Love Spicy Food & Beer? Check Out This Dining ExBEERience With Msian Michelin-Starred Chef
Hailing from Penang, this talented cook evokes nostalgic flavours through his cooking.
By Specials — 29 Apr 2022, 11:51 AM
Meet Chef Mano Thevar, the brains behind Thevar, a Michelin-starred restaurant in Singapore
Hailing from Penang, a Malaysian food haven, he was exposed to a wide range of cuisines, which has influenced his style of cooking as he wields his wok.
In fact, what's unique about Thevar is that it combines Chef Mano's skills with all those different flavours he grew up with, culminating in fusion dishes that are one-of-a-kind.
"I believe that is my style of cooking. I make use of European techniques, with Japanese produce, and flavours of my Malaysian Indian heritage. Another thing would be the diversity of my staff being from different races and cultures, coming together to cook the wonderful food that is being served at Thevar," said Chef Mano.
Reminiscing on the older days, he said that growing up, his comfort food consisted of Chinese and hawker fare, like chicken rice and char koay teow
Having grown up in the Pearl of the Orient, food was a huge part of his life. However, it was his father who sparked his interest in culinary arts. From a young age, his father would always take him out to eat, stoking his love for food.
Besides that, because of Penang's proximity to other Asian nations and the variety of cuisines available, he developed a taste for far more than just Indian food, expanding his palate.
When it comes to Indian cooking, Chef Mano actually toured India in order to hone his knowledge and skills
The talented cook learned more about Indian cuisine before setting up shop in the busy streets of Keong Saik, Singapore. Speaking about his excursion, his aim was to elevate Indian comfort food as we know it.
"When I embarked on my one-month journey to India, I started in New Delhi, and then travelled all the way to the south where my grandparents are from, to sample the various iterations of curry, pani puri, and other Indian delicacies," he said.
It wasn't an easy feat. Based on Chef Mano's experience, it took a long time and a lot of restless hours to get each recipe right. According to him, it takes passion, dedication, and confidence to preserve flavours rooted in tradition and to breathe new life into them through modern techniques.
Recently, Chef Mano had the opportunity to push the boundaries of his culinary skills when he collaborated with Carlsberg to create a beer-infused spicy menu
In this collab, he tried his hand at marrying two different flavours with this collaboration: spiciness and beer — Carlsberg Smooth Draught, in particular. Using his creativity, he has come up with a limited-edition four-course menu in conjunction with this campaign, delighting our tastebuds with intriguing tastes.
Experimenting with two contrasting nuances, Chef Mano said that spiciness and beer go quite well together, contrary to popular belief. Thanks to its distinctive smoothness and refreshing hoppy flavour, Carlsberg Smooth Draught offers a layer of complexity to each bite, enhancing the fine-heat dancing on the palates of guests.
"I have always believed in bringing my guests on a journey with my food. This collaboration allows me to think outside the box so that the pairing of food is new, exciting, and unique. The creative process is always the most exciting part for me," shared Chef Mano.
He added that diners can expect lamb, seafood, and vegetarian menu items infused with Carlsberg Smooth Draught. On top of that, the desserts will have a new spin, especially with items like Ras Malai that's made using Carlsberg Smooth Draught ice cream and pistachios to bring out the nutty flavours. Yummmm. :9
Ultimately, Chef Mano's passion is to improve the culinary scene, one mouthwatering morsel at a time
"I also want to delight and surprise the palate by bridging the heritage flavours of my Indian culture with modern culinary techniques," he added excitedly.
Chef Mano even shared a secret cooking tip if you want to cook with Carlsberg Smooth Draught. As an example, he recommended adding some of the beer to give a French jus (gravy) a little extra zing and depth. Then, for an Indian touch, he adds tamarind paste to the sauce as the sourness helps to break up a meat-heavy meal.
"I would recommend home cooks to experiment on your own to find flavours that work for you."
Wanna know how you can be in the running to win a pair of tickets to experience Chef Mano's exclusive collaboration with Carlsberg?
From now until 31 May, 100 lucky contest winners and their partners will be awarded the ultimate dining exBEERience Grand Prize, a first-class treat for Carlsberg Smooth Draught beer enthusiasts.
The whole experience includes hotel accommodation, an evening chauffeured ride, and a date with Michelin-starred Chef Mano Thevar, who will prepare delicacies made for the "Real Spicy, Real Smooth" spread worth RM2,000. Whoa!
Watch this video to find out more:
Here's how to win:
On the other hand, you'll receive a RM10 Touch 'n Go e-wallet credit with the purchase of one carton (24-can pack) of Carlsberg Smooth Draught. You'll also be in the running to win two tickets to the "Real Spicy, Real Smooth" dining experience. Upload your receipt here, and you're good to go.
The months of April and May are also heating up, with more rewards being offered all across town (;
Buy RM20 worth of Carlsberg Smooth Draught at participating convenience outlets, and you can be one of 100 lucky winners who will receive an RM388 Touch 'n Go e-wallet credit.
Prefer downing a beer or two while catching up with friends at a local kopitiam? You will be able to enjoy two large bottles of Carlsberg Smooth Draught with a RM2 discount!
Wanna find out more about Chef Mano Thevar's new collab with Carlsberg Smooth Draught? Head over to this website for all the deets.
As a reminder, the legal drinking age in Malaysia is 21 years old. That means you need to be 21 and non-Muslim in order to buy and consume alcohol. Remember to always drink responsibly and in moderation. If you plan to drink, try carpooling with a friend who isn't drinking or catch a cab instead of driving. Also, make sure you always abide by the SOPs.
