Story and photos by Dr. Michael Lim The Travelling GourmetTM

All rights reserved

All food photos are of real food

The irascible and debonair strolls to Cosentino at 34/35, Duxton Road to taste…

MOUTHWATERING marinated Meat Tapas paired with La Socarrada Premium Craft Beer from Xativa in Valencia! That is in sunny Spain! Beer is usually looked down uponby wine snobs who equate this beverage with the drink of the common man. Well, I love wine and champagne but beer too and I do not look down on beer or beer drinkers. When I was a student in merrie olde England, my friends could down 15 pints of Newcastle Brown Ale in one night! Of course after that they collapsed in a heap…

When you drink beer, the production of bile increases. This helps you to digest fatty food. Beer is high in vitamins especially vitamin B and may even help to prevent diabetes being low in sugar. Also, hops have an aphrodisiac element that is good for your libido! O my God! All that in one drink!

The Brewmasters, Rafael Suner and Segiio Iborra decided to create a beer to express the terroir of their region not so long ago in July 2010. They therefore came up with La Socaradda! This is a allusion to the smoky amber colour and because the inhabitants of this region are called the “Socarrats”.  “Socarrats” means “the burned”. You see, way back in June 1707, King Felipe V he first Bourbon King of Spain, burned the city of Xativa after the Battle of Almansa. Man’s inhumaniity to man…it never ends.

Brewed according to the German 1516 Purity Law, this light attractive beer with 6% alcohol by volume is made with NO additives, filters or pasteurization…in the good old time honoured artisanal way. As well as hops, Rosemary herbs and Rosemary honey are used which accounts for the aromatic fragrance and very pleasant palate-friendly flavours with a hint of caramel and smoky toffee plus hints of toasted baguette. It is slightly”frizzante” with a creamy head, as they say in Italy, and reminded me of the German Bockbier style. I was tickled pink with this beer with its rounded and well balanced taste profile. This type of beer should be served at 7-9 degrees Celsius.

Mio amico laconic Chef Alesandro Laconi (pun intended) from the island of Sardegna kindly let me taste the beer with 3 of his special dishes.

One was a Crostini or open sandwich with Beef massaged with a sexy pepper Sauce on a toasted baguette slice. Another goodie was Chicken and Red Capsicum broiled skewers in a Chicken Broth. Oh Madonna! I adored the succulent and tender Roulade of Beef with Alfalfa! Healthy and yummie! I make no apologies for being a carnivore. The food went so well with the beer…do you know why?? The meat was marinated in the beer for 24 hours! Delizioza!

I also tried a Cocktail made with la Socaradda Beer and freshly squeezed lemon juice and topped with a floating slice of Dreyers Vanilla Ice Cream, then garnished with a dried Banana medallion. Its zesty sour notes reminded me of the classic Peruvian cocktail called the Pisco Sour.

The event was organised by Bruno Navarro and charming Carmen Herrada, Asia Director of Cosentino.

To live well you simply MUST eat well and drink well n’est pas! ENJOY! 🙂