Creative Cooks Use Saint Arnold Beer to Add Spark to Super Recipes

HOUSTON, Jan. 29, 2009 – Just in time for the “big game,” Saint Arnold Brewing Company (www.saintarnold.com), the oldest craft brewery in Texas, has unveiled the winning recipes from its Second Annual One Pot Showdown. The competition challenged cooking teams to whip up their best tasting and most creative dish incorporating Saint Arnold beer as an ingredient. Each dish had to be cooked in a single pot in the Saint Arnold parking lot within the four hours allowed.

Thirty teams participated, with the judges awarding prizes to the top three recipes based on creativity, use and distinction of the Saint Arnold beer in the recipe and overall taste. The judges and the sold out crowd of 300 agreed on the winner: Two Smoking Texans Catering Company and their Blazing Buffalo Chili made with Saint Arnold Christmas Ale. The winning team consisted of Patrick Felker, Rick Rankin, Russell Wolfe and Ron Work.

“The wide variety and the creativity of the dishes really illustrate that we have moved beyond boiling brats in beer on game day,” said Brock Wagner, founder of Saint Arnold Brewing. “Super Sunday parties revolve around food and people are realizing that the caramelized flavor in Saint Arnold Amber Ale, the roasted flavors in Saint Arnold Brown Ale and the citrus flavors in Saint Arnold Elissa IPA can be perfect to pair with foods which share many of the same characteristics.”

Second place went to The Backyard Militia who entered Hopped Up Pumpkin Soup made with Saint Arnold Elissa IPA. Third place went to Los Carnes Beer Tamales made with Saint Arnold Fancy Lawnmower Ale.

A portion of each ticket sold was donated to the Houston Food Bank, which feeds 80,000 different people each week and nearly a half million people each year. The event raised a total of $1,700, which correlates to feeding a family of four for more than a year.

Using beer as an ingredient – called “cuisine à la bière” in Belgium – is common in Europe. The idea of blending food and beer is the centerpiece of the U.K.’s gastropubs. The three winning recipes are available at www.saintarnold.com/news/OnePotRecipes.html.