Beer meets gourmet
Heineken’s Perfectly Brewed Experience unveils fresh pairings for brew lovers
Published:Thursday | October 17, 2024 | 12:11 AM
While wine and whiskey are often the stars of gourmet experiences, Heineken Jamaica showed the versatility of its portfolio with the Perfectly Brewed Experience, an exclusive three-part dining series which featured Heineken Original, Heineken Silver, and Heineken 0.0 being paired with gourmet cuisine at Broken Plate, Mystic Thai, and Sora Japanese Cuisine and Urban Lounge. The aim: offer diners an unforgettable fusion of food and beer pairings.
The journey began at Broken Plate with Damion ‘Chef Stewie’ Stewart, who is known for blending global cuisine with Jamaican ingredients. “The goal was to show how Heineken’s bold flavours can enhance familiar dishes and push traditional pairings’ boundaries,” Chef Stewie shared.
He kicked things off with a sticky pork loin that incorporated molasses, wild berry sticky sauce, sesame seeds, and sushi ginger matched with Heineken Original. The beer’s bitterness perfectly balanced the rich, sweet flavours of the pork.
Next on the menu, diners enjoyed charred octopus, served with scallion popcorn cake and arugula. The dish found the perfect match in Heineken Silver, with the light, crisp beer complementing the smoky, tender octopus. Thereafter, the tropical Heineken brewed passion cocktail and the honey miso salmon sushi were the perfect duo. A final main course of pumpkin lobster risotto was complemented by Heineken Original, bringing out the creamy richness of the dish.
Dessert was a sweet ending – lychee torte, with a Heineken tamarind sauce, which balanced the inventive ‘brewtini’.
“I’ve always associated beer with casual get-togethers, but the experience at Broken Plate completely changed that for me,” shared Savour the City creator Shannelle James Harris. “The way the Heineken Original paired with the sticky pork loin was a revelation – the bitterness cut through the sweetness perfectly. Each course showed how versatile beer can be in a fine dining setting. It felt like I was rediscovering flavours I thought I already knew.”
HEINEKEN AND THAI
At the next stop, Mystic Thai, the focus shifted to bold, spicy flavours. Diners started with kani maki sushi rolls, served with the smooth Heineken Original. Then, the heat of Sriracha fish was balanced perfectly by Heineken Silver, whose crisp profile enhanced the dish’s spice.
The final course, lemongrass chicken spring roll, coupled with a Heineken brewed passion, created a delightful harmony between the sweetness of the cocktail and the chicken’s aromatic flavours. “The flavours of Thai food and Heineken merge seamlessly. This menu has a little spice, so it balances beautifully with the crispness of Heineken,” said Mystic Thai’s proprietor, Karina Mehbubani.
The final leg of the series was at Sora Japanese Cuisine and Urban Lounge, known for its innovative take on Japanese dishes. “This menu is a celebration of Heineken’s crisp, refreshing qualities, with each dish carefully crafted to complement the distinct flavours of Heineken Original and Heineken Silver,” explained Sora’s Founder and Head Chef, Hiromasa Takahashi.
The evening opened with the tartar royale, a delicate blend of sushi-grade shrimp and salmon drizzled with Heineken and perfectly wedded with Heineken Original. The beer’s light bitterness balanced the richness of the seafood. Next, the Sakura bliss roll – pan-seared sushi-grade shrimp and salmon with cream cheese, avocado, and honey ginger sauce – was partnered with Heineken Silver. The beer’s refreshing finish matched the savoury-sweet fusion of the dish.
The Kokoro no Niwa was a standout course, featuring spinach and cheese with a roasted garlic infusion, backed by the smooth Heineken Zen Brew. Dessert, a Heineken-infused strawberry éclair, added a playful twist to end the night.