How often have you been out for a meal and spent ages pouring over the menu, undergoing a process of elimination before finally committing to a meal choice? How often have you been quietly excited by the prospect of your chosen meal only to find yourself pining after someone else’s as soon as the food arrives?
‘Food envy’ can be frustrating, especially when it presents the further dilemma regarding whether to sample the mouth-watering dish sat on someone else’s plate next to you. Do you risk it and confirm that your choice was a monumental error and be left disappointed? Or do you convince yourself that it probably doesn’t taste as good as it looks and remain in ignorant bliss?
One clever solution from the accomplished and creative team from 1711 by Ascot – the racecourse’s dedicated in-house catering team – is the introduction of a tasting bowl menu where guests are invited to try several smaller dishes instead of one larger main dish. Basically, it’s tapas that take culinary inspiration from all corners of the globe, from British classics to exotic cuisine. Approximately a third of the size of a main course, this stylish and informal way of dining offers multiple benefits as it allows guests to stand and talk whilst eating from a hand-sized bowl at the same time. With a fork in one hand and the bowl in the other, there’s no need to grapple with excess cutlery and guests are free to move around and mingle whilst tucking into bite-sized food.
Aside from being a sociable and relaxed way of dining, the other significant advantage of a tasting bowl is that it alleviates the risk of food envy. Rather like a tasting menu, due to the modest portion size, there is the option to sample several dishes on the menu thus taking the pressure off needing to choose just one, leaving guests safe in the knowledge that they can also feast on an alternative dish that has caught their eye.
1711 by Ascot’s five-course tasting bowl menu can be custom built from a choice of four meat, four fish and four plant-based options that promise to satiate the broadest of palates. The tasting dishes offer hearty portions of classics such as beef bourguignon, pulled lamb tagine and chicken supreme whilst not forgetting those much-loved British stalwarts such as fish and chips with tartar sauce.
For the soup course, guests are invited to choose two from a selection of five favourites, such as sprouting broccoli and Beauvale blue cheese, French onion with a gruyère croute and smoky bacon and sweetcorn chowder on the menu. Served with a selection of rustic breads, focaccia and sourdough, each bijou portion is so packed full of flavour that they feel incredibly indulgent and are remarkably satisfying, though guests must ensure they leave enough room to savour one of four heavenly desserts.
Though bowl food is a relatively new way of indulging in gastronomic fine dining, it is fast becoming a rival to the traditional dinner plate. Tasting bowls provide a unique and convivial way of dining whilst evoking feelings of comfort and nourishment. Throw in the added bonus of sampling several dishes in one sitting, it is not only exceptionally gratifying but renders food envy a thing of the past. With a reputation for creating world-class fine dining experiences that can cater for all occasions, large and small, formal and informal, the breadth of innovative dining choices at Ascot is exceptional. Whether catering for a conference or networking event, an elegant cocktail reception or lavish awards dinner, 1711 by Ascot’s outstanding menus perfectly fit every occasion. The range of delicious and imaginative fine dining options on offer at Ascot is second to none. Food envy, in this case, is high praise indeed. View our menus to garner culinary inspiration for your next event at Ascot Racecourse.
