North Coast Brewing’s Brewmaster Mark Ruedrich joined Loretta Evans, Food & Beverage Manager, to create a five-course meal featuring North Coast Brewing’s award-winning ales paired with wild mushroom dishes. You can re-create parts of the the meal or glean ideas for your own feast. In most of the recipes you can substitute mushrooms you find in your local market. We think you’ll enjoy the synergy of our hand-crafted ales paired with food.

Light Course: North Coast Brewing Ruedrich’s Red Seal Ale and Grilled Mushroom Polenta, with Wild Mushroom Hash and a Fried Quail Egg

Grilled Mushroom Polenta
Ingredients:
1 cup polenta
½ oz. dried porcini mushrooms
1 lb. crimini mushrooms
¼ cup olive oil
1 cup chopped yellow onion
1 tablespoon minced garlic
1 tablespoon minced fresh basil
½ teaspoon minced fresh oregano
4 cups vegetable or chicken stock
Kosher salt and white pepper
½ cup heavy cream
1/3 cup grated Asiago cheese

Rinse the dried porcini mushrooms. Place in a small bowl and cover with warm water. Let stand 1 hour. Drain and reserve.

In a large saucepan, heat the olive oil and sauté the onions until lightly colored; add fresh mushrooms, garlic and rehydrated porcini and sauté until these additions are very lightly colored. Add the basil, oregano, and stock, and bring to a boil.

Slowly add the polenta, stirring constantly with a wooden spoon to prevent lumps. Reduce heat to simmer very slowly for 30 minutes, stirring regularly. The polenta will be thick and creamy. Add more stock if necessary. Add the cream and cheese, stirring vigorously. Spread polenta out on a buttered baking sheet and chill until ready to grill. Cut into rectangular portions and grill.

Wild Mushroom Hash
Ingredients:
4 red potatoes
1 small onion
2 garlic cloves
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 lb. fresh chanterelle mushrooms diced
½ lb. crimini mushrooms diced
½ bunch fresh basil torn
1 tablespoon butter
1 quail egg (or fresh, organic chicken egg)

Dice potatoes and onions; sauté in a pan with olive oil until lightly browned. Add the chanterelles, crimini mushrooms and butter, and sauté until tender. Turn off the heat, add the torn basil, and toss. Serve over the Grilled Mushroom Polenta and top with a fried quail egg.

Serve with a glass of Red Seal Ale.