Winter World Class Burger Pairing at Café Caprice

Four bartenders battle it out for World Class domination with their brilliant burger and cocktail pairings

What happens when you give four exceptional bartenders the freedom to come up with their own World Class cocktail concoctions to pair with deluxe burgers? A melt-in-the-mouth flavour-gasm of course!

Following their success at the recent World Class Competition – an international cocktail competition for those not in the know – Café Caprice challenged four of their best bartenders to devise their own sensational pairings, each using a different base spirit. The iconic café is one of the first (if not the first) institutions in the world to do a World Class pairing of this nature – putting a sophisticated spin on our city’s burger infatuation. 

THE BOYS BEHIND THE PAIRINGS

Toby, Josh, Tristan and Fez rose to the challenge with gusto, and each of their resulting creations is currently available to taste at Café Caprice this winter. The inspirations are evident in every one of the pairings, which gives the whole experience a uniquely personal note.

Tristan wanted to reflect the feeling of warm-hearted winters shared with friends – and his combination of Bulleit Bourbon and the Old School Burger creates a cosy nostalgia reminiscent of crackling fires. Fez wanted to stir up memories of winter road trips through the citrus valley, which is exactly what his combination of Tanqueray Ten Gin with citrus, Rooibos and honey notes evokes.

For Josh, the inspiration came from his Jewish heritage, which is evident in his ‘Le Chaim’ (to life) masterpiece, which pairs a red wine and Ketel One Vodka cocktail with a rich, creamy mushroom-topped beef burger. Josh says he chose the red wine to complement the sauciness of the burger, and used fig jam and fresh apple and lime flavours to counterbalance the vino. He chose the Guardian Peak vintage for its fruity, chocolate flavour, which for him conjures up memories of traditional Friday nights spent with family and friends.

For Toby, the experience was all about taking one back to one’s childhood, when a burger wasn’t complete unless accompanied by a delicious milkshake. Toby’s colleagues describe him as a little boy at heart, which comes through in the pure joy and decadence of his cocktail, which combines condensed milk with 23 year-old Ron Zacapa Rum, orange, vanilla pod seeds and vanilla ice cream.

Each of the pairings is utterly unique and decadent, making it the perfect winter memory in itself.

RECIPES FOR TOBY AND JOSH’S COCKTAILS

Toby and Josh kindly shared their cocktail recipes with us – but you need to go to Caprice to try them with the burgers to experience the real deal.

Gelato by Toby:

Combine a shot of Ron Zacapa Rum (look out for its waffle and honey accents) with a shot of orange juice. Scrape vanilla pod seeds into the drink and then add two spoons of condensed milk and two spoons of vanilla ice cream. Shake with ice and serve immediately, with the burnt vanilla pod as the garnish.

To Life by Josh:

Begin with a shot of fig jam, which you spread around the glass. Add to this a shot of lime, two shots of Ketel One Vodka, a shot of Guardian Peak red wine and two shots of apple juice. Shake with ice and then serve with a slice of toasted caramelised apple (this is essential to evoke the warm apple pie feel of the drink).

PRICE OF THE 2016 CAFÉ CAPRICE WORLD CLASS BURGER PAIRING WINTER SPECIAL

The deal only lasts during winter so don’t miss out. All the pairings are under R160, which is exceptionally affordable, especially considering the calibre of the alcohol used. The boys currently have an internal competition going for whose pairing is the most popular, so head down to Caprice to cast your vote and make merry this chilly season.

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Interested in other winter specials in Cape Town? Check out our overview of winter restaurant deals to find all the best places to dine this season!

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