The Art of Fine Dining - 5 Little-Known Tips
A Rock Star Restaurateur shares his advice on how to create a memorable experience when you're out for culinary adventure.
À la Meunière, blanquette, confit – the ABCs of French cuisine can often confound the American diner. And yet, beautiful courses of carefully prepared dishes accompanied by elegant wines can be among life’s greatest pleasures. Especially when shared with those you love.
Kamal Boulos runs Columbus, Ohio’s only AAA Four Diamond-rated French restaurant, The Refectory Restaurant & Bistro, now celebrating its 40th year in business. “When people think of fine dining they tend to think of spending time and dressing up, and you can do those things. But nothing says you can’t go to a restaurant and have two appetizers and some wine, and that’s your fine dining experience for the night,” Boulos said.
Rather than a rigid, rule-laden ritual, Boulos sees dining as more of a mindset. “There’s a difference between eating out and dining out. The former is because you’re hungry and need to eat something. The latter is intentional and meant to be enjoyed, whatever that looks like for you,” he said.
Here are Boulos’ top tips to create a delicious and memorable experience:
1. Pick an off time – Avoiding crowds is key for an attentive, leisurely repast. “If I want a totally great restaurant experience I try to avoid Saturday night, because that’s their busiest night,” said Boulos. “If it can’t be helped and it needs to be Saturday, I’m going to go at five o’clock, because then I have the attention of the service and kitchen staff since they’re just starting the evening. There’s a greater likelihood that I could enjoy being creative with the menu because they’re not as hurried.”
2. Reach out in advance – A little communication goes a long way when it comes to creating a memorable meal. Many diners don’t realize that restaurants can partner with you for special touches that elevate the experience and touch the heart. Perhaps you’d like to have flutes of champagne brought over as soon as you’re seated, or you’d like a photograph of your spouse along with a special message or poem tucked inside the menu. These are typically simple to arrange with a pre-dinner phone call. Fine dining thrives on attention to detail. If you’re celebrating a birthday or anniversary, call ahead and see what options there might be to create beautiful moments throughout the night.
3. Use keywords when selecting wine – If you’re not quite a wine connoisseur, choosing the right bottle can be stressful. Boulos suggests you identify the types of flavors you most enjoy and then allow the server to guide you to a decision. “There are certain words that are good to use,” he said. “For example, do you prefer a light-bodied wine or a full-bodied, rich one? These words can help narrow things down. Sometimes people will say, ‘I’d like a dry chardonnay.’ But most of them are dry. So you are left wondering what exactly they really want.” Fruity, earthy, creamy and oaky are all great adjectives to help ensure you select a sip you love.
4. Ask for a taste – When the wine is something they have by the glass, Boulos recommends asking for a taste. Even if you find you don’t prefer that wine, it gives you and the server a frame of reference. “You might say, ‘Yes, I like that style but I’d like something a bit more intense,’ and then you give them a price range,” he added. “Don’t make any apologies for giving them a range of prices if they don’t ask.”
5. Mix and match menu – When deciding on your courses, Boulos suggests you gravitate toward dishes you enjoy but are unlikely to prepare yourself. Then, go for diversity. Start with lighter courses and then move to heavier ones. Alternate stronger flavors with subtler ones. If you’d rather have the side from one dish with the main from another, feel free to ask. “This is your experience and you should not hesitate to be adventurous,” Boulos said. “In some cases if I’ve been following a restaurant and impressed by what they’re doing, I will give the server a price range and ask that they create the menu for me and surprise me. Then I have no idea what’s coming out. I love that,” he said.
Barbara Wayman is the author of Living An Extraordinary Life: 9 Transformational Strategies to Live Your Best Life Now.
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