Part III of Assignment II: Rustica Review

            As I reflect on what I expected to find dining at Rustica, I see that in some ways my expectations were fairly correct, yet in others completely wrong.  I had anticipated a very intimate dining experience, and that is what I got.  Though it was not as dimly lit as I had imagined, the small space and atmosphere did create an intimate feel.  I anticipated perhaps feeling somewhat out of place being there with friends rather than on a date, but we were certainly not the only non-couples in the restaurant and I could imagine going there with my family of five.

            In terms of the food, I was prepared to be blown away and I was.  The food was excellent and rich, as I had expected it would be.  I was glad I ate minimally during the day because I was very full by the time we left, especially after the spectacular brownie.  The menu was smaller and more incomprehensible than I had expected it to be, hence me needing to pull out my phone to look up some of the words.  But in terms of quality and presentation, my expectations were met, if not exceeded.  The price of the food I was actually pretty shocked by.  I was thinking there was no way I would be walking out of there paying less than $50 for an entrée and tip.  I was able to get that and split a brownie spending no more than $40.  My main concern with dining at Rustica was that the food wouldn’t be worth the price, but I almost think I was getting a deal.  It would be a different story if I had been drinking alcohol and buying appetizers, but I was able to walk out feeling completely satisfied without my heart sinking from the money I spent.

            I chose Rustica because I thought it would be the most different dining experience I would find in Kalamazoo, although I didn’t expect it to be extremely different than what I had experienced in the past.  My family goes out to eat a lot and we enjoy all types of food.  Looking back, I realize Rustica was much more different than I had anticipated.  Despite my family’s frequent eating out, “farm to table” type of dining is not very common where I am from and therefor not a very common thing for my family to experience.  The higher end restaurants we typically venture to are either seafood places, steakhouses or strictly Italian.  Having such a wide variety on such a small, seasonal menu was not something I had much experience with, and this added to my enjoyment of the restaurant.  Eating at Rustica has made me more curious about local foods and seasonal dining.

            I think the most glaringly wrong expectation I had for eating at Rustica was that it would “provide a classic, European, and obviously rustic menu.”  The problem with this assumption was not that it was incorrect, but that I don’t even know what it means.  After reading “Culinary Tourism” and discussing our reviews in class, I have begun to realize how meaningless those words really are.  There are 50 countries in Europe (51 if you include the Vatican), so describing something as “European” is about as vague as you can get.  It goes back to the notion of “authenticity.”  It is a term that has been thrown around so frequently it has lost its meaning.  Describing something as classic European is ridiculous and completely indefinable.  Calling something European gives me absolutely no idea of the flavors or textures involved.  Although I see that this assumption is obviously ridiculous now that I look back at it, I am glad I made the mistake.  It signifies the importance of specificity with descriptions and the problems with assumptions.  Saying something is authentically European depicts an assumed understanding of what European is, even though that is an indefinable term, even for Europeans.

            The experience of reflecting before, during and after my dining experience made me practice mindful eating and think more critically about what it is I enjoy and dislike about dining experiences.  Thinking about what my experience would be like ahead of time made me very aware of everything I was experiencing as I experienced it.  Reflecting afterwards also made me think critically about the food and ambiance of the restaurant.  It made the experience more fulfilling and the memory more rich.  I think going through this writing assignment and comparing it with what we have been learning in class such as what we learned from “Culinary Tourism” has helped me improve my mindful eating skills and will make me continue these practices in the future, whether I am eating a duck from Rustica or a hot dog from Coney Island.

Rustica Review Final

            Rustica.  The restaurant’s name has as much flavor as its food does.  All it takes is one bite of the pillow of chocolate luxury that is the callebaut chocolate brownie to know that this is more than a restaurant: it is an artist’s studio.  Its delicate crumble-to-the-touch quality creates a texture only capable of the truly gifted.  In this one simple dessert, the artistry is there, just begging you to take a bite.

            Rustica is located downtown on Kalamazoo Mall, within walking distance of Kalamazoo College.  The entire layout of the restaurant can be seen simply by walking through the door.  It is narrow and small, perhaps a bit too small. There is no music to set the mood for the meal, which is for the best because it is already so loud it is hard to hear the server as she pleasantly greets the table, her formal attire matching her professional demeanor.  Although Rustica is snug, it is very pleasant.  Not many details cover the pale walls, giving the place an honest quality. The food and service speaks for itself without needing posters on the walls or catchy titles of entrees to distract from the product.  Tucked away in the back is a bar serving a wide variety of wines and beers, both local and European.  Rustica is known for its quality alcoholic beverages, being owned by the man who owns Tiffany’s liquor store.  In the middle of the dining area is the clearly visible kitchen so you can see your food as it is being prepared.

            At first Rustica’s fine dining may seem intimidating.   While the culmination of the candlelit tables and the short menu adds intimacy, it gives the impression that this is the sort of restaurant that is going to have more than one fork.  Getting a table is a battle on its own.  The venue and the hours of operation are both very small, doors not opening until 5 pm.  The menu may be short, but good luck understanding half of the words on it. I had to use my iPhone to look up almost every word, though the server was more than willing to answer any question I had.

