Life and Art from FT Weekend
Chef Victoria Blamey is giving the tasting menu new life
Oct 21, 2024
Victoria Blamey, executive chef of the innovative Blanca restaurant in Brooklyn, shares her bold culinary vision. She challenges the notion that tasting menus are stale and invites diners to experience adventurous flavors. Victoria discusses her unique spin on dishes, like spinach served in a donut bowl, and emphasizes the importance of pushing boundaries in fine dining. With roots in South America, she highlights how cultural influences shape her creative approach, aiming to wake up diners with every course.
27:13
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Quick takeaways
- Victoria Blamey revitalizes fine dining by infusing creativity and surprise into her tasting menu at Blanca, challenging traditional norms.
- The dining experience at Blanca fosters an intimate communal atmosphere, encouraging diners to explore unfamiliar flavors and culinary narratives.
Deep dives
The Evolution of Fine Dining
Fine dining is facing scrutiny as many perceive it to be becoming outdated, particularly with traditional tasting menus that tend to follow predictable patterns. Critics argue that these menus lack character, offering familiar dishes like caviar and wagyu beef without any element of surprise or innovation. However, some new establishments, like Blanca, are redefining this concept by incorporating fun, creativity, and unexpected flavor combinations into their tasting menus. The experience of dining at Blanca contrasts sharply with conventional fine dining, emphasizing an atmosphere of excitement and engagement rather than formality.
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