We decided to try The Tasting Kitchen in Venice and it was a really fun experience. Usually when Chris and I decide to embrace an evening of fine dining we do exactly that, we chose a "fancy" restaurant, put on our Sunday best and never look at the prices on the menu. This experience was a little different. The Tasting Kitchen isn't necessarily a "fancy" restaurant, but they still give the illusion of "fancy" with the quality of food and length of service, and we still felt extra special/lazy by being able to chose a "chefs choice" menu. Four of us sat for three and a half hours and enjoyed signature cocktails and cuisine prepared from local products.
The chefs menu was served family style, a fun detour from the usual dining experience. The chef started the evening with a cold melon soup, served with a sliver of crisp prosciutto. First course was three dishes, smoked trout served atop a dollop of creme fresh , grilled artichoke hearts with an anchovy vinaigrette and olive oil sous vide octopus in a tomato chili paste. Second course was a huge plate of homemade pasta, breadcrumbs and spicy sausage. Third course was two plate of pork three ways and a salt crusted fish with a butter sauce and roasted mushrooms. Fourth course was two spring salads, one with pine nuts and a balsamic vinaigrette and the other was spring lettuce with olive oil and lemon. This was the first time I had ever considered a salad as a palate cleanser and the whole table agreed it was a waste of calories and stomach space to indulge in such a plain salad right before dessert. Fifth course was a plate filled with sweets. Three homemade sorbets: grape, coconut and peach. A dark chocolate pudding with Madagascan almonds a dollop of cream and lemon zest. A pana cotta with boysenberry sauce.
Everything was cooked PERFECTLY! It was obvious that the chef understood the balance of flavor in every dish. An evening to be remembered and a restaurant highly recommended.
