fair trade coffee beans that were roasted about 3 miles from the brewery. The result is a wonderfully rich chocolate and coffee aroma, with nice coffee and black malt flavor, and a soft clean finish

 

Apple Tarte Tatin

salted caramel ice cream, caramelized puff pastry

Avalon…A spiced ale brewed with pressed apples grown right here in Illinois. The apples and a special blend of mulling spices are introduced into the mashing process. Champagne yeast is then used to create a highly carbonated beer with fruity undertones and a clean, crisp finish

 

New Holland Beer Dinner

Reception

Chef Ricks Selection Of Nibbles

Golden Cap…saison soft, golden beer with a subtle peppery fermentation profile. 

Dinner

Spicy Salmon Gravlox

 preserved bok choy, smoked potato pancake, citrus crème fraiche

Mad Hatter…india pale ale that is well balanced beer in terms of aromatics, bitterness and malty-sweetness. 

 

18 Day Dry Aged Tenderloin Medallions

heirloom tomatoes & roasted garlic risotto with black pepper malt syrup

Sundog…classic representation of amber ale’s feature of caramel malt (barley.) 

 

Braised Benton Bacon

celery root puree, grilled onions, mushroom wontons

Charkoota Rye…smoke-forward body is balanced with tones of deep molasses and caramel, with a crisp, clean lager finish. 

 

Gorgonzola cheesecake

balsamic concord grape jam

Dragon’s Milk…Oak-aged Strong Ale/stout:  Bourbon barrels lend their help to this deliciously balanced beer.  Oak, bourbon, vanilla, roast, chocolate and coffee tones lurk beneath the surface.  Extremely versatile, it can lend an earthy complement for mushrooms, beef, or balsamic, and it can also be a hearty counter to big, rich flavors like bleu cheese.

 

Goose Island Beer Dinner

Reception

Chef Ricks Selection Of Nibbles

Sofie…belgian style ale featuring citrus peal, vanilla, tart and dry

Dinner

Baked Lobster & Chestnuts

shallot confit & 3 sisters coarse cornmeal, roasted corn 

Matilda…belgian style ale with a slightly fruity aroma, spicy yeast flavor

 

Chicken Liver and Crispy Rabbit Ears

cavetelli pasta, poached egg, manchego cheese

Juliet…belgian style ale fermented with wild yeasts and blackberries

 

Braised Dietzler Farm Beef Shank

parsnip puree, curry, haricot vert & red wine celery slaw

Pere Jacques…fruity malty ale, complex flavor

 

Cherry Bread Pudding

bourbon walnut caramel, vanilla bean ice cream

 Imperial Brown Goose…strong bourbon barrel aged ale, this ale is rich and full flavored with

 notes of wood, vanilla, and raisin


OctoBeer Fest 4-7, 2009 at David Burke Primehouse

Beer

There is no denying I love beer, so its only natural to celebrate my passion of brewing beer, drinking beer and cooking with all of you.  I will kick off OctoBeer Fest at David Burke Primehouse with a homebrew dinner.  I know other chefs have helped “make” a beer for a dinner, but I truely have brewed every beer featured at my homebrew dinner.  I think that this unique approach of making not only the food but also the beverages will make for a remarkable dinner.  The following three days I leave the brewing to the pros and I’ll stay in the kitchen. 

Daily beer reception from 630-7:15 pm 

Dinner starts at 7:30 pm 

4 course meal costs 55 per person plus tax and gratuity Purchase 2 separate dinners for $95 or Purchase all 16 courses (all four seperate dinners) $175

 

Sunday October 4

Chef Ricks Homebrew Dinner

Reception Beers

Belgian Blond

snow white head, gold color, spice, malt hops & orange essence

Stoned Wheat

seedling farm peach infused wheat beer, zesty aroma 

Dinner Beers

Working Man Champagne

whipped cream head, golden body, toasted bread aroma, malt, fruits & spicy hops

 

I-PAC (India Pale Ale With Chamomile)

 malt, toffee, caramel apples and floral hops that finish with chamomile

 

2 Wood Ale

reddish brown color, sweet aroma, caramel, toasted malt & velvety mouth feel,

started with birch syrup &  finished with african mahogany

 

Mr. Peabody Porter

rich, full bodied, bittersweet, chocolate & coffee

 

Two Brothers Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Monday October 5

Two Brothers, Warrenville, Illinois

 http://www.twobrosbrew.com/

New Holland Brewing

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tuesday October 6

New Holland Brewery, Holland Michigan

http://www.newhollandbrew.com/

Goose Island

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Wednesday October 7

Goose Island, Chicago, Illinois

http://www.gooseisland.com/