July 2007

The Session #5 – Hot in the Kitchen

Beer is better when shared with a friend.

That pretty much sums it up for me. I love beer, but it becomes a whole different experience when it is enjoyed in the right atmosphere, and that usually means with someone else. I’m reminded of the lyrics from Rush’s Chain Lightning…

sun dogs fire on the horizon
meteor rain stars across the night
this moment may be brief
but it can be so bright
reflected in another source of light
when the moment dies
the spark still flies
reflected in another pair of eyes
- Neil Peart

I’ve already blogged about one of my most favorite traditional atmospheres in which to enjoy a beer and it is with the family (and sometimes friends) while on vacation at our humble bungalow at the New Jersey shore. I wrote about in a 4 part series called Inspired by Blue Claws, a Snake Dog IPA review, the sacred social hour, Grandpa’s Crabs, & Catching the suckers… please check it out.

I have a whole slew of additional, perfect atmospheric conditions, in which the experience of enjoying a fine beer is greatly heightened by the situation and company. Some of the best are spontaneous, like the time my buddies and I ended up grilling bratwurst for dinner on the deck at midnight at last year’s Octoberfest. But, today I want to tell you about my most cherished atmosphere… and it all started with chicken marsala.

Life is busy for us all in this day and age. Not many families get to sit down for dinner to eat together during the week because there is soccer practice, music lessons, dance class, etc; plus working late, traffic jams, etc; you get the picture. We are all busy in our own ways and so often we don’t get a chance to pause and savor the moment.

That’s why I cherish the times when my wife and I get to cook dinner together. It started just after we were married and both working when one evening we took the time to make chicken marsala together. We were just getting out of the college days of macaroni & cheese with English muffins type of gourmet food when we decided to try and make real meals. It happened that we’ve never tried making chicken marsala before.

We sipped our beers while we prepped the mushrooms and chicken, saving the marsala wine for the meal. The beer was probably something like Sam Adams Lager, but the brand of beer didn’t matter, it was good. Cooking together turns out to be one of the few times that we spend quality time together. We talk, we communicate, we create great food… we relax.

It is the prep and cooking portion that is the best with the smells and tastes… the time working together. We didn’t have kids at that time and so today things are even busier, which is why I cherish the times we get to create a great meal together even more so. Oh, and in this perfect atmosphere, it can get quite hot in the kitchen.

Go and enjoy a beer with someone you love…