Is this the most innovated beer and food menu in the world? Probably.
In perhaps one of the most unusual partnerships – Carlsberg has teamed up with Michelin starred chef, Adejoké Bakare of London’s restaurant, Chishuru to create a unique five-course tasting menu, showcasing the impressive pairing capabilities of its newest Fonio beer.
The new beer was brewed in collaboration with Brooklyn Brewery and is the first beer in the world to only use drought-resistant fonio grains without any bittering hops or barley. The resulting beer, brewed in the Carlsberg Research Laboratory, is clean with soft aromas of apricots, white peaches, and melon, giving a vibrant and delicate finish.
It demonstrates what can be achieved when new brewing techniques and ingredients meet curiosity, a mindset that has been at the forefront of everything Carlsberg has done since it opened the brewery doors in 1847.
“I love fonio and so I was thrilled to put together a menu based around it. Pairing our food with a fonio beer – and even using that beer in one of the dishes – was a joy. The beer itself is fruity but with a hint of bitterness, making it as versatile as fonio itself when it comes to menu creation. Fonio is a hardy crop and a little goes a long way – so it is brilliant to see the crop be put on the world’s stage, especially as this could crucially create valuable second incomes for fonio farmers”.
Adejoké Bakare
To celebrate this ancient grain, and pay homage to its West African roots, the pairing menu at Chishuru features a chicken wing glazed with Fonio beer and stuffed with chicken breast, spinach, uda, uziza and served with a scotch-bonnet sauce, a goat tartare served with sour cream, fonio and mushroom shitto and of course, the restaurant’s famous fonio ice cream. It is available to the public with a bookable experience on Tuesday 6th August.
This forms part of Brooklyn’s ‘Brewing For Impact’ campaign launched by Brooklyn Brewmaster, Garrett Oliver, to celebrate 30 years with the Brewery. Its aim is to spotlight the ancient West African grain and its untapped brewing potential and ability to drive positive change in the industry. The grain, which has thrived in West Africa for over 5,000 years and is widely used in African cooking, is drought resistant and can thrive in poor soils.
The unique Fonio bottle design was created by Kevin Bongang, a commercial muralist, designer and painter who was born in Cameroon, West Africa. The label features his vibrant signature style, awash in bold fun colours, swirling lines and whimsical imagery.
“Carlsberg is constantly working to invigorate curiosity and I firmly believe that all progress in the world starts with a spark of curiosity. When Garrett Oliver, Brewmaster at Brooklyn Brewery, approached me to discuss what we could create with fonio, the first thing I thought was why has no one made a beer that is completely fonio? Pairing this innovative brew with such a unique menu, created by an incredible chef, demonstrates the potential of this grain. Not only for the beer industry, but beyond.”
Zoran Gojkovic, Director of Brewing Science & Technology, Carlsberg
The five-course menu will be available at Chishuru on Tuesday 6th August with tickets available to purchase from Chishuru’s website.
