Green eggs, the latest brews, and secrets revealed at JJ's Back Yard

Last week, I was privileged to be invited to the latest Brewers Dinner at Chef JJ's Back Yard.  This event only happens seasonally, meaning only four times a year.  The last one for 2010 is scheduled for November 11th, and by the time you finish reading this blog post, the seats will be sold out.  Yes, this event is wildly popular, but is almost hush-hush as well.  It seems as though guests like to keep JJ's a secret to have better odds at obtaining their spot at the table.  Seats are very limited: only about 20 will be served at a time.

So, is it that good?  Of course it is.  You don't get a passionate following like JJ's by making crappy food.  The essence of the Back Yard is that the food is grilled right before your eyes - outside in the outdoor kitchen/patio, overlooking the canal.  JJ will tell you how he made it so that you can attempt to replicate it at home.  JJ and his sous chef, Jenna, cook everything on Big Green Egg grills - even the desserts.  Ingredients are purchased locally the day of the dinner.  You won't find a freezer here.  

At this particular Brewers Dinner, the men of Sun King introduced us to the beers that they are submitting to the Great American Beer Fest.  We drank with great thirst the Sunlight Cream Ale, Grapefruit Jungle, Buffalo Fest, Java ESB, Batch 111, and the latest to be revealed, Cupcake's Revenge, or as the Sun King boys affectionately call it, the Panty Dropper.  Admittedly, Cupcake's Revenge was my favorite.  It's a chocolate stout aged for eight months in a Buffalo Trace Bourbon Barrel with locally grown tart cherries.  All I can say to that is, hold on to your undies, girls.  

Each beer was paired with a Chef JJ creation like Cajun fish tacos with watermelon slaw, bison steak with smoked Gouda, cottage fries, & homemade spicy ketchup, and an antipasto platter with blue cheese panna cotta.  There were six courses in all.  Three pints of beer in all.  20 happy people in all. 

Try to make it to one of the Brewers Dinners.  $65 is well worth the fun, service, atmosphere, and fabulous food and drink.  And if all goes well, the evening might be finished up with the exchange of dirty jokes with the Sun King guys.  And you know you're having a good time after exchanging B- jokes with A+ people. 

Chef JJ's Back Yard

1040 Broad Ripple Ave, Indianapolis, IN 46220

(317) 602-3828

Open by reservation only