3 Stacks, Not just Great BBQ

 
  For our recent tasting at Frisco's newest hot spot 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House I invited him to join my League of Extra-Ordinary Reviewers. I have included him before and he is always great company and to me, a respected opinion.
  So while I usually suggest that everyone drink water so they can taste the food, Richard is a respected Beer Judge. With 32 beers on tap as part of their name, someone has to do some pairing. Here's Richard! 

  As a BJCP beer judge and restaurant consultant, it was a pleasure to be invited to the tasting at 3 Stacks Smoke & Tap House.  The food was excellent and the company was fun and funny. 

  We were guest of J.B. Blocker, the North Texas Reporter. Joining us were Frisco's Mayor Maher Maso, Collin County Commissioner Matt Shaheen, and Terri Green the current President of the Republican Women of Collin County.  With commentaries on the food by these three local favorites, I will simply use my space to detail what I think are the best meat and beer pairings currently available. 

  3 Stacks has 32 beers on tap and a few of those beers are specials and they won't always be available.  If my suggestion is not available, ask your server or bartender for a recommendation of similar style.

  While you may have a favorite beer, I urge you to compare and contrast these beer selections with your food (Texas beers are designated with *).  I also urge you to try the different sauce options to see what makes your palate happy.

Texas Beef Brisket: Alaskan Amber Ale or Franconia Dunkel*

Carolina Pulled Pork: Left Hand Milk Stout or Brooklyn Brown (Carolina barbecue sauce has vinegar in it. That is why I recommend big, soft, stout, round, and malty brown ales.)

Smoked Turkey or Smoked Chicken: Peticolas Golden Opportunity* or 312 Wheat

Hickory Sausage: Shiner Bock* or Franconia Kolsch*

Jalapeno Cheddar Sausage: St. Arnolds Pilsner* or Lagunitas IPA

Dry Pork Ribs: Peticolas Velvet Hammer* or Batch 19

Glazed Pork Ribs: Lakewood Lager* or Lagunitas IPA (Some people are wary of IPAs but this is a softer version than most.)

Beef Ribs: Firestone DBA or Deschutes Black Butte Porter

Beers with smoky notes such as Smoked Porters, Scottish Ales or Rauchbiers always play well with any barbecue pork or beef dish.

As always, your mileage may vary.

- J.B. Blocker is a media consultant based in Collin County in North Texas. Advertise with J.B. by calling 469-334-9962. Email: jbnorthtexas@gmail.com

ITALIAN GARDEN in McKINNEY

BENNY'S ITALIAN GARDEN

Another restaurant profile by J.B.Blocker, the Lone Star Reporter

Family is very important to the Polisi family. So when one of their cousins was to be married, Zati and his wife Flora brought their two teenage sons to attend the wedding in Allen, Texas. They left their family farm in Albania and packed for an extended visit. They liked Texas, respected America, and decided to stay.

For generations the family has lived close to where the Adriatic and Ionian Seas meet just southeast of the heel of the Italian peninsula. They were strongly influenced by fresh seafood as well as locally produced fare. Even though the family is Italian, the region also has a strong Greek influence. Their homeland is rich in history and the melding of ancient cultures.

    Back Row: Little Benny, Flora, Zati, Chef Benny, Alisa, Shippy, and Sabi                          Front Row: Mayor Brian Loughmiller, Richard Pedretti-Allen, and County Judge Keith Self

The oldest son took to being called Benny and worked his way from a dish washer and bus boy up through the ranks of the well established and operated restaurant of a relative. By the time the Polisi family was ready to open their own restaurant, Benny’s skill, experience, and love for cooking had prepared him to take control of his own kitchen.

It's good to have a talented and dedicated chef, but you need more to insure a successful restaurant. You need a really good manager who takes quality, management, and hospitality seriously. Fortunately, Chef Benny had the best of allies. His younger brother who was also being called Benny by his friends has the mind of a responsible businessman. Little Benny was 14 when the family came for the wedding and chose to become a part of the American Dream.

Benny's Italian Garden is a family affair. 

The Power of Networking

Guest Speaker: Angela Tucker-Attorney, GOP Candidate for Collin County 199th District Court Judge

Front Row : Melanie Hedrick -Realtor, Trish McBean -Nurse Manager, Becky Holmes -Safe Candle Sales, Jacki Muehlenbein -Travel Consultant, Julie Crosby-Fritz -Health & Wellness Products, Angela Tucker-guest candidate

Back Row: Mary Detweiler -Promotional Products, Mike Napurano -Large Format Printer, Richard Pedretti-Allen -Graphic Design and Print, Geoff Cerny -HVAC, Dr. Lee Ligon -Chiropractic, Carl Vance -Large Format Printer

McKinney Networking Meeting

It started as a monthly meeting in the Meeting Room of The Pub on McKinney’s town square. Before long it became a weekly gathering every Thursday evening at 7:00.

This eclectic gathering of professionals has now grown into a support group of friends and entrepreneurs.

As with most networking groups, each profession is exclusive to the first member who pays the nominal $15 annual fee. There is a catch. You have to be active!

Each week new guests show up to see if they connect.

During the campaign season, a weekly special guest candidate is given 10 minutes to state their case for their candidacy before answering to the knowledgeable gathering. The questions are hard hitting and the follow up to the answers are immediately discussed.

This group of serious and highly motivated Networkers have the ability and the contacts that could have a serious impact on any candidate who impresses or disappoints.

Angela Tucker, the candidate to fill the 199^th District Court seat in Collin County wowed the networking pros this week. The Q&A segment lasted long after the meeting was adjourned and every available street sign was gobbled up by newly committed supporters who freely volunteered to use their personal networks to bring attention to the judge to be.

This type of format allows a more intimate opportunity for the candidates to really connect and to make their qualifications and intentions clear.

While Mrs. Tucker was making her case, one MNM member used her smart phone to verify an endorsement Tucker was claiming. She immediately confirmed the endorsement to the group. This collection of networkers make things happen and they don’t mince words! The meetings remain fairly informal and light-hearted but these pros are very serious about sharing referrals and helping each other grow their businesses.

If you aren’t part of an intimate networking group in the McKinney area that works for you, show up on Thursdays and make some new friends and connections. If you are already active in other networks then just remember that referrals are always the best advertizing and that in the world of business that age old adage will always apply. The More, the Merrier!

"Coming together, sharing together, working together, and succeeding together."

The McKinney Networking Meeting is a group that is committed to helping our community THRIVE! We are a group of Professionals, Small Business Owners, Self-Employed, Entrepreneurs, and Charitable Organizations all working together to grow and learn.

What McKinney Networking Meeting can help you with:
* Referrals of potential customers/clients
* Referrals of services for your business/organization
* Education on Networking/Referrals/Business Ownership
* Marketing Training
* Goal setting and Celebrating Success

www. meetup.com/Mckinney-networking-meeting

- J.B. Blocker is a media consultant based in Collin County in North Texas. Advertise with J.B. by calling 469-334-9962. Email: jbnorthtexas@gmail.com or jbblocker@hotmail.com.