Tasting menus offer a variety of small plates and is one the best ways to experience this luxury dining. But have you ever wondered what goes into creating a fine dining tasting menu? Head chef Ahmed Abdalla, from the five-star hotel The Grand, York’s fine dining restaurant, Legacy, has revealed five secrets on how he creates eight exquisite courses.
“For those new to a tasting menu, they may be wary that there is a lot of small, unfulfilling plates or over complex food but that is not the case! The whole menu is looked at in such detail, with ingredients being precisely weighed out to ensure guests are left full and satisfied,” Ahmed said.
The essentials of an eight-course tasting menu
You won’t find the same tasting menu at different restaurants but when it comes to the essentials of what makes one, Ahmed says: “It’s about the balance. When we create the menus, we want to create a story first but then it is essential that we figure out how the flavours can balance.
“There is a reason why each dish is selected. We want to create a balance between the light and heavy dishes, or the savoury and sweet flavours to ensure that they all complement each other. We will go from a rich dish, such as lamb to a lighter dish that will cleanse the palate.”
Inspiration for the menu
The right inspiration is imperative to any creative task but finding it may be closer to home than you’d imagine. Ahmed believes that inspiration is everywhere. He explained: “At Legacy, the seasons play a huge role in our inspiration as the change in seasons bring new produce for us to work with. Once we have identified which produce will be the freshest, we can then look for inspiration within each ingredient.
“Fortunately for us, being based in Yorkshire we have access to an abundance of amazing local produce. We have identified local suppliers who we work with to help us piece together the perfect menu.”
Sourcing the right ingredients
Excellence is to be expected in a tasting menu which means that quality and fresh ingredients are a must. Ahmed says: “Fine dining requires exceptional ingredients. Expect free range suppliers and British based produce. When I started my journey at Legacy, I knew exactly which suppliers I wanted to work with and how I was going to utilise their ingredients within the dishes.
“Special ingredients are a way of making the dishes stand out amongst others, giving them a unique touch. For us, we use our very own honey from the beehive we have on the hotel’s roof.”
Decide on the perfect order
The order each dish is served to the guest is extremely important. It is key in not only balancing the flavours but creating the right atmosphere that comes with fine dining. Ahmed explains: “At Legacy, when guests are first seated, they will learn how the meal will progress and what to expect. Then I will come out to personally serve the canapés which you won’t find at all fine dining restaurants. The canapés are a true reflection of myself, my work and what you should expect from the evening.
“The meal then moves on to bread and soup, then a light fish course, followed by a vegetable course, a heavy fish course, then meat, and finally a pre dessert and then the main dessert.”
Pairing with the correct wines to complement the menu
Good food should always come with great wine, as head sommelier Derek Scaife at The Grand, York explains: “Successful wine pairings completely enhance the flavour of the food and are not to be underestimated. For me, I really focus on each individual dish, so my pairings do not match the classic flow of white to red wine.
“From a pairing’s perspective, it’s all about creating a harmony of flavours and textures. I consider whether the combination needs acidity from the wine for the richer dishes, or does it need a dry wine to complement the rich element of the dish. Texture is also important for me. I look for perhaps a lighter wine to pair with a light dish or heavier texture to work with a creamier and more textured dish. A classic pairing that always works well is Rioja with lamb so that’s always a good starting point.”
Ultimately, a fine dining tasting menu is about more than just a sit-down meal. It is an experience from when you are greeted at the door, throughout the meal and right until you leave.
Find out more about Ahmed in our interview with him here and check out The Grand, York here.
