A Worthy pairing at Mystic Thai

Mystic Thai Kingston recently joined forces with Worthy Park for a special food and drink pairing experience. “We wanted to create an experience where the food and cocktails complemented each other, pairing the bold flavours and spices of our dishes with different expressions of Worthy Park Rum. It’s a partnership that continues to grow, and we look forward to creating more experiences together,” Vishwajeet Kumar, restaurant manager of Mystic Thai, explained to Food.

Among the signature dishes on the eatery’s menu that keep diners returning for more is the Mystic coconut lobster. People, he shared further, have also loved the Thai curry dishes, especially those made with green, red and yellow curries. “We have sushi and a wide selection of Thai, Indian and Indo-Chinese cuisine. Variety is one of the strengths.”

For the food and drink pairing, the menu was specifically curated to awaken all of the senses for this one-of-a-kind dining experience. “When we host special dinners like this, we want our regular guests to experience something different. The tandoori chicken wings, kebab, vegetarian Manchurian and dessert were among the special offerings.”

For the appetisers, the talumein soup, available with vegetables or chicken, was paired with the Worthy julep. The silken tofu salad was elevated by the 109 jello, while the tandoori chicken wings and spinach corn kebabs went sip for sip with the paradise reserve.

For the main course, the shrimp jhinga curry with garlic naan and vegetable Manchurian were a match for the Worthy storm cocktail. And, to sweeten the deal, the apple pie with rum and raisin ice cream was accompanied by a cream creation cocktail.

Content Creator Jermaine ‘Scotty Cuss’ Watson said the shrimp jhinga curry and Worthy storm were a worthy pair to sip and savour together. “The Worthy storm paired really well with the entrée, the shrimp jhinga curry. But I did have a favourite food and drink. The Worthy julep had that mojito-style freshness and was the perfect way to start the five-course experience. And the dessert, apple pie with rum raisin ice cream, was a great combination of warm and cold, and the flavours worked perfectly together.”

The tandoori chicken wings also made the highlight reel as the best food pairing, because it was complemented by the passion fruit paradise reserve cocktail, which worked in perfect harmony to bring out the flavours and spices featured on the plate.

“The wings had bold spice, roasted flavour and a slight bitterness, while the cocktail brought smoothness, sweetness and bright passion fruit notes. That contrast worked beautifully. It showed how Worthy Park rum can stand up to strong flavours while also softening and balancing the dish. It was definitely my favourite pairing of the evening,” Tamika West, marketing manager for Worthy Park Rums, shared.

West revealed that this was the second multi-course rum pairing experience with Mystic Thai, and she believed that what makes the collaboration work so well is the strength of Mystic Thai’s fusion menu. “Their dishes are layered and full of flavour, which pairs beautifully with the character of our rums. The team truly understands how to create an experience where the food and cocktails complement each other, and we were excited to bring it back again.”

Kumar continues to be grateful for the longstanding working relationship with Worthy Park. “Worthy Park has been a great partner and supplier to Mystic Thai for some time. Their rums are already featured in some of our popular cocktails, including our mai tai punch and basil mojito.”

Since opening its doors in Montego Bay in 2016, Mystic Thai has grown from a local culinary venture into a decade-old destination for Asian-inspired cuisine. The restaurant expanded its reach to St Andrew in 2023. “As we celebrate a decade in the business, we hope that Mystic Thai, along with our wider restaurant family, continues to grow. We’ve introduced Mezza Luna, featuring Mediterranean, Italian and Lebanese cuisine, and there are additional concepts in development,” Kumar added.

krysta.anderson@gleanerjm.com