4 Hands Brewing Co. will debut a new food program at the brewery’s tasting room this Friday, Feb. 24, courtesy of chef Kevin Nashan.
The James Beard-nominated chef-owner of Sidney Street Cafe and Peacemaker Lobster & Crab created the menu with Peacemaker chef de cuisine, John Messbarger.
Most recently, Fifth Wheel Catering (owned by Baileys’ Restaurants) ran the 4 Hands food program. As The Scoop reported on Feb. 6, The Fifth Wheel left the brewery on Feb. 5 after five years in operation. Since then, Lemp has arranged a lineup of food trucks parked outside the brewery to feed hungry patrons.
Nashan and Messbarger’s menu features a variety of soups, snacks and sandwiches including beer cheese soup, smoked whitefish dip, a bratwurst braised in 4 Hands beer and a brisket po’boy. Nashan and Messbarger will also handle catering duties for events at 4 Hands.
4 Hands owner Kevin Lemp said he looked forward to teaming up with Nashan again after the two collaborated on a exclusive Peacemaker witbier. “I have such respect for Kevin and his team and everything they do,” Lemp said. “We thought this was a great way to work together again.” He said since Nashan’s Benton Park restaurants are near the brewery, they could be easily be used as commissaries.
Lemp said that Messbarger’s affinity for craft beer was also a plus. “He really understands what foods pair well with beers,” he said.
Nashan said the opportunity to work with Lemp was “a no-brainer.” “It’ll be beer pub food done our way,” he said. “It’ll be a lot of fun.”
This article appears in February 2017.