LOVE, LIKE EVERYTHING ELSE IN LIFE, SHOULD BE A DISCOVERY, AN ADVENTURE, AND LIKE MOST ADVENTURES, YOU DON’T KNOW YOU’RE HAVING ONE UNTIL YOU’RE RIGHT IN
THE MIDDLE OF IT.” — E.A. Bucchianeri
Brushstrokes of a Gadfly
becomes slightly more calculated and well thought out in the form of a Prix Fixe menu. Guests will typically have a choice between starters, entrees and dessert depending on the restaurant, with many establishments offering a beverage pairing, as well. I highly suggest opting for these types of menus as they offer an experience, not just food to be selected and consumed. If a beverage pairing is offered, take it! Pairing food and beverages is truly an admirable skill and something to be appreciated. At The Patio on Goldfinch, we are forging ahead with what we call, “The Ultimate Pairing.” This is a pairing that transcends the categories of just wine, just beer or just cocktails. All beverages are considered when tasting a dish.
For example, on our Restaurant Week menu, we recently featured a Blood Orange and Beet Salad paired with Por Siempre Sotol. Sotol is a spirit from Mexico made from the Desert spoon plant. It has an inherent, earthy quality and a delicate suggestion of sweetness that absolutely sings when consumed alongside beets. Some of the other food items were paired with wines while others with mezcal and tequila. Again, this was a truly unique experience offered and not just presenting menu items for consumption. A day like Valentine’s Day deserves a special experience. After all, what better way to get close to someone than by shared experiences? We, as restaurateurs, are constantly looking for ways to innovate and set ourselves apart from the
competition but when we stop actively looking outside our walls and really begin looking within is when we truly begin to evolve our offerings and are able to present unique experiences to our guests. Creating menus with pairings like these are what excites food and beverage professionals, this is why we do what we do. Take a small leap of faith and put yourselves in our hands. I believe the same can be said to be true when it
comes to romance. Don’t look to the restaurant, movie theater or park bench to supply you with romance and love. That can only come from within. So surround yourself with those you love, choose your favorite restaurant and share a wonderful experience together.
FEBRUARY 2016 | RAGE monthly 55
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