Create a tasting menu with numerous small
courses. Photo courtesy Pollen Restaurant |
Singapore.

How can someone eat 12 courses? It’s easy if the courses are small—just a taste of everything, with artistic garnishes.

Consider creating your own tasting menu: Everyone will have a great time. The small bites may seem like “not enough food” at first; but over the course of the dinner, everyone will be nicely full.

Make anything you like. Here’s what we had, but your course can be anything:

It’s not as much work as you’d think: We made everything 2-3 days in advance except last-minute touches like whipped cream.

Where Do You Get All The Plates?

We’ve been collecting lunch, salad and dessert plates for years—six to eight inches in diameter—when we see them on sale (garage sales are a great source of inexpensive plates).

You don’t want full-size dinner plates because the portions are small. But we place the smaller plates on chargers, so there’s a large plate footprint in front of everyone.

The plates don’t have to match. In fact, an array of different designs/shapes will enliven the table.

You can borrow plates from your guests; and you can also purchase reusable quality plastic plates. We like these square plates.

Let us know about the favorite courses you serve.
 
  

This healthful cooking ingredient enhances the flavor of many everyday dishes, and is waiting to be your new best friend in the kitchen. The basic recipe combines carrots, celery, garlic, onions, salt and sometimes a splash of white wine vinegar.

You can make your own soffritto and store it in the fridge (we’ve included the recipe in the full review). Or you can buy a jar of Nonna Iole’s Soffritto. It’s a quick, easy and delicious solution to amping up your food. It’s also a nice party favor, stocking stuffer and small ”thank you” gift.

In fact, you can buy boxed gift sets as well as individual jars on the company website. You’ll also find a store locator.

Check out the full review.

Many recipes call for minced vegetables and herbs. Unless you’re a committed chopper, it can be annoying to cut things so small.

Yet, there’s an easy way to create those tiny pieces—the way professional chefs do.

Here, chef Jim Davis shows us the correct way to mincing onions. It’s well worth your time to watch the video: You’ll use the technique for the rest of your life!