"tasting menu" news and stories

Hawaiian Airlines is apparently stepping up their meal service for first-class customers by offering a new tasting menu during their flights.

The menu will be comprised of twenty different entrees set on a rotation, with five available to choose from on any given flight. For lunch or dinner, customers will choose three of the five, and for breakfast they will select two of three plus will receive a fresh fruit plate.

According to the press release, entrees could include "Hawaiian Crab Cake Tantalizing "Taste of the Island" with a Zesty Pineapple Salsa, Rock Shrimp and Lemon Pepper Ravioli with Creamy Sun Dried Tomato-Basil Sauce and Tri-Pepper Garni, and Chicken Tandoori served with a tangy Makhani Sauce and Sultana Basmati Rice Pilaf." In addition, they will be offering a Pomegranate Passion beverage which was created exclusively for the airline.

The tasting menu was introduced in March on the San Francisco - Honolulu route, and will now be offered system-wide to all first-class customers in May.

Source

At Alain Ducasse's restaurant in New York, like so many other very high end eateries, they are offering a menu that features white truffles. The tasting menu heavily features the expensive delicacy and costs $320 per person. This is unless, of course, you are able to score a free meal at the restaurant for you and a friend in the VIP room. Here's how to do it:

• Start a food blog. Make it well-written and humorous. Become popular.
• Get a book deal and lots of press.
• Get an e-mail from Ducasse's publicist and have the chutzpah to ask for a free dinner.
• Get lucky when the publicist gives you the "ok" and show up at the appointed time.
• If you want to have a hope of getting the same sort of deal again, go home and post about the whole experience (comic book format optional)

Simple, no? This is exactly what Adam, the Amateur Gourmet, did and he was rewarded with a night of truffle decadence at the Essex House - free.

Source

We got a peek at the tasting menu at Alinea a few weeks ago via Gastronomie SF, but since you can't have too much of a good thing, let's take another look at the 24-course molecular gastronomy marathon. Dominic Armato, from Skillet Doux, recently had the full menu at Alinea and reported back on his thoughts for each course - no small feat. The photography is exceptional and his commentary on the meal is very interesting. For anyone who has been considering making a reservation at the restaurant, it might be enough to make you hop a plane to Chicago.

The "dish" pictured above is served in a shot glass and was one of the highlights of the dinner. It is a ball of curry and butter with a pear juice center, surrounded with celery juice.

Source