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By JEFF HOUCK

The Tampa Tribune

Published: July 23, 2008

NOTES FROM A BEER FEST

The Craft Beer Expo on Saturday at the Mahaffey Theater in St. Petersburg was so crowded, it was difficult to avoid waves of claustrophobia. Good thing we had beer to keep our nerves at bay.

By "we," I mean myself, Tribune reporter Nick Bergus and Friday Extra editor Rommie Johnson. When it comes to beer, we triple cover.

Hundreds of beer fans crowded the theater's lobby to take advantage of seminars on beer and cheese pairing, to sample dozens of craft beers from across the country and to enjoy a six-course dinner paired with Samuel Adams beer.

A few notes from the day:

•The cash bar did a good business in Bud Light after beer samples ran out during the cheese seminar.

•T-shirts seen: "Wenches Want Me" and "Beer Is Your Friend."

•The big trends in craft beer at this festival: pomegranate flavoring, coffee flavoring and organic brewing. (Saranac Pomegranate Wheat had a nice flavor balance. Wolaver's organic white beer with coriander and orange peel flavors was a nice surprise.)

•Nationally, this year's trend is making sour ales and producing beer with a low amount of hops, since there's a worldwide shortage.

•With the crowd so big, it wasn't the best day for in-depth Q&A. We asked one woman about her beer. She said, "I'm only here to help the animals."

•Beer we enjoyed: Bell's Oberon Ale, an American wheat ale made in Michigan; Holy Mackerel golden ale, made by the Gordash Brewing Co. in Melbourne; Morimoto Black Obi Soba Ale, made by Rogue Ales in Oregon.

•Number of times I overheard, "I'm only here for the beer.": approximately 341.

FINALISTS NAMED FOR BOCUSE

A few weeks back, I wrote about the efforts of chefs Thomas Keller and Daniel Boulud to field a competitive team for the Bocuse d'Or worldwide cooking competition, widely regarded as the culinary Olympics.

The contest takes place every two years in Lyon, France. Keller and Boulud have announced the team's finalists, who will compete in September at the Epcot Wine & Food Festival in Orlando for the final spots to represent the United States. The finalists and their backgrounds are:

Timothy Hollingsworth, sous chef at The French Laundry, Yountville, Calif.; more than seven years of experience working for Keller at The French Laundry and Per Se.

Hung Huynh, executive chef at Solo, New York City; "Top Chef" Season 3 winner, formerly sous chef of Guy Savoy in Las Vegas.

Rogers Powell, instructor at the French Culinary Institute, New York City; 23 years of experience throughout New York and France, including La Côte Basque and Maxim's.

John Rellah, Jr., executive chef at Hamilton Farm, Gladstone, N.J.; former executive chef of the Union Club in New York, experience working at Gray Kunz, Lespinasse and Le Bernardin.

Richard Rosendale, chef-owner of Rosendale's, Westerville, Ohio; U.S. Culinary Olympic Team captain, has won 15 gold medals in national and international culinary competitions.

Michael Rotondo, chef de cuisine, Charlie Trotter's, Chicago; New England Culinary Institute alumnus, experience at Four Seasons Hotels.

Kevin Sbraga, culinary director of Garces Restaurant Group (Amada, Distrito, Mercat and Tinto), Philadelphia; former executive chef of Le Mas Perrier of the Georges Perrier restaurant group.

Percy Whatley, Delaware North Parks executive chef, Yosemite, Calif.; oversees operations of the Ahwahnee Hotel in Yosemite National Park.

WALKING THE FOOD BEAT

I had a chance last weekend to watch the new Food Network series "Food Detectives" with host Ted Allen. Think of it as a cross between Alton Brown's "Good Eats" and "Bill Nye the Science Guy." The show is fun to watch. Should be a hit with kids. It premieres at 9 p.m. Tuesday.

WAFFLE CONE WEDNESDAYS

TCBY is offering frozen yogurt in a waffle cone for 99 cents every Wednesday this summer. Govern yourself accordingly.

A MOMENT OF SELF-PROMOTION

The Atlanta chapter of the Society of Professional Journalists named The Stew as the best blog in its 58th annual Green Eyeshade Excellence in Journalism Awards. The contest is open to journalists working in Alabama, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Louisiana, Mississippi, North Carolina, South Carolina, Tennessee and West Virginia.

On behalf of the staff of The Stew, we are humbled. Especially since The Stew has never worn an eyeshade, green or otherwise.

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