            But after being seated and dictionary.com-ing every word on the menu, the dining experience is nothing short of fantastic.  What the menu lacks in length, it makes up for in variety of flavors and options.  The food is seasonal and local, and it shows. One of these seasonal items that is sure to leave the tongue begging for more is the duck breast.  The meaty marsala sauce prepares the taste buds for the delight to come: the meat.  It tastes like a perfectly cooked chicken and a tender steak mixed into one.  It is as soft as butter, practically dissolving with each bite.  The flavor of the duck stuffed puff pastry is at first overwhelming, but after eating it with a bed of refreshing spinach, the greens and meat combine into a combination that is earthy and invigorating.

Don’t let the extra room on the plate fool you.  The size and shape of the meal is not just for the aesthetic pleasure it supplies; it is small but it is hearty.  The mastery of the chefs can be observed while eating the meal, and it is clear they are capable of providing just enough to fill and satisfy.

After embracing the roller coaster of tastes provided by the duck, a side order of grilled asparagus provides just the break needed.  It is topped off with a poached egg that pops upon biting into it.  The egg as smooth as glass juxtaposes the crunch of the fresh-from-the-garden tasting asparagus.  For the brave souls venturing the seas of the baked seafood tagliatelle, consider yourself warned.  It is not for the faint of heart.  While the seafood itself tastes like a day at the beach, the sauce it is prepared in is reminiscent of a man’s shoe after running a marathon.  The cheese is potent and funky.  Not bad, but not for most taste buds.  That being said, finding anything on the menu that hasn’t been masterfully crafted would be a challenge, regardless of the season the menu is in.  Watching them fry and sauté as your mouth reaps the benefits of their gifts is like being able to purchase a painting as the artiest creates it.  The menu and techniques are as honest and open as the restaurant’s basic design.  They have nothing to hide, and so they don’t.

            If you make the wise decision of walking into Rustica, no matter what you do, do not even think about leaving if you have not tried the desert.  Undo the top button of your pants, don’t eat the entrée if you have to, just save room for dessert.  Particularly the callebaut chocolate brownie, topped with chocolate ganache and hazelnuts alongside a bed of chocolate gelato with caramel sauce.  It is the crack of dessert foods.  As you eat it, everything turns to slow-mo.  Your teeth hit the top layer and crack through the rich ganache, descending into the warm cloud of the brownie and finally cool down with the rich and smooth chocolate gelato.  It is warm and cool, crunchy and soft.  It is God’s gift to mankind.  Get it.

            After finishing dessert, the formal attire of the staff mixed with the obvious quality of the food may leave college students biting their nails as the check makes its way to the table.   Save your nail beds; it isn’t worth the stress.  The duck entrée, half of the brownie and tip allowed me to walk out of their only thirty bucks poorer.  The restaurant may not reach its goal as outlined on the website of being your every occasion meal, but when there is a special occasion that deserves to be celebrated, Rustica is a magnificent option.  The dining experience in all aspects lives up to the richness of the restaurant’s name.  It is affordable, it is classic, it is fantastic.

Rustica: a Taste of Europe in Kalamazoo (Workshop rough draft, intended audience Kalamazoo College students)

            Rustica.  The restaurant’s name has as much flavor as its food does.  Just by saying the word you can taste the classic European techniques used in crafting each exquisite meal.  Whether you are ordering something as simple as a side of asparagus or as daring as the duck, the artistry is there, just begging you to take a bite.

            Rustica is conveniently located within walking distance of Kalamazoo College, located downtown on Kalamazoo Mall.  As you walk into Rustica, you can pretty much see the entire layout of the restaurant right away.  It is narrow and small, a bit too small for my taste.  The close tables are cozy at best.  There is no music to set the mood for your meal, which is for the best because it is already so loud it is hard to hear the server as she asks for our drink orders.  Although it is snug, it is very pleasant.  The walls are pale with simple decorations that makes it feel more like you are dining in a friend’s home than in a restaurant.  Tucked away in the back is a bar serving a wide variety of wines and beers, both local and European.  In the middle of the dining area is the clearly visible kitchen so you can see your food as it is being prepared.  The entire layout, while somewhat crowded, is simple and classy, a theme that fits their food selections.

            At first Rustica’s fine dining may seem intimidating.  The restaurant is beautiful and simple.  The candle at each table is intimate and pleasant.  But by this simple and elegant taste, you can tell this is the sort of restaurant that is going to have more than one fork.  Getting a table is a battle on its own.  The venue and the hours of operation are both very small, doors not opening until 5 pm.  The menu may be short, but good luck understanding half of the words on it.  I had to use my iPhone to look up almost every word, though the server was more than willing to answer any question I had.

