Tasting Menu? I Avoid It.

Posted on Sep 7, 2013 in Hiroko's Blog

I got tired with a chef’s grand “Tasting Menu” which I was eager to try in the past years. Maybe because of my age, or I do not find a philosophy behind these tasting menus as I do in the Japanese Kaiseki meal. Too many numbers of too small dishes served sequentially are not meal for me. I do not need an experience meal. I need a real meal.

So, I stopped going to the place where they serve tasting dishes. Last night we made a reservation at Fish & Game in Hudson. Zac Pelatio’s new restaurant. We know that the chef serves a fixed course meal. When we arrived we were told that the menu is a 7 dish tasting course. I was ready to back up, but the time was already 8:30pm and we do not know the area well. Being encouraged by 7 not 12 or 15 (including sweet), we decided to take a seat.

The meal did not disappoint me. Rather it was very good. Seasonal, local fruits and vegetables were prepared simply in order to draw the height of the season flavor. Cuttle fish (not local, but from Spain, I was told) and salmon (not local) were prepared in the same polished, simple method. The dish had proper size of seafood in which I could enjoy the dish not just in two bites but several satisfying bites. The last dish before dessert was braised pork shoulder and belly. Meat was firm and tough but, again, it was a good dinner. I did not request but wish that some day Zac will carry a la carto menu. I will be there!