Urban gastrobar and mile-high microbrewery LeVeL33 – perched atop Marina Bay Financial Centre – has introduced new à la carte dinner and beer dining menus geared towards beer pairings.
Sometimes we feel it’s quite the shame that LeVel33 is famed more for its fabulous views of Singapore’s city skyline that for its modern European fare and in-house beers, but the microbrewery restaurant is hoping to change mindsets as it unveiled a new menu to help diners understand about food and beer pairings. LeVeL33 executive chef Jimi Tegerdine unveils his twists on classic European cuisine and, in a few cases, infuses the beers made by head brewer Gabriel Garcia into his culinary creations.
The new menus – both the regular à la carte dinner menu and the separate beer dining menu – are cleverly arranged such that each menu item comes with specific beer pairing recommendations to help guide diners in picking out which beers would go better with the dish.
For example, the Celeriac Tacos ($18.00++, main picture) features cured pork hock, butternut slaw, yoghurt curd and Neal’s Yard Red Leicester cheese with a reduction made from hay and the brewery’s 33.15 India Pale Ale, as well as a sweet chili made with its 33.1 Blond Lager. It is, unsurprisingly, recommended to be paired with 33.15 India Pale Ale.
Likewise, the Soup ($15.00++) is a reinterpretation on classic French onion soup, but is instead infused with its 33.9 Wheat Beer, topped with Neal’s Yard Red Leicester cheese, sourdough toast and 33.15 India Pale Ale foam. Have the recommended 33.9 Wheat Beer pairing for the ultimate yin-yang, hot and cold experience.
Other dishes may not incorporate beer as an ingredient but as a pairing can be absolutely essential. The Kangaroo ($39.00++, above) sees tender kangaroo loin pan-seared and accompanied by pears done two ways and roasted baby corn, and whose sweetness is best complemented by the roasty yet hoppy flavours of the 33.4 House Porter.
Those who prefer to find out their preferred pairings are best advised to order a Beer Tasting Paddle ($23.33++), which comes with a 0.1L pour of every beer here at LeVeL33 so you can try whichever house beers with your food as you like.
But LeVeL33 – you can’t simply blend your 33.15 India Pale Ale and 33.3 Stout, and call it a porter (33.4 House Porter). A porter is a specific style of beer. Just saying.
LeVeL33 at located at 8 Marina Blvd, #33-01 Marina Bay Financial Centre Tower 1.
