Enjoy season’s ‘eatings’ with tasting menu

Beet & Pumpkin Roulade

Diners seeking to enjoy an exciting culinary adventure can rejoice — Restaurant XO on Waialae Avenue offers the Chef’s Seven-Course Family Style Tasting Menu.

Since the restaurant’s list of dishes totals 18 items, the seven courses enable customers to try a wide range of what’s available in one sitting.

Scallops

“The tasting menu is a good way to sample the whole menu,” shares chef and owner Kenneth Lee. “Our style is modern local food,” Lee adds of Restaurant XO, which is named for the sauce named after the cognac.

While the regular price of this tasting menu is $60 per guest, Restaurant XO is offering this menu at $55 when mentioning Dining Out.

For those who are looking for a great way to start off 2020, Lee says that they can still make a reservation for New Year’s Eve, as there are some tables left. He notes that the business is open every day except Christmas.

Chef Heather’s Double Layered Ice Cream Pie

Lee recommends the tasting menu to guests dining at the restaurant for the first time, and for smaller groups to sample a greater variety of dishes.

A multi-ethnic medley of themes, the Seven-Course Family Style Tasting Menu includes vegetable dishes like Beet & Pumpkin Roulade. This beautifully presented dish that’s a photo-worthy feast for both the eyes and palate is served with chimichurri, shiso and quinoa. Charred Broccoli, the second vegetable course, receives additional flavor from black lime and bagoong bagna cauda.

Next up is the Loaded Potato Mochi Gnocchi. These wonderfully round, brown gnocchi are garnished with pickled jalapenos, green onion and chopped up savory bacon.

Sweet & Sour Char Siu Pork Belly

After getting starched up, restaurant patrons can also indulge in the proteins like the eatery’s signature Adobo Fried Chicken with braised peppercorns — a tender, crunchy, flavorful delight that customers adore. Another meaty menu item on the tasting lineup is the Sweet & Sour Char Siu Pork Belly. This mouthwatering dish is served with carrot and crispy Brussels sprouts.

Succulent seafood hasn’t been ignored on this tasting menu either, as it features juicy Scallops. They are accompanied with XO Goma Sauce, Matcha Scallion Puree and Tuile.

This journey ends on a satisfyingly sweet note, with a dessert of Chef Heather’s Double Layered Ice Cream Pie. The thick, heavenly pie is served with crunchy granola.