MOSCOW -- Long before I ate at Tapped in Moscow, word of one of its desserts filtered down to Lewiston.
“Amazing,” was how my friend described it. Then she added, “but it’s going to sound weird.”
Tapped named it the Mediterranean Creamsicle: a scoop of vanilla ice cream with blood orange olive oil and sea salt ($5). Olive oil and salt on ice cream? Yes, it actually makes sense on your tongue.
Tapped’s name comes from the seasonally rotating 25 regional craft beers and 10 wines on tap. The variety is constantly changing with 50 to 60 different beers featured each month. On the food side, it’s a gastropub where comfort meals come dressed up as fine cuisine. Instead of grilled cheese you’ve got the Brie & Chutney served on sourdough with double-cream Brie, Gruyere and apple chutney ($9). Burgers are served on house-made challah rolls and include the Boss with horseradish aioli, dijon, arugula and bleu cheese ($12); and the Smokejumper with jalapenos, pepper jack cheese, chipotle ketchup and avocado aioli ($13). Vegetarians are invited to substitute a Portobello mushroom. Beer Cheese Mac is cavatappi, a spiral-shaped macaroni, with garlic beer cheese sauce ($9). A Braised Chicken Quarter is dry rubbed and served with a lentil quinoa hash, citrus and herb pan sauce ($13).
I started off with the Appetizer Flight ($15), which came with pink housemade pickled vegetables, squat smoked kielbasa sausage Brew Dogs cloaked in a cornmeal beer batter, grilled bacon-wrapped dates and a sourdough pretzel. In addition, I had the Chicken Naan sandwich, braised chicken with a pomegranate barbecue, jalapenos, mint and cilantro ($11.50), but the tastes of pomegranate, mint and cilantro were lost in the flavor of barbecue.
Some of the desserts take advantage of what’s on tap. The Mocha Stout Float is a stout beer with ice cream, cold brew coffee and dark chocolate sauce ($6). Winos might enjoy the Sangria Float made with a house sorbet, wine and lemon lime soda ($7).
If you’re wondering what’s on tap now at Tapped it’s digitally updated in real time at their website at moscowtapped.com.
On a side note, my friend, who lives in Lewiston, was so enamored with the Mediterranean Creamsicle she bought the ingredients at Ampersand Oil & Vinegar Tap House in Moscow, which supplies Tapped with the oil and salt. Ampersand will soon be opening a new storefront in downtown Lewiston, according to their Facebook page, so others thinking of doing the same will not have so far to go.
Tapped Taphouse and Kitchen, 210 S. Main St., Moscow, (208) 596-4422
