Chef Payton Curry of Caffe Boa has outdone his previous feat of serving rabbit on Easter! Let’s hope Santa has a sense of humor or an adventurous palate because the Original Caffe Boa and Caffe Boa Bistro in Mesa will offer a special tasting menu featuring a remarkable culinary presentation of one of the world’s most adored (and often hard-to-find) big game delicacies – the North American Reindeer, otherwise known as Caribou.
Chef Curry’s signature reindeer tasting menu features an array of envelope-pushing presentations including Caribou Tartare and Pickled Quail Eggs, Caribou Tongue Bruschetta with Pickled Watermelon Radish and Horseradish Crema and Caribou Cotechino with red lentils and Quince Mostarda. The six-course tasting menu will also include daily specials and optional supplements and is subject to change.
Caribou meat is considered the king of luxury meat and one of the world’s most sought-after wild game meats. In the United States, finding Caribou on a restaurant menu is often a treat because sourcing can be such a challenge. Most people who try Caribou find it delicious because of its fine texture and distinguished gamey taste. In addition, despite its typical cold weather surroundings, reindeer are also found to be lower in fat content, thus making this meat a leaner and healthier alternative to many popular holiday dishes this time of year.
Jay Wisniewski, owner of Caffe Boa and Caffe Boa Bistro says serving reindeer meat for the Christmas season is all about tradition.
“When we served rabbit on Easter we had an overwhelming amount of people come in for that tasting menu raving about how it was exactly what they used to eat on Easter growing up in an Italian or other ethnic family,” he said, “The reindeer tasting menu is the same thing – it might offer a taste of home and family for some people, and there are always other customers who are curious about exotic meats, so tasting menus like these offer a holiday dining indulgence they won’t be able to find anywhere else,” he said.
The Caribou Holiday Tasting Menu will be the highlighted option for both restaurants New Year’s Eve event along with some festive additions.
Call now to make your reservation for the Caribou Holiday Tasting Menu: 480-968-9112 for the Tempe location and 480-981-2000 for the Mesa location.
The complete Caribou Tasting Menu will be as follows:
Caribou Holiday Tasting Menu | Executive Chef Payton Curry |$65 Per Person | Dec 20th-Jan 6th
- Caribou Tartare, Pickled Quail Eggs
- Caribou Tongue Bruschetta, Pickled Watermelon Radish, Horseradish Crema
- Caribou Cotechino with red lentils and Quince Mostarda
- Caribou Bolognese with Pappardelle And Mayas Mizunas
- Tortelinni en Parmesan Brodo
- Bolito Misto, Chestnut Broth, Tarragon