New Whole Foods / DFH and Sam C.

[chazwicke]

The new Whole Foods in Fair Lakes opens on January 17th.

I got this posting from Jim Dorsch and DC Beer.

Whole Foods Market will open a new store at Fair Lakes Pkwy and West
Ox Rd, Fairfax, VA, in about a week and a half. My friends there
asked me to mention to the list that Sam Calagione will be doing a
book signing, beer tasting, and beer dinner at the store on Thur 1
Feb. Information: fairlakeswine@wholefoods.com.

[Jim Dorsch]

They gave me an incorrect email. It's fairlakes.wine@wholefoods.com

[kilted brewer]

Any idea if there are still spots available for the dinner?

[zoom6zoom]

Drat. I'll still be stuck down here in Orlando.

[kinjar]

Stuck in Orlando? I wish I had that problem - we HAD to leave there last weekend.

[chazwicke]

I'm stuck inside of Mobile with the Memphis blues again. ;)

[chazwicke]

Hey Jim, Do you know the details of the Sam C. signing at Fair Lakes? I can't get them to answer the phone number given on the website. I'm planning on attending the dinner and I know we have a table but I can't get the times, dates and stuff.

http://www.wholefoodsmarket.com/stores/fairlakes/index.html

[chazwicke]

OK I was finally able to get through.

Book Signing is Feb. 1, 2007 at 5:30
Dinner is 6:30 - 8:30 and is $60.00

Anyone else heading out there. This Whole Foods is a great store for those whom have not yet been.

[kilted brewer]

My wife and I plan to attend. I went to the store yesterday to RSVP as per the flier I saw in the store and was told it was a first come first serve deal. Can you confim/deny that?

[chazwicke]

I've been told by a buddy that he was told that they have 60 spaces and 80 requests for reservations. I think we are using a connection to get our spots. My buddy is handling those details.

[kilted brewer]

Originally posted by chazwicke
I've been told by a buddy that he was told that they have 60 spaces and 80 requests for reservations. I think we are using a connection to get our spots. My buddy is handling those details.

80 requests for reservations? What does that mean? This is being very poorly run if that is the case. Flier says to RSVP, I attempt to do so and I'm told it's first come first serve. Now you are hearing that there are 80 "requests" for reservations. I'd be fine if I were told it were booked, but this just doesn't seem right.

[chazwicke]

Keep in mind that I have not tried to make "reservations" myself. I've just repeated what I was told by my buddy whom I believe talked to someone connected with the brewery and not Whole Foods. I did speak with WF about times and prices only. So it is probable that they have had 80 "RSVPs" but not "reservations". I probably have got it wrong. My plan is to show up around 5:30 and hope for the best. I do plan on attending the dinner too.

[kilted brewer]

Oh, I understand. And please don't take my comments personally or directed at you. Just venting to my fellow beer lovers. The wife and I will just show up early and hope for the best. Don't know till you try, right?

Cheers to all....

[chazwicke]

Well I made it to the event last evening. It was not at all crowded as we had been told before. Which was a good thing. Some of the food was spectacular. The brews sampled were 60 Min., 90 Min., Raison D etra, Burton Baton, and Fort. I enjoyed them all. I really liked this dinner tasting format at Whole Foods. The food parings are well thought out and even created specifically for that particular beer. Not just putting a beer up with a standard menu item as most places do. The timing 5:30 - 8:30 is also good. The first hour being the book signing and samples of many of DFH brews. The dinner setting was nice as Sam and Devon could and did circulate to each table and we had chances to speak on an individual basis. Lastly, Whole Foods is pretty near my house and I was home by 9:00. :) I'm looking forward to future tastings there.

I was not certain who other Realbeerians were. I'd have introduced myself if I knew who was who.
I did meet a couple of fellow craft beer lovers from our area who sat at my table. I liked that aspect too.

Here is a picture from last night.

[kilted brewer]

So that was you? OK. I sat at the short table next to yours. My wife and I were on the end facing the kitchen. Tall, redhead.


Really had a great time and very impressed with the pairings.

[chazwicke]

OK I know who you are too. I suspected since you said that you were bringing your wife. But there were a few other couples so I did not say anything. I'm hoping for more tastings there. The food as well as the beer sold me.