Whet Your Appetite with These Imaginative Food and Chocolate Pairings

The earthy and fruity undertones in chocolate have a natural affinity with dark liquors like rum, whisky, and brandy — it’s no wonder that the chocolate martini and chocolate negroni are such a hit with cocktail connoisseurs. Keen on exploring all the flavour intricacies in such a pairing? Then, a chocolate and liquor pairing flight will be perfect for geeking out over the way chocolates with different cacao percentages play off the flavours of different spirits. What’s more, chocolate’s ability to trigger endorphins (aka those feel-good hormones) make this the perfect activity to jazz up those Friday date nights!

Let your imagination take flight as you taste how chocolate is transformed into inventive desserts and cocktails at Pearl Lounge in InterContinental Phu Quoc Long Beach Resort

If you find yourself in Bangkok, then a trip to the stylish restaurant and cocktail bar, Ms. Jigger at Kimpton Maa-Lai Bangkok, is a must for the chocoholic if only to sample the legendary tiramisu here, or the Himitsu, a fantastical dessert blending black sake with chocolate ganache, coffee liqueur, and honey. 

A good bar of chocolate takes you on a journey with its complex flavours that run the range from spicy to nutty, and fruity to floral. It’s no wonder that chocolate is actually the perfect match for meat which, too, has an incredibly complex range of flavours. The Mexican Mole Poblano has served up this uniquely delicious combination for a long time, where meat, chocolate, and warm spices are combined to form an irresistibly earthy and savoury stew. Take inspiration from this dish and request for a few squares of dark chocolate to add to a tomato-beef stew, or even simply your steak sauce, and watch your dinners get elevated effortlessly.  

Savour the intricacies of chocolate with the LUCE-misu, a modern, deconstructed take on the tiramisu at LUCE by Davide Giacomelli in InterContinental Singapore, where classic Italian fare and a contemporary take on Italian desserts make for hearty and unforgettable meals. 

This sweet-savoury combination is as addictive as they come. The deep sense of satisfaction you get from eating chocolate mirrors the pleasure one gets from the umaminess of cheese, so what could be more natural than combining both? Apart from the usual suspects like cheesecake brownies or chocolate cheesecake, the more adventurous might want to try shaving some dark chocolate on top of a creamy pasta dish like cacio e pepe, or even having a luxuriously comforting chocolate and cheese sandwich. 

Mark your calendars for Chocolate Week (11-17 July) at InterContinental Phuket Resort’s Devas’ Lounge. This exclusive event will take your tastebuds on the chocolatey adventure of your dreams with a spread of stunning chocolate-themed desserts.

Aka the life hack you wished you knew about as a kid. The natural sugars found in root vegetables like sweet potatoes, beets, and carrots get accentuated in the process of slow-roasting, creating an almost caramel-like flavour that finds a natural pairing with the subtle sweetness in dark chocolate. To enjoy this unexpected match made in heaven, you can simply grate some dark chocolate atop your roasted root vegetables, or consider drizzling a balsamic vinegar-chocolate all over your vegetables. Don’t be surprised to find yourself hitting your 5-a-day effortlessly with this new discovery! 

Treat yourself to a delightful afternoon tea set at Opus Bar & Grill in voco Orchard Singapore. A luxurious chocolate fondue takes centre stage alongside savoury and sweet botanical-infused treats inspired by the lush plantations that once filled the area. 

Make the everyday extraordinary — discover new and unforgettable dining experiences at participating restaurants and bars at IHG® Hotels & Resorts across Southeast Asia and South Korea.

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