Flavor Trends, Strategies and Solutions for Menu Development

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By Patricia Fitzgerald
May 12, 2022

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Shaun Hergatt

Shaun Hergatt

Adding a whimsical touch is a smart strategy for making fun, Instagram-worthy menu items. At modern seafood restaurant Vestry, it’s the eponymous Vestry Cheesecake that’s making customers “squeak” with delight.

The showstopper cheesecake dessert is presented as a wedge of “Swiss cheese” paired with a “mouse” formed from a spiced apple chutney (featuring fresh ginger, cinnamon and star anise). Hazelnut “ears” and a chow mein noodle “tail” are delightful finishing touches.

“We call it the ‘cheesy cheesecake,’” says Executive Chef Shaun Hergatt of this signature take on a Basque cheesecake, featuring a secret combination of three cheeses, minus the traditional charred crust. Each element of the dish has been selected to advance both the presentation and the flavor. “The acidic relish of the chutney cuts through the fattiness of the cheeses,” Hergatt explains. “It’s a perfect harmony of visual appeal and top-tier taste.”

 

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

mmPatricia Fitzgerald serves different roles on the Flavor & The Menu team, including writing custom content, Kitchen Collaborative chef spotlights and digital editorial content, as well as acting as a contributing editor for the print magazine. As owner of PFitzCommunications, she specializes in various areas of foodservice and hospitality, while also maintaining clients in other industries and professions. She can be reached at [email protected].

ISSUE

From the Best of Flavor 2022 issue of Flavor & The Menu From the Best of Flavor 2022 issue of Flavor & The Menu

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STORY TAGS

2022 May-June
Best of Flavor
Best of Flavor 2022
Pasta
Seafood


About The Author

Patricia Fitzgerald

Patricia Fitzgerald serves different roles on the Flavor & The Menu team, including writing custom content, Kitchen Collaborative chef spotlights and digital editorial content, as well as acting as a contributing editor for the print magazine. As owner of PFitzCommunications, she specializes in various areas of foodservice and hospitality, while also maintaining clients in other industries and professions. She can be reached at [email protected].