#12-courselife
Masa 14 Chef’s Tasting Table
When the already popular want to get more popular, they have to up the ante on their product. That is the approach that Masa 14 is taking and from the looks of things, it seems to be working. The popular 14th street Asian fusion restaurant has added a 12-course chef’s tasting menu to list of offerings to its already extensive list of selections. The difference, however, between the chef’s tasting menu and the usual suspects could be considered a complete 360 turn by some regular Masa 14 connoisseurs. Asian influence is definitely present in some of the dishes but so is Italian, American and surprise, no sushi. This is not the Masa 14 I am used to.
Masa 14 Gnocchi
Course after course comes out with the presentation style found at most chef’s tasting tables these days: sous chef brings out the plates with initial ingredients of the dish neatly situated and then Chef de Cuisine Ryan Ratino comes out with the grand finale finish. Art on a plate is born. Masa 14 already had the art on a plate mastered with their regular menu, this new tasting menu changes up the characters, however, where they add Mushroom Tart and Aged Dairy Cow to the menu, for instance. Cheese, ironically, is all over this menu, which is surprising when you think about the restaurants original concept.
Wine Pairing
The only thing matching the new tasting menu is the optional wine pairing menu. Red Tail Ridge’s “Good Karma” Riesling (2014 New York) is the reason I will request the typically sweet wine with my foie gras from now on. The rich flavors from the foie gras were humbled by this dry, berry-centric Riesling. Do not, however, get too attached to names, Masa’s tasting menu changes every six weeks.
Chef Ratino and the team at Masa 14 certainly know how to keep things interesting. This menu. These wine pairings. I trying to jog my memory now, what is on the regular menu again??
Category: restaurant reviews, Reviews, Washington D.C.
About the Author (Author Profile)
Johnna French is a Harlem NY native with deep roots in Panama, Washington, DC and North Carolina. All four places have heavily influenced her life and the foods she loves today. After graduating Howard University School of Law and beginning her life as a young professional in the city she was led to start Johnna Knows Good Food in November 2007 to keep family, friends and colleagues updated on where to go and what to eat while dining in the nation’s capitol. French, who still practices law, leads a team of three writers to cover the ever expanding Washington, DC food scene. French has been featured in print and television, appearing in Washingtonian Magazine and is a regular contributor to various local TV affiliates including WUSA 9, FOX 5 DC and WJLA (ABC Affiliate) News Channel 8. During the 2016-2017 football season, Johnna aired on Comcast Sports Mid-Atlantic (CSN) show, Redskins Life, as the weekly tailgate host. Johnna is currently a regular contributor to the FOX Baltimore Weekend morning show.Subscribe
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