STONE BISTRO INTRODUCES BEER BOOK CLUB
 
by Gary Warth, Staff Writer
(John Thomas forwarded this article, which appeared in the North County Times.)
 
A beer-drinking book club may sound peculiar to some, but Stone Brewing CEO Greg Koch said it makes a fine fit for his company’s Escondido bistro.

"What sparked the idea was the fact that books often inspire us to great conversations, to ideas, to concepts," Koch said. "And of course, beer does the same thing. Putting them together is just a natural. It’s fostering social intercourse."

Koch said he hopes to give his customers at Stone Brewing World Bistro something more to talk about June 4 with the first meeting of the Book and Beer Club.

Advertised in recent weeks through the brewery’s e-mail newsletter and its Web site, www.stoneworldbistro.com, the book club has been reading Michael Pollan’s "The Omnivore’s Dilemma," a story of the author’s journey throughout the food chain.

"It’s near and dear to our hearts, because it’s about food," Koch said about the book.

Also scheduled to appear at the first meeting are David Bronner, president of Dr. Bronner’s all-natural organic soaps and lotions, and Barry Logan, proprietor of La Milpa Organica Organic Farm, in Escondido.  

The evening begins at 5:30 p.m. with a 30-minute mix-and-mingle session, followed by a discussion of the book at 6.

The meeting will be on the bistro’s lawn; guests are invited to bring their own lawn chairs. Blankets will be provided for people without chairs.

Reserve at (760) 471-4999, Ext. 1700. The bistro is at 1999 Citracado Parkway, Escondido.

Contact staff writer Gary Warth at (760) 740=5410 or gwarth@nctimes.com. Comment at nctimes.com.