cociana

Does this menu work?

Menu Composer

Build a menu course by course and see the balance: weight, technique, temperature, colour, repetition, oven conflicts and a wine suggestion for each course.

What it does

Most private menus fail on repetition rather than on ambition: three creamy courses in a row, two things roasted in the same oven at different temperatures, four beige plates. This planner checks the shape of the whole menu the way a chef reads it, and tells you what to change.

How to use it

  • Pick a course for each position from the library
  • Watch the balance bars for weight, technique and colour
  • Fix the warnings it raises about the oven and the fridge
  • Take the wine suggestions as a starting point for your cellar

Notes

  • Two hot plated courses in a row need a hot cabinet or a second oven
  • A menu that is all one technique tastes like one dish, however good the cooking
  • Acidity in at least two courses is what keeps a rich menu enjoyable