Beer goes with everything, says Michelin-starred chef Josh Boutwood
MANILA, Philippines — If you were to ask British-Filipino Michelin-starred chef Josh Boutwood, he would pair beer with just about every dish and dessert imaginable.
Local beverage brand San Miguel Beer teamed up with Boutwood for a special food pairing at his Makati grill restaurant Ember, one of three of his restaurants that were Michelin Selected.
This is the second time San Miguel has collaborated with the chef, following a similar event at another of his Michelin Selected restaurants, Juniper.
For the new collaboration, the brand paired its premium beers, Cerveza Blanca, Premium All-Malt, Super Dry, and Cerveza Negra, with four of Ember's dishes.
Each was paired according to the drinks' tasting notes. The light Cerveza Blanca was matched with a seafood dish, Smoked Shrimps with Aioli and Lemon, while the chocolate-like Cerveza Negra was paired with the Walnut Date Cake dessert, Boutwood's take on sticky toffee pudding.
In an intimate conversation with select media, including Philstar.com, Boutwood said that as a half-Brit, he enjoys his beer ice-cold.
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He praised all of the drinks on San Miguel's catalog but most especially the simplicity of Pale Pilsen, describing it as "whole, round, and perfect for a night out," as well as a particular liking for Cerveza Blanca for its lightness.
"Beer goes with everything — pork, beef, chicken, fish, even dessert," Chef Josh said before popping off to his two Michelin-starred restaurant Helm. "There's not a thing beer doesn't fit."
San Miguel Brewmaster Alan Sienes shared the success of the Ember food pairing could lead to potentially having the event at Helm.
Other options remain open, including another collaboration with the Bistro Group, where Boutwood is an executive chef and where the brand previously teamed up with Tomatito and Las Flores. Texas Roadhouse has also expressed interest.
Sienes also said San Miguel was working on a beer with flavors akin to salted caramel.
Testing new beverage types has been a consistent brand practice every Oktoberfest, with the latest drink being a mango yuzu Belgian-style wheat beer.
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