Tonight and tomorrow Iacopo Lenci, founder and the 27-year-old rock star brewmaster of Italy’s Birrifico Brùton (Bruton Brewery) is hosting two dinners that will showcase the weird and wonderful ales that have propelled him and his brewery to the top of the heap of the Italian craft beer movement. Tonight Stephen Starr’s Pizzeria Stella hosts Lenci for a four-course dinner that pairs chef Shane Solomon’s dishes with Bruton beers. On Tuesday night, he will join Bryan Sikora at a.kitchen for a similar feast.
If you miss both dinners, don’t worry, he will be holding court Tuesday night at Marc Vetri’s brand new Alla Spina. And if beer isn’t your thing, Lenci’s father, winemaker Agostino Lenci from Fattoria di Magliano will be on hand at Sbraga tomorrow at 6 p.m. for a special dinner that pairs the Top Chef champ’s dishes with wines from the Tuscany winery and vineyards. That dinner is $75 per person.
The Stella dinner, which starts at 6:30 and costs $35 per person, will feature:
wood-roasted pears
almond crema, lavender honey, arugula
with Bruton Bianca
baccala ravioli
saffron pasta, spanish octopus ragout
with Bruton di Bruton
porchetta pizza
24 hour Bruton Bianca brined pork, wood-roasted fennel, rosemary, fontina with Bruton Lilith
mascarpone cannoli
dried apricot, limoncello-chocolate shell with Limoncello
a.kitchen’s a la carte feast, which kicks off at 6:30 p.m. on Tuesday, includes:
Vegetables:
Roasted Maiitake Mushrooms, Squash Consomme, Creamy Polenta 13
Momus; Italian Dark Ale Brewed with Coriander 6
Spicy Fried Potatoes, Saffron Aioli 8
Bianca; Italian Blonde Ale Brewed with Spices & Orange Peel 6
Potato-Gruyere Gratin with Speck and Mustard Sauce 12
Lilith; Italian Amber Ale 6
Fish:
Seared Sea Scallops with Blood Orange and Belgian Endive 13
Bianca
Fish Stew with Preserved Lemon and Saffron 19
Lilith
Chili Glazed Swordfish with White Beans and Black Olive Puree 18
Momus
Meat:
Lamb Bolognese with Tagliatelle 16
Bianca
Fried Chicken, Foie Gras, and Winter Vegetable Slaw 17
Lilith
Berkshire Pork Shank, Toasted Gruyere, Onions, Hazelnuts 19
Momus
Dessert:
Chocolate Panna Cotta with Chestnut Puree, Stewed Cranberries 8
Pomegranate Semifreddo, Chocolate Shortbread, Chocolate Truffles 8
Dieci; Italian Barleywine, Malty & Complex with Notes of Caramel and Licorice 6
Goat Cheese Cake, Hazelnut Crust, Vanilla-Honey 8
Bianca
