Who: Hipster foodies, beer buffs, and local music enthusiasts
What: Gastro Non Grata 13: Leftover Love
Where: Triple Rock Social Club
When: Sunday, February 28, 2010
Why: To celebrate the often-symbiotic relationship between the music and food industries

Triple Rock hummed with culinary and musical talent on the last night of February as Gastro Non Grata, an event devoted to the celebration of local music and food, took over the Cedar-Riverside venue to engage all five senses.

Guests enjoyed the sassy rockabilly anthems of Bitch and Brown, Bella Koshka’s moody amd string-saturated tunes, the Unknown Prophets’ driving hip-hop flow, and powerpop from Montana-based group Noise Noise Noise. Between sets, GNG organizers Craig Drehmel and Jeff Mitchell raffled off Dead Meat Door Prizes, courtesy of Clancey’s Meat and Fish. The luckiest guests walked away with an oxtail, pork shank, and a whole rabbit. We’d need more than a little luck pulling off a dish with such exotic fare, though such ingredients are likely humdrum to the GNG crowd.

Featured chef Doug Flicker of South Minneapolis’s Piccolo was on hand to deliver small plates of pure deliciousness. We sampled a refreshing slice of smoked sturgeon and an addictively tasty fried pork meatball with white cheddar cheese. Mike Walters of Left Hand Brewery introduced appropriate brews to accompany our noshing: we sipped on the brewer’s light and tasty Sawtooth Ale, an aged barleywine, and a savory milk stout. And for dessert? Little bites of sweet, sweet heaven from cupcake maven Sheela Namakkal. Northern Brewer did its mad scientist thing in the back, brewing beer for thirsty patrons on site, and additional adult beverages flowed from Triple Rock’s packed bar.

If the guests’ hunger for Gastro Non Grata’s unique brand of party went unquenched, they need not worry: Craig teased about a March 13 bash at the Hexagon. See you there.