Morimoto Asia hosted their first of its kind fundraising Event on Saturday, July 29th.  All proceeds benefited the Children’s Home Society of Central Florida.  Here is our Review of Morimoto Asia’s Craft Beers & Bites Event.

Representatives Jennifer Patterson and George Slight of the Children’s Home Society were on hand to answer questions about their organization.   This program works 24 hours a day to assist children during times of great need where they need to be placed into foster care.  Children’s Home Society assists with finding short and long-term homes, for children in need, with loving families.

See our photo tour of Chef Yuhi’s Craft Beers & Food Bites Pairings here:

We particularly like the Red Cypress Spook Hill Artisan Ale paired with the Yakiniku Beef Skewers.   The tropical and citrus flavors in the beer were a magnificent combination that matched well with the beef.  If you have never visited “Spook Hill” in Lake Wales, FL be sure to check it out if you ever visit that area!

The Round the Riverbend Beer by Hourglass Brewing was paired with a lovely Okonomiyaki Seafood Pancake.  Chauncey was easy to speak with and he clearly takes pride in his beer.  The texture and flavors of the Seafood Pancake really enhanced the flavors of the beer.

Bowigaens Beer Company featured their 7 Layer Milk Stout with Nutella Churros.  This pairing was a very interesting combination of dark and sweet flavors.

Coppertail Brewing Company brought in a second beer, that we were able to sample, called “Two To Mango.”  This citrus ale was paired with the amazingly popular Morimoto Sticky Ribs.   We  love anything that is paired with the sticky ribs but the hint of mango in the beer made for a great pairing.

The Dovecoat Saison by The Ravenous Pig and Cask & Larder was paired with Chashu Pork Quesadilla.

You cannot go wrong with Peking Duck Tacos.  These flavorful and crunchy little bites paired well with McSwagger’s Amber Ale.  We found this selection to be one of our favorites.

The Redlight Provision Saison was served with a sushi hand roll.  The sour flavor of this interesting beer was something we found to be a flavor we left ourselves unsure if we liked it or not.

The Poke Bowl was paired with Two Henry’s Pear Ale.  The light and fruity beer was very smooth and cut the strong flavor of the Ahi.

We love meeting new friends at these meaningful events!

Many vendors donated gift baskets, gift cards, and hotel stays in a silent auction to help raise funds for the Children’s Home Society.  We were thrilled to see that all items had received bids.

The Morimoto Asia Craft Beers & Bites tickets sold out in just 2 days.  There were more than 200 people present and the entire second floor was dedicated to this event.  Morimoto Asia worked with local businesses to put together this fundraiser for a very worthy cause.   Maria Wyatt-Uhl was our contact person.  She showed us around the venue and explained how it all came together through teamwork.  We are hoping the popularity of this event will lead to more of its kind.  Morimoto Asia’s Purchasing Manager, Eric Bandauski, is a certified Cicerone and worked with local breweries to coordinate this event.  Chef Yuhi put together the pairings for this special day.

See our Live Video from the Morimoto Asia Craft Beers & Bites Event here:
Overall this event was a big hit with everyone we spoke with.  We had never thought of pairing beer with specific foods before and we think this an awesome concept that is sure to have a following.  The Craft Beers & Bites Event at Morimoto Asia was a great time for everyone and we would recommend future events to all adults who enjoy discovering new pairings of food and beverages.

Would you like to attend the next Craft Beers & Bites Event in the future?  Please leave your comments in the box below.