Chef Grace Dinsmoor hosting tapas pop-up at Earthbound Beer this Friday

Earthbound Beer is teaming up with veteran chef Grace Dinsmoor for a Spanish-themed popup dinner at its taproom this Friday at 2724 Cherokee Street, a harbinger of the tapas restaurant she will be opening next spring. 

The event, which is non-ticketed and open to all ages, will feature traditional tapas such as pasture-raised lamb, grass-fed meatballs, chicken/serrano ham croquettas, and a celebration of salbitxada, a traditional Spanish sauce made with tomatoes, almonds, garlic, and chilis.

Dinsmoor will also prepare two vegetable-based dishes, one with Ozark Forest mushrooms prepared like ceviche with garlic, herbs, and fresh lemon juice, finished off with radish and escalivada, a traditional Catalan dish that combines fire-roasted red peppers, blistered eggplant, onions, topped with light sherry vinegar and olive oil (pictured at right). 

Courtesy Grace Dinsmoor

“Spanish food is so easily adaptable to vegan and vegetarian. Spanish people don’t cook with a lot of dairy, so it’s easy to make beautiful meals without butter or cheese,” Dinsmoor said.

Earthbound will offer sherry-based cocktails and sherry flights to compliment the tapas theme, and will also offer its standard wines and beers at the event.

“We love having up-and-coming chefs take over our kitchen. It’s exciting to pair great food with great beer, and to have a party and the energy of collaboration,” said Kristina Goodwin, who runs the food operation at Earthbound. “We love Grace, we’ve worked with her before, and it’s a dream opportunity  to have her to come in and preview what she’s going to do at her restaurant.”

Courtesy Grace Dinsmoor

The prep begins: meatballs for the tapas dinner

The dinner marks a turning point for Dinsmoor, who is gearing up to open Chela Tapas, a new restaurant inside the food hall at City Foundry, opening in 2020. She previously worked at the former Modesto Tapas Bar, but left seven years ago after a debilitating injury. Dinsmoor most recently worked as a chef at the Whittemore House at Washington University, where she teamed up with Earthbound Beer to host a beer dinner.

Now, Dinsmoor is ready to start a new chapter and share her share her passion for tapas with the St. Louis community.  

“I cook Spanish food for myself, and I’m sad that markets don’t carry Spanish food anymore. I want to bring that back to the community, and let people know that the food is quick, easy, and healthy,” Dinsmoor said.

Spanish food lovers can also check out Dinsmoor’s cooking later this year when Dinsmoor will host two pop-ups at Balkan Treat Box, where she plans to work until her restaurant opens next year.