What 'Fine Dining' Means to Me (And You?)
At the Food & Wine Classic, there were lots of interesting seminars to attend, some aimed at consumers, others aimed at the trade (chefs, restaurateurs, sommeliers). I wandered into the tail end of the panel called "The Future of Fine Dining," with Thomas Keller, Tom Colicchio, and Drew Nieporent, moderated by Steve Dolinsky. They're all really smart folks good at what they do, but it seemed like they are all still wrestling with the contemporary definition of fine dining.
I raised my hand and asked the panelists if instead of wondering what contemporary fine dining is, why not focus on making the guests at your restaurant feel comfortable and show them a good time with the delicious food you serve them and the respect you show them? These days, the mere mention of "fine-dining" sounds condescending, exclusive, and off-putting. I mentioned designer and architect David Rockwell's restaurant-design mantra (I'm paraphrasing here): A good restaurant is where people go to take 2 hour vacations from their lives.
That's my definition of fine dining.
I saw Keller at another event the following day and I thought he might mention my pearls of wisdom. Alas, my hopes were dashed: "Hi, Ed. You said something at the panel yesterday that was pretty good, but I can't remember what it was."
Oh well, I'm sure it will be in the minutes and transcripts given to all the chefs.
What's your definition of fine dining? And is the notion of fine-dining still relevant? Serious Eaters want to know.
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7 Comments:
I never quite knew what "fine dining" meant myself, and had always thought of it as a sort of haughty, but ultimately less sophisticated replacement for identifying a cuisine, like New American, for instance. But I like your definition. Can there be such a thing as fine dining at home, I wonder?
Cathy@noteatingoutinny at 4:36PM on 06/20/07
I think "fine dining" is a two-hour vacation, and casual dining is more like a half-hour vascation.
annien at 5:08PM on 06/20/07
"Whatever this is" IS CORNER BISTRO
Kbear919 at 5:12PM on 06/20/07
Rather brilliant comment Ed (or paraphrase). I think of "fine dining" as the food served in most of the places I have cooked, which is food that I can rarely, very rarely, afford to eat, but when I do, it can and does feel like a vacation, but so does a surreptitious trip to the taco truck on the way to my vegan girlfriend's house.
Sadly I do think "fine dining"as a term, defining primarily expensive restaurants where the dining is by no means always fine, is still relevant and unfortunately it is inherently classist, hence off-putting.
Still, thinking about my response to Adam's "when gourmet is doing what is right" post the other day that I completely misinterpreted at first and kind of regret, wouldn't it be nice if fine dining, in a restaurant and at home (and I think what Cathy posts on her blog is often dining that is very fine) could be reimagined by restauranteurs, cooks, and eaters alike as "simply doing what is right."?
thanks for the thought provoking post.
intheyearofthepig at 5:27PM on 06/20/07
@Knear919: DING DING DING!...you win nothing. But I give you the congratulatory DINGS!
roboppy at 6:12PM on 06/20/07
Fine dining is an out of ordinary experience. For most people, this means a "fancy" restaurant, with a well tended atmosphere and a higher quality of ingredients and preparation.
It's a relative definition, though, as one who eats at "fine dining" restaurants all the time may have a higher level of expectations than others, and one who eats at "low brow" restaurants all the time may consider a garden variety chain restaurant the epitomy of "fine dining."
One's exposure to fine dining is also relative to their monetary means and willingness to spend money for a "fancy" dining experience.
Josh Baugher at 9:21PM on 06/20/07
Fine dining restaurant is an extra-ordinary experience, which your not only enjoying the food you eat, but also the ambiance of the place,by being comportable to the place you eat, and the extra service you get from the staff of the restaurant. a very efficient accomodating and friendly staff plus the ambiance and the good facilities is like, your really in a vacation.
willard at 11:38AM on 10/10/07