There are certain things we value in our friends--cocktail-making skills, good taste in music, the ability to be the life of the party, etc. But what we're really into are friends who are down with sustainability, just like we are. Good thing we paired with the crew behind Stag Dining Group for our San Francisco launch. Not only are they skilled event planners trying to bring back the fun in dining, they're also all about local, organic, and sustainable eats. Read on to see how they're staying green and shaking up the SF scene with their "clandestine dining" concept. Pretty sure we're gonna like our new home in SF.
Kanon Vodka: When working on a pairing menu with cocktails, what is the step by step process like?
Stag Dining: We look to create the food menu first because of the seasonality of the ingredients. From there we work with Cocktail Lab to develop pairings that complement or contrast from the flavor profiles of each course.
KV: What are some of the craziest pairings you guys have ever put together?
SD: The Bacon Powder Deconstructed Martini that was used for the Kanon event is my vote. It was paired with the smoked oyster and crab chowder. It was an epiphany type moment in which you can really experience how incredible a well paired course can be.
KV: You guys describe your events as "clandestine dinners"––what exactly does that mean?
SD: Our Clandestine Dinner Series has been our signature event series to date. These occur on a monthly basis, and we have developed themes for each of these dining events like the cocktail-paired Speakeasy Dinner, Summer Solstice Intervention Dinner and our Celebration of Soul dinner with Aloe Blacc. The clandestine aspect of the dinner is that each time they take place in a different location and diners don't know of the location until the morning of the event; it gives a sense of adventure to the dining experience. Additionally, this secretive nature is conducive to socializing with other diners, and we really try to emphasize the community and social aspect of food that so often gets lost at restaurants. At our dinners you are on a journey and you get to interact with a lot of great people though the course of the evening.
CONTINUE READING MEET STAG DINING: THE MOVERS AND SHAKERS OF THE SF DINING SCENE.