            But once you are seated and have dictionary.com’d every word on the menu, the dining experience is nothing short of fantastic.  The menu is far from extensive, but it is loaded with a variety of foods and flavors to please even the pickiest of eaters.  The food is seasonal and local, and it shows.  If you are an adventurous eater, I highly recommend the roasted duck breast.  The sweetness of the marsala sauce compliments and subdues the salty meat.  It tastes like a perfectly cooked chicken and a tender steak mixed into one.  The meat is as soft as butter, practically dissolving on your tongue.  The flavor of the duck stuffed puff pastry was at first overwhelming, but after eating it with the bed of refreshing spinach, the greens and meat combine into an explosion of perfect flavor.  And don’t let the extra room on the plate fool you.  The size and shape of the meal is not just for the aesthetic pleasure it supplies; it is so rich it should be more than enough to fill you up.  A side order of grilled asparagus is the perfect thing to counteract the intensely flavorful entrée, topped off with a poached egg that creates a chewy, slimy, smooth texture that is both refreshing and invigorating.  If you are going to try the baked seafood tagliatelle, consider yourself warned.  It is not for the faint of heart.  While the seafood itself tasted like a day at the beach, the sauce it is prepared in tastes and smells like a man’s shoe after running a marathon.  The cheese is potent and funky.  Not bad, but not for most taste buds.  That being said, you’d be hard pressed to find anything on the menu that hasn’t been masterfully crafted.  The chefs cook right in front of you so you can see their artistry at work.  Their menu and techniques are as open and honest as their simple design.  They have nothing to hide.

            If you make the wise decision of walking into Rustica, no matter what you do, do not even think about leaving if you have not tried the desert.  Undo the top button of your pants, don’t eat the entrée if you have to, just save room for dessert.  Particularly the callebaut chocolate brownie, topped with chocolate ganache and hazelnuts alongside a bed of chocolate gelato with caramel sauce.  It is the crack of dessert foods.  As you eat it, everything turns to slow-mo.  Your teeth hit the top layer and crack through the rich ganache, descending into the warm cloud of the brownie and finally cools down with the rich and smooth chocolate gelato.  It is warm and cool, crunchy and soft, it is God’s gift to mankind.  Get it.

            Being the cheap college student that I am, I was biting my nails as the check made its way to the table.  If you can’t pronounce the food you are eating and if the dessert gives you an out of body experience, it can’t be cheap.  Yet, all things considered, it was.  I wouldn’t quite say the restaurant reaches its goal of being your every occasion meal as it says on their website, but when you do have a special occasion and want to do something to celebrate it, Rustica is a magnificent option.  The dining experience in all aspects lives up to the richness of the restaurant’s name.  It is affordable, it is classic, it is fantastic.

Roasted Duck Breast

Callebaut Chocolate Brownie

My Assumptions, Expectations and Anticipation for Dining at Rustica

Rustica is a restaurant I have wanted to check out for quite some time.  I have avoided it because I can tell just by seeing the small outer front of the restaurant that it isn’t going to be cheap.  But I am a sucker for Italian food (which, apparently, is only a portion of the menu they offer according to people who have gone there) and so I am hoping it will be worth the price.

My expectations are high for this restaurant.  It’s name makes me think it will provide a classic, European, and obviously rustic menu with a variety of pastas, salads, meat selections and more.  I plan on eating minimally before my meal since I predict it will be rich and so wonderful I will eat every last scrap of it.  With Rustica, I anticipate that it will not be a question of is the food good, rather is it worth the price I’m paying.  This is something several of the food reviews mentioned and I think it is important to consider.

In terms of ambiance, I predict a very small, dimly lit, intimate restaurant probably more suited for couples than families or friends, which could be a good or bad thing.  From the outside, Rustica appears uncomfortably small for such a fancy place.  Every time I have walked past, it was so dim I couldn’t see anything.  This may create more of an intimate feel but I like my space so if it is as packed and dim as it appears to be this may have a very negative effect on my experience.

The reason I am choosing Rustica is not because I do not have experience with fine European dining but because I do not have much experience with the combination of European and local food Rustica appears to offer according to those I have talked to about the restaurant.  When my family goes out for a nice meal, we like to go places that are specifically Italian or serve specifically seafood, etc.  We never say “I am in the mood for something rich,” we say “I am in the mood for something French.”  We do not pay very much attention to locally grown foods (although I think we should) and so I am excited and curious to see these elements come together.  Our family meals also typically occur at very large, open, family style restaurants.  This may be based on my assumptions of the restaurant, but as I have mentioned I think that Rustica will provide a much more intimate feel.  My few experiences going to smaller, café style restaurants in America have been a little strange and almost too intimate for me.  My family goes out to eat a lot so finding a place that is out of my element is a bit of a challenge for me.  But my food eating experience in Kalamazoo thus far has already been a bit strange for me and the way I grew up considering the fact that an emphasis on locally grown foods seems to be prominent here.  So while I think this dining experience will be a bit different for me, I don’t anticipate that being a bad thing.