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'Burgers and Beers'

Published:Thursday | August 22, 2013 | 12:00 AM
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Duwayne Wallace (left) andTroy Bennett, chefs at Rainforest Seafood Market, preparing burgers at the Burgers and Beers party.
Turkey Burger paired with O'Doul's at the Burgers and Beers party last Friday night at Brian and Sheilagh Jardim's home in Montego Freeport. - photos by Janet Silvera
Shrimp burger paired with Kirin Beer at the Burgers and Beers party.
A bucket of Newscastle beer from the Select Brands' collection at the Burgers and Beers party.
Rainforest Seafoods' jerked beef burger paired with Stone's Ginger Wine at the Burgers and Beers party.
A platter of sushi by Rainforest Seafoods at the Burgers and Beers party.
Select Brands' Singha Beer served at the Burgers and Beers party.
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Janet Silvera, Senior Gleaner Writer

WESTERN BUREAU:

Full-bodied in texture, with a swag and distinctive flavour, Kirin Ichiban Lager has become one of the world's leading Japanese beers.

Last Friday night, Kirin Ichiban, distributed by Jamaica's Select Brands, found the perfect partner in a Rainforest Seafoods shrimp burger, proving without contention it had the ability to work with a variety of cuisines outside of Japanese.

It was an evening of burgers and beers and the setting was ideal. Yes, wine lovers could access their favourite Pinot Grigio or Pinot Noir. So could sushi lovers, who preferred raw food to cooked burgers, but there really was no competition.

an excellent arrangement

The night belonged to Select Brands and Rainforest Seafoods. Rainforest's Ready Shrimp Burgers, which will make their debut on the market within weeks, are made from a blend of ground and whole shrimp and seasoned with specially formulated spices and herbs. Last Friday, the seafood team made an excellent arrangement, topping the shrimp sliders with teriyaki glaze and sushi ginger to enhance the crisp, clean flavours of the Kirin.

For their bacon burger, Rainforest Seafoods selected Newcastle Brown Ale, which Bethany Young, the marketing guru at the company, says epitomises the strength, hardiness and vigour of its North English birthplace.

"Newcastle Brown Ale is a highly popular and fast-growing beer worldwide. Its deep red colour is an indication of its full-bodied and hearty nature," says Young.

Her own Rainforest Ready Bacon Burgers are a combination of beef and bacon strips, enhanced with selected flavourings. This rich, hearty burger was the ideal accompaniment for the Newcastle Brown Ale.

ideal companion

Rainforest has also introduced to the market a jerked snapper burger that they paired with the Thai-manufactured Singha Lager Beer. Singha is a perfect balance of freshness and body, with only a hint of selected bitter hops.

To illustrate the versatility of Rainforest Ready burgers, "we created a jerk fish taco using slices of the flavourful Rainforest Ready Jerk Snapper. The fish taco, lightly drizzled with a Thai coconut curry sauce, is the ideal companion to the Singha," states Young.

Obviously not satisfied that a burgers-and-beers party could happen without the USA's Budweiser, the seafood giants paired this with their 100 per cent beef burger.

All are aware that the Bud is a true American icon and needs little introduction, so of course it was easy to make the pairing with beef lovers' favourite beef burger.

For now, we say goodbye until another Burgers and Beers party.