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Tasting Counter, Somerville

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A few months ago, a small restaurant opened in the space shared with Aeronaut Brewing Company in Somerville. Tasting Counter is more of a dinner and a show experience than just a meal.

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The diners reserve tickets online, filling out food preferences and either beer, wine, sake or non-alcoholic pairings.

When you arrive, you are seated at one of 16 spaces around an open kitchen. You are greeted by the chefs and watch them start preparing your multi-course meal.

Welcoming Bites:
Smoked paprika thyme puff
Black olive, almond, foie gras
Scallop mousse, cured roe, preserved lemon, sesame crisp

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Hake
The hake is cured in avocado oil, sliced thin and served with avocado cream, grapefruit roulade, and smoked sea salt –
the salt crunches in your mouth with each bite, exploding with flavor.

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Sea Bream
The fish is marinated in hazelnut oil and paired with fried artichokes, artichoke cream, burgundy truffle, and jerez vinegar – this was my favorite dish!

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Tortellini
lobster, pine mushroom, beef broth and lobster foam

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Ocean Trout
shallot cream, basil oil surrounding a fermented soybean paste, and orange blossom pearls

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Monkfish
with a trio of creams – tomato, fennel, and garlic along with saffron cured salmon roe
the saffron really cuts the salty-fishiness from the roe – something I’ve never encountered before, it was beautiful.

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Persimmon Tea
with a pine nut cookie palate cleanser. The cookie was still warm, slightly chewy and delicious.

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Miso Cured Duck
with a pear, daikon and celery gelatin, soy cream and celery cream (which blew my mind)

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Dry Aged Beef Sirloin Cap
burdock, cilantro, ginger, red curry – the pairing of the pungent, spicy ginger with the beef was wonderful, though this was my least favorite dish

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Lime Curd
passionfruit, lime, ginger ice cream, molasses cake, meringue

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Bittersweet Chocolate
guava, macadamia nut, candied kumquat, coconut cream

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Parting Morsels:
Yuzu chocolate truffle
Strawberry almond cake

Plum lavender chew

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Needless to say it was a wonderful night and we will definitely be back!

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