CEBU, Philippines - Ice-cold beer at the beach is always a good idea. Pairing authentic German beer with traditional dishes makes it an even better one. Discover a unique fusion of food and libation at Kandaya Resort on all weekends of October.
Oktoberfest originated in Munich, Germany in 1810 at the Royal Wedding of Crown Prince Ludwig, later to become Ludwig I, and Princess Therese of Saxony-Hildburghausen where citizens were invited to take part in festivities held on the fields in front of the city gates to celebrate the royal event. Today, Oktoberfest is a two-week celebration that starts from the last week of September to the second week of October.
A staple at these events is Weihenstephan beer which has been brewing on the Weihenstephan Hill in Freising since 1040, making it the taste of tradition.
To commemorate the season, Kusina Restaurant at Kandaya shares three of the best beer pairings to try:
1) Wheat Beer and Butcher's Platter
Wheat beer is a top-fermented beer brewed with a large proportion of wheat relative to the amount of malted barley, which contributes to thick, long-lasting heads. Highly effervescent and mostly light in flavor, this is best paired with Kandaya's "Butcher's Platter", the finest selection of German cured meats and sausages that include SchwarzwaelderSchinken (Black Forrest air cured ham), Schwarzwald Speck (air dried bacon), GekochterSchinken (cooked ham), GoettingerWurst (semi coarse sausage with mustard seeds), Leberkaese (a fine meatloaf), and Landjaeger (smoked, air dried sausage).
2) Lager Beer and Sausages
A bottom-fermented beer brewed at a cooler temperature, the Bavarian Lager beer has a crisp and clean flavor. This best complements Kandaya's "Sausages Platter", an array of traditional juicy sausages: Schlachterli with cheese, Nuernberger, Frankfurter and Bratwurst.
3) Dark Wheat Beer and Pork Knuckle
Made with darker, more highly kilned malts, the dark wheat beer is best paired with Kandaya's "Pork Knuckle", either cooked slowly and served with Sauerkraut, Spätzle or served crisp with braised red cabbage and Kartoffelknödel. HefeWeissbier is a dark wheat beer with an impressive creamy foam of fruity-fresh sweetness and hints of mature bananas, harmonized with delicious flavors of roasted malt and caramel.
Kandaya is a hidden gem in Cebu and an emerging luxury destination in Daanbantayan. Avail of a three day, two night stay inclusive of daily breakfast for two at Kusina Restaurant, set dinner for two during the stay and a spa massage upon availability until November 30, 2016. (FREEMAN)