A few weeks ago I found myself at one of the Bay Area's top 100 restaurants, Redd in Napa Valley. My cheffie buddy and I glanced at the menu before deciding that there were too many delicious dishes to choose one each. So we decided to try the five course tasting menu.
A tasting menu, if you've never experienced one, is a fabulous way to sample small portions of several dishes. Usually everyone at the table is required to order the tasting and for each course a different dish is brought out. At Redd, the first course I tasted was the tuna tartare, while my dining companion tried the sashimi. We rotated plates half way through each course and were able to taste a total of 10 dishes from the menu! To learn more on tasting menus, and check out pics of the food I ate at Redd, just read more
Here are a few more things you should know about tasting menus:
- They differ from a prix fixe menu, although are sometimes called the same thing. In a tasting menu, the chef chooses what he sends out, whereas on the prix fixe menu, you pick from a selection of entrees.
- A tasting menu can be paired with wine (usually called the wine flight). With each course you will be sent a new half glass of wine that is specifically picked to perfectly match the dish you are savoring. It's more expensive, but fun to do if you are interested in wine and food pairings.
- Tasting menus can often be expensive.
- While you get smaller portions, it is very easy to fill up quickly on a tasting menu. Don't choose a tasting menu unless you are ready to eat a full, several-course meal.
- If you happen to be at a restaurant known for their tasting menu get it!
- Tasting menus originated in Europe and were thought of as a bohemian indulgence. Only when they were adopted in America did they become a statement of fine dining.
What are your experiences with a tasting menu? Tell me about them below!
Freya
American Retro
Laura Biagiotti
I've never done a tasting menu but I also live on a budget and fine dining doesn't make it's way in there very often...or at all.
1Wow, this looks fantastic! Ive never done a full tasting menu, but I have gone to a fancy restaurant known for their ability to pair their dishes perfectly with wine. I enjoyed a seven glass flight and four courses. It was a lot of fun.
2Redd is one of the most fabulous restaurants in Napa. The tuna tartare is out of this world!
Tasting menu's are usually the way to go - if you are ever offered one at a restaurant, go for it. Usually you'll find items unique to the restaurant on the tasting menu, and at the very least, you'll get to taste some of the chef's favorite foods. YUM!! It's always worth the splurge at a fine restaurant.
3I've only been able to go to a few places and try their tasting menu... My boyfriend is a picky eater though and once he finds a restaurant that he likes, we don't stray far from it... I'm moving out to the west coast soon, so I might have to drag him over to Redd to try it... the food looks delicious!
4Oh now I really want to try the tuna tartare!
5that's awesome. what a cool way to share food and try different things without agonizing over choosing between one food and another. however...i have read that if you eat a variety of foods, a la buffet, your brain will take longer to register that you are full...ahem fitsugar =]
6This is a great idea when there is so much on a menu that you want to try. I would do this.
7Hey amandaaa -
The body/brain register a feeling of satiety or fullness after you have been eating for about 20 minutes. Eating at a slow leisurely pace tends to be better (maybe not super rich restaurant food though - but dang that food looks tremendous) for not over eating.
Their was just a study on the stylistic difference between French and American eating habits and the researchers believe that eating slowly is better for this exact reason.
8I need to try the tasting menu.
9Those scallops look amazing!
10I've been wanting to splurge on a tasting menu at a fine restaurant for a while. Just can't find the right excuse for it.
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