The air at Ember, Chef Josh Boutwood’s Michelin-selected restaurant, hummed with anticipation on March 25th, a palpable excitement fueled by the promise of a San Miguel Premium Beers pairing dinner.
Back in the day, advertising agencies would have clamored to capture Chef Boutwood’s pronouncements about San Miguel, a testament to his undeniable talent and the exquisite experience he crafted. Boutwood’s restaurants – Helm, a two-starred marvel – had already cemented his reputation as a culinary star across Manila, Cebu, and the surrounding region.
The evening began with Smoked Shrimp, a fragrant cloud of applewood smoke mingling with the savory scent of the seafood, paired with San Miguel Cerveza Blanca. The shrimp themselves were intensely flavorful, a surprising sweetness balanced by the smoke, and the beer’s wheaty notes amplified this delicate contrast.
Next, a Baked Chicken Thigh Fillet with Sage Butter and Cauliflower Puree arrived, accompanied by San Miguel Premium All-Malt. The beer’s maltiness subtly enhanced the chicken’s crisp skin, lending a remarkable clarity to both the meat and its pairing. Then came Marinated Grilled Pork Skewers, vibrant with spices and herbs, perfectly matched with San Miguel Super Dry. The beer’s complexity mirrored the skewers’ bold flavors, a harmonious dance of fragrance and intensity.
Finally, a decadent Walnut Date Cake, rich with cocoa notes, was presented alongside San Miguel Cerveza Negra. The beer’s dark, roasted flavors surprisingly complemented the cake’s creamy sweetness, evoking a comforting memory of warm milk before sleep – a delightful, unexpected twist.
Chef Boutwood, reflecting on his past accolades at the Michelin awards, had once declared, “I can’t wait to leave, go to my restaurant, celebrate, open a bottle of champagne, and drink a shitload of beer, and just really have a nice night with my team.”
During the pairing dinner, we inquired about his preferred San Miguel beer. “I’m a true purist,” he stated simply. “My favorite San Miguel beer is the original San Miguel Pale Pilsen.”
However, he revealed a recent fondness for San Miguel Cerveza Blanca, introduced in 2024. “It’s a lot more mature; it’s a lot more rounded. It has a lot more nuances,” he explained. “It’s less of the beer (for) ‘I’m going on a night out.’ It’s more of a beer to enjoy the night out.”
He playfully joked about potential royalties for the evocative description, adding, “Anything. Beer goes with everything. There’s not a thing in the world that beer doesn’t go with.”
These carefully curated pairings of San Miguel Premium Beers with Chef Boutwood’s intimate dishes at Ember will be available starting March 27th, offering a truly exceptional culinary experience.
