Vodka Vodka: What’s on the menu Thursday night?

Traditionally, the foods served with vodka — in Russian, водка and pronounced votkə — have been inspired by classical Russian cuisine: black bread, salty caviar, blini, cured fish or smoked salmon.

At least one of those dishes will be featured at this Thursday’s Pitch event, Vodka Vodka, beginning at 8:30 p.m. at the Monarch Event Space at 1701 McGee. Tickets for the vodka tasting cost $20 and include samplings and vodka cocktails from Rider Vodka, Smirnoff Vodka, Kettle One Vodka, Pinnacle Vodka, Clear 10 Vodka, Stiletto Vodka and Samogon Vodka.

Several local culinary vendors are also participating in the festivities, including Grace’s Best Cookies, the Kansas City-based company that creates popular petite oatmeal and sunflower-seed cookies. Owner Jeff Watson says customers have told him that his cookies are particularly good with champagne.

“This event will be the test of how good they are with vodka,” Watson says.

Jane Zieha, owner of the Blue Bird Bistro, says her restaurant plans to serve a citrus-vodka-marinated poached salmon with jalapeno biscuits. (Also: a vegan option for those who don’t eat salmon.) Another vodka-infused savory dish: porchetta pasta, tossed in vodka cream sauce with shrimp, prepared and served by the culinary staff of the 12 Baltimore Restaurant at the Hotel Phillips.

The Melting Pot restaurant on the Country Club Plaza will be serving chocolate fondue and fresh strawberries at Vodka Vodka.

For more information or to make reservations for Vodka Vodka, click here.