‘The Perfect Pint’ overflows

Your mug will runneth over. But it won’t stop you from having another.

A new gastro pub has opened in Bonifacio Global City, offering a revolution of sorts with a craft beer movement that’s out to shake things up in the Metro.

The Perfect Pint: Craft Beer + Fine Food, a concept developed by the Tempongko brothers: Alec, Noel Jr. and Raymond, is out to change the perception of beers in Manila. This venture sought out by the three brothers is a little more than an attempt to make every man’s dream of owning his own bar come true.  It’s also a call to change the bar experience here in the Philippines. 

It’s because The Perfect Pint features two game changing traits. 

The Perfect Pint does not serve local commercial beer. Instead, it only offers craft beer, mostly of which are brewed locally by fellow Filipino-owned independent breweries. Local beers from Katipunan Craft Ales, Craftpoint Brewing Company, Pivo Praha Corp., G Point and Fat Pauly’s will be available on tap and bottles. 

On top of that, The Perfect Pint offers its own limited edition home brews to create excitement for customers and allow them to experience something new and refreshing.

Secondly, The Perfect Pint sought the expertise of chef Gene Gonzalez and his team  to create the menu. Being a home brewer himself, Gene is the authority in both wine-and-food and beer-and-food pairings in the country. Together, the Tempongko brothers and chef Gene came out with such pairings as Truffle Fries with Czech Weizen; Smoked Fish Spring Rolls with Classic Pilsner or Pale Ale; Lengua with Crispy Garlic with Czech Weizen, Pale Ale or Dark Pilsner; Seafood Chowder with Czech Weizen or Classic Pilsner; Roast Pork Dishes such as Thai style Crispy Pig Knuckles and Kapalmuks (crispy pig’s cheeks) with Czech Weizen or Pale Ale; The Perfect Pint Burger with Pale Ale or IPA; Freshly Baked Caramel Smores with Dark Pilsen, Stout or Coffee-flavored Beer.

Since I’m not a beer drinker at all (my husband and son are!), I came for the food and was not disappointed. My husband swears by the Czech Weizen, and he’s had the same thing in Prague.

My cousins Karen Parungo and Aimee Ferrer also swear by The Perfect Pint’s frozen margarita, and so I had one with Stinky and Truffle Pizza and soon felt the buzz. The place has also great dessert (my weakness), like its freshly baked caramel smores.

The ideas are new, exciting and dare we say, radical. According to the Tempongkos, seeing consumers start appreciating and pairing their craft beer and food already creates a difference.  Helping young and aspiring craft brewers sell their creations also gives purpose to the brothers’ venture.

“The quest for the ‘perfect pint’ represents a continuing journey, a cause, if you will — to provide consumers with ‘a notch higher’ experience, better choices and introduce them to the delectable world of craft beer and food pairing experiences.  Alongside this, we hope to provide a venue for our young local craft brewers to showcase their brews,” Alec Tempongko states.

Whether the aim is to a refreshing change in the beer landscape in the Philippines, support Filipino brewed craft beer or just plain offer a “notch higher” experience, it seems that The Perfect Pint is off to a head(y) start. A hand-painted sign on its wooden walls captures it all: “Savor the Flavor.”

(The Perfect Pint is located at 2nd Floor, Crossroads Building, 32nd Ave., Bonifacio Global City, Taguig.)

The best of Pinoy food at Diamond Hotel

Ever tried goto with foie gras? Or salmon wrapped in banana leaves on a bed of ginataang kalabasa? Kare-kareng bagnet with truffle sauce and paksiw na lapu-lapu wrapped in pechay leaves?

These are just a few of the dishes enticing people to the Diamond Hotel Philippines, which is now showcasing the finest Filipino synthesis of culinary flair at the lunch and dinner buffet of Corniche restaurant.

The hotel’s annual Filipino Food Festival entitled “The Best of Filipino Cuisine” offers the culinary creativity and skill of three of Manila’s celebrated chefs — Sau del Rosario, Bruce Lim and JP Anglo with the special participation of Diamond Hotel’s very own executive chef Marko Rankel to fill you with gustatory amazement. Chef Marko serves his very own adobo with a twist.

Experience a grand parade of culinary creativity and skill! Savor a spectacle of timeless and reinvented Filipino favorites, exquisitely prepared by the four masters of taste from May 13 to 23 at the Corniche Restaurant.

Partake of the Filipino buffet and get a chance to win round trip airline tickets for two to Coron, Palawan for a minimum P5,000 net spent on single receipt at Corniche’s lunch or dinner buffet extravaganza.

(You may e-mail me at joanneraeramirez@yahoo.com.)