337244 Wed Oct 25 23:41:48 -0700 2006 2 27 General Chowhounding Topics 0 1972922 We'll be in NYC in early Dec and one night I'm going to try to get into Babbo, possibly the Thursday night. We really don't see a lot of tasting menus here in LA (Lower Alabama), so I'm soliciting some help. Babbo's tasting menu looks great, but I've never dealt with a tasting menu and don't know what to expect. The question is not unique to Babbo, just to tasting menus. Can anyone educate me on tasting menus? Thanks! Wed Oct 25 23:41:48 -0700 2006 17717 dd992emo 1 1972960 Tasting menus are a way to sample smaller portions of many the dishes a chef makes, rather than simply filling up on an appetizer, entree and dessert. The best ones (including Babbo's) will have a progression from light dishes to heavier ones to sweet ones so that your palette never gets tired. You can often get individual glasses of wine paired with each dish to complement the flavors in the food. It is rare that one or even two bottles of wine could complement the variety of dishes that come out over the course of the tasting menu. Babbo's wine pairing is excellent, by the way. I would highly recommend you choose the tasting menus if you are only in town for a short while, since they will allow you to get a much broader sampling from each of the restaurants you visit than if you ordered a la carte. Good luck with the Babbo reservation, but there are dozens more you can go to if you do not get through to their reservations desk. Wed Oct 25 23:57:46 -0700 2006 1972922 13408 Phil E 1 1972966 Hey, Alabama hound! A tasting menu is a way to get the full range of the chef's expertise (and quirks), at a good price, and often with a selection of good wines attached. You'll eat plenty of food, and some of it will be truly great. They tend towards quite small plates, smaller than appetizer size. But, by the end, you will be well satisfied with your meal. At the higher end, the tasting menu at Bouley is outstanding. Quick sidebar here: I learned today that Bouley had retained its two Michelin stars, while Danube, the sister restaurant around the corner, was demoted to one star. I don't fully understand this. In my book, Bouley and Danube are both outstanding, and both worth two, if not three stars. But I digress. If you don't get into Babbo, put Lupa on your list. It really is an outstanding restaurant, and quite typical of Batali's style. And it's much easier to get into. If you just walk up, you can get in within an hour, which can happily be whiled away in a nearby bar. And, of course, try immediately for a reservation at Bouley; as warm, cosy and lovely a room as there is in Manhattan, with an awesome tasting menu. Have fun! - Sean Thu Oct 26 00:00:26 -0700 2006 1972922 11294 Sean Dell