Celebrate a Celtic Christmas this year at Stamper's
By Cynthia Schuster-Eakin
happenings
Published Dec. 14, 2005

Celebrate a Celtic Christmas at Stamper's Grill Pub, 21750 Lorain Rd. in Fairview Park. There will be a special live Christmas concert tonight featuring regional and Cleveland musicians. Stamper's is also having a Christmas party with Brace Yourself Bridget on Dec. 17, beginning at 9:30 p.m.

While you are at Stamper's enjoy their December menu specials like their barbecued pork sandwich, tam o'tacos and Irish egg rolls. This month's featured beers are Great Lakes Brewing Company Christmas Ale and Blue Moon, spiced wheat ale. It may be cold outside, but the paddy-o bar is heated and open during the busy holiday times.

Avoid the mall rush and spend New Years Eve at Stamper's, watching the Cleveland Browns and the Pittsburgh Steelers finish up the 2005 season. A New Year's Eve party for 150 guests will feature an open buffet of hot and cold party food, music by Rock Shop, a cash bar with happy hour prices, party favors and a champagne toast at midnight. The cost is $40 a person. The doors open at 8 p.m. Seating is limited to 150, so call 333-7826 for reservations.

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Since Christmas is one of those holidays where food is a main focus, spice up your holiday by complementing your fare with a Great Lakes Brewing Company beer. Christmas Ale, with its flavors of cinnamon, ginger and honey, goes great with pumpkin pie.

Great Lakes Brewing Company Executive Chef Kurt Steeber has added a number of new dishes to the brewpub's winter menu and each is complemented by a recommended beer. Chicken Waldorf salad ($10), a creamy blend of apples, celery, grapes, dates, grapefruit and candied walnuts, is delicious with a glass of Dortmunder Gold. A new addition to the pub pizza list is a Tuscan wood-fired salmon and goat cheese pizza, with sun-dried tomatoes and mozzarella cheese ($11).

Luncheon offerings include vegetarian chili rellenos stuffed with soy, garlic, cumin and cheese and served with black bean salad ($13), and sweet potato potpie filled with Holy Moses braised pork shoulder and winter root vegetables in a sweet potato crust ($9). New dinner entrees are fire-roasted rainbow trout stuffed with fennel, olives and capers ($17), and grilled flat iron steak with house-made porter steak sauce ($20). Finish your meal with honey grits flan topped with apricot whiskey sauce ($5).

Start the New Year off with a full stomach. Great Lakes Brewing Company will serve an early dinner by special reservation, with seating is at 6 p.m. and 7 p.m. the brewpub will be open for lunch as usual. Chef Steeber's dinner menu will include warm prosciutto and Killbuck Farm mushroom salad with arugula, dried figs and walnut vinaigrette ($9). Then, there will be a rabbit rillette with radishes and cornichons ($12) and braised beef bourguignon with winter root vegetables ($16). Last call in the brewpub will be at 9:30 p.m. Phone Great Lakes Brewing Company, 2516 Market Avenue, at (216) 771-4404.

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Claudie and George d'Arras have reopened their Bistro du Beaujolais restaurant at 8134 Columbia Rd in Olmsted Falls, just north of Bagley Road. They are having a Ketel 1 Vodka Night on Dec. 15. In addition to the regular menu, there will be appetizer, entrée and dessert specials prepared with vodka. Reservations are highly recommended. Phone 235-8883. Bistro du Beaujolais is open for dinner only, but will start serving lunch in January. Look to this column for future updates.