PERFECT PAIRINGS
How to eat, drink, and be merry with The Tasting Club’s tips on alcohol and food pairing, showcasing local brands that are worthy of recognition
How to eat, drink, and be merry with The Tasting Club’s tips on alcohol and food pairing, showcasing local brands that are worthy of recognition
The evolutionary argument maintains that humans are social beings hotwired to be in groups. Isolation and the restriction of in-person gatherings are an irregularity, which are perhaps the biggest disruptions brought about by the Covid-19 health crisis. While physical meet ups are still being kept to a minimum, organizations and even entire industries have transitioned to the digital space to convene and continue operations.
The Tasting Club, a consortium of epicures on a constant quest to find premier fine spirits and food pairings in the Philippines, is among the cliques currently holding its events online with its Virtual Masterclass Program. A brainchild of French wine connoisseur Kevin Charuel and his Filipino wife Adrienne, the club was the couples’ way of building friendship, and a means to share their valuable knowledge to people about food when they moved to New York in 2016. “We all appreciate our tasting experience further when we understand more about the craft of what we eat and drink. This is a natural reaction,” Kevin beams.
“The concept really is about sharing knowledge and having fun while enjoying delicious food pairings,” says the Frenchman. The online sessions go beyond your typical tasting, where people simply eat, drink, and socialize, as the spirits savant adds a touch of technicalities through insightful conversations.
“This is something very important to me since I specialize in the wine industry with a bachelor’s degree and
I have international work experience in the field in France, Australia, New Zealand, Singapore,” Kevin intimates. The Tasting Club does not highlight a specific brand to avoid being promotional. There are some exceptions, however, when the product serves the purpose of the tasting. “The purpose is really to understand the craftsmanship behind the category and we invite an expert for this,” he explains. Whenever there is a brand involved, it reflects Kevin’s skills and extensive knowledge as the products are well-curated, top-of-the-line, and truly deserving to be indulged in by discerning palettes.
In his Gin masterclass last month, Kevin talked about the history of the British alcohol, its basic manufacturing process, and types, through the multi-awarded ARC Gin. Meanwhile, to end September and greet the new month, a craft beer and artisanal cheese pairing class was held just in time for the Bavarian Oktoberfest.
Featured in the lecture were Olive Puentespina, founder and cheesemaker of Malagos Farmhouse, a Davaobased company that produces cheese from scratch, and brewmaster Ian Leigh of Crazy Carabao Brewing Co., a Laguna-based brewery specializing in craft beer.
The online sessions go beyond your typical tasting, where people simply eat, drink, and socialize, as the spirits savant adds a touch of technicalities through insightful conversations.