Have you ever wondered which craft beers go best with which foods?
A new cookbook has the answer for you, and it has a local flavor to it.
“The Craft Brewery Cookbook” by John Holl will be available on Tuesday.
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John Holl’s “The Craft Brewery Cookbook,” out Tuesday, features more than 70 beer recipes and pairings from chefs and brewers across the country, including one from Lincoln.
Lincoln’s entry in the book is a spicy shrimp cocktail paired with American sour beer.
Sam Riggins, owner and brewer of Cosmic Eye Brewing, said he was inspired by the recipe after trying different versions of the brewery’s Bloody Mary mix and realizing something was missing.
“After eating a Mexican shrimp cocktail at El Chaparro, the flavors clicked and I knew what changes to make to the mix,” Riggins said.
He said that when Holl contacted him about the book, he reached out to Mike Vandenberg, executive chef of the restaurant Course, which is part of the Great Plains Culinary Institute on the Lincoln campus of Southeast Community College, to offer his own recipe for a Mexican shrimp cocktail.
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“It was a no-brainer to get Mike involved,” Riggins said. “He’s a great chef, a good friend, and the restaurant is just down the street from the brewery.”
Vandenberg said he had never made a Mexican shrimp cocktail before, but enjoyed the challenge and was happy with the result.
“I’m not only very proud of how this dish turned out, but also very honored to be published in a cookbook with Cosmic Eye and many other talented brewers and chefs,” he said. .
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Cosmic Eye will host a tasting of the final recipe on Saturday at its bar at 6800 P St. Tickets for the tasting, which are available at cosmiceye.beerwill include an 8-ounce serving of the Spicy Shrimp Cocktail featured in the book and a Cosmic Eye beer.
Riggins said the cookbook only contains beer types and not those from specific breweries, but Cosmic Eye has three different sour beers to pair with the dish.
“Or it would also work with our premium American lager – Dead Man’s Run and Dead Man’s Light,” he said.
Mexican Restaurants to Try in Lincoln
Great Tacos

Super Taco’s deep menu, full of Mexican classics as well as more casual choices, has plenty of options. All tacos come with cilantro and onion. The restaurant is at 5501 Holdrege St.
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copal

Habanero apple salsa and fresh tortilla chips with signature Copal Margarita, Princess Donaji and Cucumber Jalapeno cocktails are served at Copal. Copal is at 4747 Pioneers Blvd.
Amber BAESLER/Lincoln Journal Star
El Chaparro

El Chaparro is at 900 S. 13th.
Star Journal File Photo
Mi Tierra Family Mexican Restaurant

Hand-carved chairs and booths and murals on the walls add to the ambiance of the family-run Mi Tierra Mexican Restaurant at 5500 Old Cheney Road.
FRANCIS GARDLER, newspaper star
The Potrero

El Potrero is on Eighth and Q streets of the Haymarket.
Star Journal File Photo
Mazatlan II

Trio of fajitas (bottom), rice and beans (left) and Morales shrimp salad (right) served with margaritas at Mazatlan II. The restaurant is at 2701 King Lane. The original Mazatlan is at 211 N. 70th Street.
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La Paz

La Paz Mexican Restaurant is located at 321 N. Cotner.
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Modern Mexican Cactus & Cantina, 12.11

The dish of short ribs with creamy risotto and mushrooms at Cactus Modern Mexican & Cantina, 56th and Nebraska 2. The restaurant revisits common Mexican dishes.
EMILY BLOBAUM, newspaper star
Hacienda Real

Four different types of enchilada and Molcajete De Carne, with chicken, beef, and pork, are part of Hacienda Real’s offerings. The restaurant is at 3130 Pine Lake Road.
ERIC GREGORY/Lincoln Journal Star
At Tia Lety’s
Mexican dishes at Tia Lety include mixed fajitas (left), chicken enchiladas and steak tacos. The restaurant is at 2701 N. 27th St.
GWYNETH ROBERTS/Lincoln Journal Star
At Tico

Tico’s is at 317 S. 17th St.
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Neveria

Neveria is located in the Nort Bottoms at 1317 N. 10th St.
VICTORIA AYOTTE BROWN, newspaper star
Villa Pancho

The Super Pancho Villa Plate is a signature dish from the Pancho Villa Mexican Grill, 5800 Cornhusker Highway.
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Cielito Lindo

The interior of Cielito Lindo Mexican Restaurant features hand-painted murals. Cielito Lindo is at 100 North First St.
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D’Leon

Great nachos from D’Leon’s. The restaurant has a number of locations around Lincoln, with the original drive-thru at 2140 W. O St. open 24 hours.
Star Journal File Photo
Contact the editor at 402-473-2647 or [email protected].
On Twitter @LincolnBizBuzz.