While most of Dallas’ culinary world is plotting its Valentine’s Day specials, Five Sixty by Wolfgang Puck at the top of Reunion Tower is just getting around to celebrating the new year. Not 2014, but 4712 — the Chinese lunar new year, starting Jan. 31.
To commemorate this Year of the Horse, Five Sixty’s on-site exec chef Patton Robertson has concocted a menu reflective of the tradition. Still, don’t expect horsemeat on your entrees — the Robertson is cleverer than that.
Take, for instance, the horse mackerel tartare, pictured left, a starter of the hearty whitefish displayed with a fan of julienned carrots and daikon plus a sprinkling of nuts. It’s a good introduction to the whimsical but satisfying five-course tasting menu (it will replace the usual chef’s tasting through Feb. 13, and be the only choice for diners on Feb. 12).
The pork, shrimp and lobster dumplings signal good fortune as much as good taste, and the crispy satsuma-pepper glaze on the roasted quail (a symbol of family unity) brings a refreshing but not overwhelming sweet heat to the delicate flesh.
The main course — a stir fry of rare strips of Wagyu steak and lobes of Maine lobster — is rich without being excessively heavy, and the dessert course includes fortune cookies with fortunes written by Puck himself.
Tasting menu available Jan. 31–Feb. 13. $135/$185 with wine pairings. A “dumpling preparation” class on Feb. 1 ($75) benefits Cafe Momentum. WolfgangPuck.com.
The nonprofit White Rock Local Market has a slate of classes planned for urban homesteaders interested in sustainablility and the craft of cooking. It kicks off on Feb. 1 and again on March 8 with a cheesemaking class hosted by Rosey Ridge Farm.
Learn to make your own feta, mozzarella and cheddar. (Cost: $40.) On Feb. 8, Noble Coyote Coffee Roasters will offer instruction for the caffeine addict on how to roast your own beans and make the perfect home brew. (Cost: $20.)
All classes at 10 a.m. at Gecko Hardware, 10233 E. Northwest Highway, #409. For more information, visit WhiteRockLocalMarket.org.
This article appeared in the Dallas Voice print edition January 31, 2014.
