From the Editor, Leigh O’Connor.
Do you know what a degustation is? Apart from enjoying multiple courses over a leisurely meal, degustation dining means sharing a love of food with family and friends as we celebrate all different cuisines from Japanese to Modern Australian.
From omakase offerings that are as delicate on the plate as the palate to Nordic-inspired feasts – degustation dining is a culinary masterpiece.
‘Degustation” is the French word for ‘tasting’ – it is a menu where you can try lots of different dishes; some restaurants can offer up to 20 courses, but usually it is four or five-courses sometimes with matched wines. Also known as a Chef’s tasting menu, it is the ideal opportunity to test your culinary adventurousness when it comes to food and gastronomic trends.
Can you guess the most expensive degustation menus around the globe? Marie-Antoinette Issa has curated a list of eight of the most costly to treat yourself to a once-in-a-lifetime meal that is equal parts indulgent, innovative and incredibly unforgettable to both your budget and your belly.
We also bring you Australia’s coolest degustation destinations which push the boundaries of traditional multi-course meals to dish up some of the most delicious and interesting menus we’ve ever seen – think dining in the rainforest, a fast-food collaboration and a degustation menu where ice cream is served at every course!
For this week’s Chef Chat, we head to Chef-hatted Freyja restaurant in Melbourne’s CBD to find out how Head Chef Jae Bang went from washing pots part-time during high school in Seoul, to embracing Nordic philosophies and local ingredients at this Mod Oz degustation dining venue.
He also shares his stunning berry dessert recipe which epitomises the Freyja ethos of experimenting with a variety of flavours to craft unique and memorable dining experiences for guests.
Get ready Perth…sweary TikTok cooking sensation Nat’s What I Reckon is about to appear at the Good Food & Wine Show bringing his own quirky style to this annual event. Running from July 19-21 at the Perth Convention & Exhibitions Centre, this show promises three days of good food, good wine and good times along with Nat sharing his passion for food and a mind-blowing chicken burger recipe that promises to have you "swearing at your burger!”
It’s also the Origin decider on Wednesday night and we’ve curated a guide for where to watch the big game, along with venues where the views are as good as the food and where to go for a wine and food-paired dining experience…
You’re welcome!
