With its ever rising popularity, more readers are likely aware of the concept of fine dining and associate it with terms such as luxury, exclusivity, gastronomy, design, and perfection. While none of these words is wrong, fine dining is much more than that, since its main objective is to delight the senses of diners and generate feelings that remain beyond the culinary experience. It is the ultimate sensuous experience.
So what is fine dining? Well, strictly speaking, it is an experience of consuming food in which thought and care has been put into the tiniest detail – from the ingredients and presentation of dishes to the atmosphere and service. Let’s take a peek at these elements to further understand fine dining.
Atmosphere
Like love, fine dining begins at first sight. Upon arriving at a restaurant, diners should feel that they are entering a world made for their personal enjoyment. The architecture should be captivating, the lighting warm and welcoming, the music should gently envelop, and the dishware should be simple and elegant. Everything should be considered – a space that imparts a feeling that puts the diner at the center of its universe.
Menu
The ingredients are selected with the highest quality in mind, often from a restaurant’s own farm or from local producer partners. Signature dishes are created by the chef and adapted to the seasons, respecting Mother Nature’s temporal offerings. The wine and beer selections are carefully considered to pair perfectly with the food and satisfy every bite. The bar offers creative, innovative cocktails.
Service
Fine dining restaurants have staff trained to answer specific questions about the menu and make recommendations based on the diner’s preferences. They are our guides throughout the culinary experience, asking questions about flavors, wine inclinations, dislikes, and allergies. With care and dedication, they take patrons by the hand from arrival to departure.
The act of sharing in food is per se an act of love. From the first meals we receive from our mothers to the ones we share at barbecues with friends or romantic dinners with someone special, breaking bread is loving one another with all of our senses.
