T.G.I. Friday’s is tapping into microbrews with several new dishes inspired by beer — including desserts — as the chain launched its summer menu Monday.
The more than 900-unit casual-dining chain also started offering, for the first time, a lineup of craft beers that varies by state, including such regional favorites as Fat Tire, Harpoon, Shipyard, Goose Island and Magic Hat.
The Carrollton, Texas-based chain cited figures from the Brewers Association that found sales for craft beer increased about 10 percent in 2010 while mainstream beer sales declined nationally by about 2 percent.
“This season’s menu stands out with the inclusion of the best regional craft brews from around the country as a pairing for complementary meals and as an ingredient in the actual recipes,” Ricky Richardson, T.G.I. Friday’s executive vice president and chief concept officer, said in a statement.
Friday’s new items include:
- Black Angus Brew House Steak: An 8-ounce flat-iron steak is marinated in a brine of beer and citrus and is then grilled and served with a craft beer sauce, potato salad and buttered summer green beans.
- Parmesan-Crusted Crab Flounder: Pan-seared fish fillets are flavored with beer, then topped with deviled crabmeat and Parmesan breadcrumbs and served with sides of jasmine rice pilaf and buttered summer green beans.
- Ale House Baby Back Ribs: Baby back pork ribs are grilled with beer, glazed with a Jack Daniels barbecue sauce and served with sides of potato salad and buttered summer green beans.
- Dijon-Crusted Beer Chicken: Chicken fillets are marinated in craft beer and lightly breaded with seasoned breadcrumbs. The dish is served with a tossed salad of mixed greens and grape tomatoes drizzled with a Caesar vinaigrette.
- Ale House Shrimp and Chips appetizer: Beer-battered broccoli, sliced red peppers and Cajun-spiced shrimp are served on home-style potato chips with cucumber-wasabi ranch dip and a stout-beer remoulade sauce.
- Guinness Stout: A Guinness Stout beer is blended with chocolate syrup and vanilla ice cream and topped with whipped cream, for adults.
- Mandarin Dreamsicle: Orange liqueur is added to an orange sherbet and vanilla ice cream shake that’s topped with mandarin oranges and whipped cream, for adults.
- Ice Cream Strawberry Shortcake: The non-alcoholic dessert is topped with two scoops of vanilla ice cream, fresh strawberries and whipped cream.
Contact Ron Ruggless at ron.ruggless@penton.com.
