Seafood master and former head chef of the Oceanaire, Ryan Nelson is stepping up the dining ladder to open his own neighborly signature restaurant (with a working title of Northstar) at 8605 River Crossing Boulevard. Several staff members have been hired, and Nelson’s team is making the final logistical touches before the big Oct. 1 reveal.
Chef Mark Tromble of McCormick and Schmick’s (110 N. Illinois St., 631-9500) rolls out a five-course, beer-paired dinner tonight, featuring the designer brews of Flat 12 Bierwerks co-owner Rob Caputo. The menu includes beer-poached pear salad, top-neck clams stuffed with andouille sausage and cornbread, blackened scallops with cheddar and green-onion grits, and beer-brined roasted pork loin. Rice pudding with beer-braised fruit and whipped cream completes the meal. Flat 12 signature beers are paired with each dish. 6:30 p.m. $45. Call for reservations.
