In our pre-pandemic time, the ultimate weekend calls for an epic road trip, going from places to places and trying out the best eats. For others, the weekends are the perfect time to celebrate by toasting glasses filled with different kinds of alcoholic concoctions with their best companions.

While we are about to see those days again with vaccinations happening in the country, people are still not yet in the mood to go out, and that's okay. The worst mistake we could do is to lower our guards in our final lap in our battle against the pandemic. For now, it is still best to do what we miss in our going out days, which feels like a lifetime ago, in the safety of our home.

To make your weekends close to how it was before, Manila's sought after chefs, Mikel Zaguirre and Edward Bugia, and alcoholic drink brand Patrón Tequila partnered up to create new and exciting food and liquor pairing you should try out on your after-WFH days.

The two chefs masterfully whipped up delectable meal pairings, promising an extraordinary food experience from the comfort and safety of your own home with the help of food destinations Rare Food Shop, Mimi & Bros, and Kampai.

Rare Food Shop

Chicken sisig with Añejo

Savor Chef Edward’s Fried Chicken Sisig alongside a glass of Patrón Añejo on the rocks for elevated flavors of the ultimate comfort food, fried chicken. Chopped up fried chicken fillet marinated in calamansi, soy sauce, onions make a great partner for the sweet, smoky, and smooth flavors of Añejo.

Japanese udon with ginger ale

Discover a perfect twist on a Japanese dish with Chef Mikel's Patrón Scallop Udon. Naruto Udon tossed in the flavors of seafood, bacon, sesame oil, spring onion, and chilis are made more indulgent with Patrón infused butter and best enjoyed with tequila and ginger ale for an even more delectable meal.

Mimi & Bros

Bagnet with Silver

Next to try is Chef Edward’s Bagnet (crispy fried pork belly) Rice Bowl, a thrice cooked crispy pork belly confit served on top of seasoned rice and various pickles and toppings. This meal is best paired with a smooth, sweet, and tangy Patrón Silver shaken with lemon.

Sweet dishes with Añejo and Resposado

Also on the menu are mouth-watering selections like fish sauce caramel wings made even more delicious alongside the sweet, spicy, and earthy flavors of Patrón Reposado and a splash of tonic; and a #SimplyPerfect take on dessert, Mango Flan with Spiced Kiamoy Salt elevated with the bitter, and oaky flavors of Añejo Old Fashioned.

Kampai

Salmon teppansilog with Reposado Mule

Chef Mikel Zaguirre pays an ode to a Filipino breakfast favorite that combines well-loved Filipino flavors with a Japanese twist and Patrón Reposado’s earthy and caramelized notes. The Salmon Teppansilog is 24-hour konbu-cured salmon cooked teppan then basted in Reposado soy butter served on a bed of garlic fried rice with a soft cooked Japanese tornado omelette with chives and a dipping sauce of salt pepper and lime juice. This dish can be enjoyed at any time of the day and washed down with a Reposado Mule for a refreshing experience with a kick.

Seafood with the best of tequila

Tuna or watermelon, tuna cured in konbu for 24 hours and topped with ceviche vinegar infused with tequila alongside watermelon crusted with truffle salt and black pepper created to accentuate the bright agave flavor of the brand's Silver Shaken. Manila oysters, charcoal-grilled oysters with compound butter made with Añejo, tamari soy, garlic, and togarashi spice, all served with a creamy udon pasta on the side and topped with uni, peanuts, and wasabi, paired with tequila on the rocks.

“The collaboration between Mimi & Bros and Patrón Tequila has really opened up opportunities for us to make our food even better,” says Chef Edward. “We specialize in hearty comfort food and now, we can offer our customers simply perfect tequila pairings that will elevate our dishes by accentuating the combinations of flavors that we put out.”

“Not many people know how versatile tequila can be,” says Chef Mikel. “While I do enjoy a shot or two of Patrón once in a while, I prefer the many other ways I can experience my favorite tequila,be it in the food or cocktails that I prepare. Working with the brand has allowed us at Kampai to explore how we can elevate dishes and bring out the flavors our customers keep coming back for.”

These special offers are available via delivery with dine-in options resuming at Mimi & Bros and Kampai in accordance with IATF guidelines. You may check out the pages of Rare Food Shop, Mimi & Bros, and Kampai for more information.

And as a special treat, Rare Food Shop will be offering a special 10 percent discount for those who use the code SIMPLYPERFECT upon check out of any of the Patrón #SimplyPerfect Food pairing kits.