Pairings

So let me tell you about Jughead's new job!

He's still working full-time hours at the food factory in Eden Prairie, but he also has a position at a new establishment in Minnetonka/Hopkins. After a few more weeks he should be able to quit working at Lunds & Byerly's and work the new job exclusively. The compensation isn't exactly the same (it would be very hard to find that outside of the Labor Union), but I will say that he's making a considerably higher hourly wage than I ever have... and he gets to sample wine and beer, present tastings, and talk to people about food.
The job title is, "Beer Expert".

The store is called Pairings. The concept is that there's a small store that sells mostly wine and beer, and attached to the store is an upscale deli. You order your food in the deli, then go over to the store and pick out a beverage to have with it. Jughead and his co-workers are there to help you find something that will pair well with your food, or to recommend something you've never tried before. Essentially, you're having a nice meal with a great beverage, but you have a much larger selection and you're just paying liquor store prices, without a restaurant's markup (you don't have to tip anyone either).

Beth and I went to check it out on Saturday night while Jughead was working. We picked our beer first then decided to share a sandwich. They have a beautiful patio, with great, big umbrellas and little couches and tables, so after we finished our butternut squash, arugula and goat-cheese panini (YUM!), we had more beer. We each spent about 10 dollars and had roughly 2 and 1/2 pints, and a half sandwich, in a chill atmosphere. Jughead is tired (working 75-hour weeks will do that to you), but he loves the new job.

Win-win-win-win-WIN!