Moscow: Haute cuisine

The term "haute cuisine" goes for elaborate and perfectly prepared food of high standard. The French word "haute" is translated as "high" or "superior, and "cuisine" as "cooking" (in general).

Haute cuisine restaurants in Moscow are formal, because their whole purpose is to celebrate dining as an art form. As a result, every element of the dining experience will have been considered in great detail, and the chef and proprietor will be trying to create an experience for you that's as close to their idea of perfect as possible.

Eating haute cuisine French food is going to be similar to eating anywhere - basic table manners apply.

Whichever way, there will be a full dinner setting on the table, likely with decorative plates (these will be replaced with whatever dishes you order later), and the standard full set of cutlery around it. You'll never have to worry about which glass is for what, because that will be obvious when your waiters pours your water, and wines.

Eating haute cuisine French food basically breaks down into four pretty straightforward courses book-ended by drinks at the beginning and end.

The first drink is called the aperitif. It can be any cocktail that you like. After your aperitif, will come the three courses that you're probably used to- the appetizer, main course, and dessert- plus a fourth course of cheese. There are just two tricky things: what to order, and what to drink with it. You can ask the waiter what's popular, or what the chef recommends today, talk about the ingredients, and in the process, you'll get what you want, develop a positive relationship with your waiter, and possibly with the chef too.

French food tends to have a reputation of being made from strange animals or their body parts that you normally only hear mentioned in an emergency room. It is true that snails are on many menus, but before you get grossed out and skip them, do know that they're typically seasoned nicely, and if cooked right, are similar to feel in your mouth to oysters. Other nice appetizers include soup choices, like lobster bisque, or salads with exotic ingredients. Of course, foie gras is included in our menu.

For your main dish, if you aren't particularly adventurous, typically, you can't go too wrong with poultry dishes- duck, chicken, game hen, etc. Usually there is some sort of beef and fish on the menu too.

Next, order your wine. Wine is a must with French food. The basic rule of red wine with red meat and white wine with white meat applies. Choose whichever wine you like, or again, if you don't recognize anything, ask either the waiter for a recommendation or the sommelier. Don't be afraid to ask them for help; sommeliers love to talk about wine - this is what their whole job is! Also frankly, everyone will be happier knowing you've ordered a well-chosen wine rather than just something you randomly picked from the menu that probably isn't the best choice to pair with what you're eating.

When you've finished your main course, after your dishes have been cleared, you'll be brought a dessert menu, shown a dessert trolley, or the waiter will simply tell you what's available. This may be any number of wonderful concoctions. Delicious creations like cr?pes, mousse, sorbet, and various types of tarts and pastries will likely be on the list. Let your tastebuds do the choosing. Besides, we have a choice of dessert wines. Dessert wine is much sweeter than regular wine, and but will be served in a smaller glass - take sips as you eat your dessert.

The only extra course in haute cuisine French is cheese. The waiter will bring you a plate of pre-selected cheese or roll a cart of cheeses to your table. So you can then select a few cheeses that you like. Strong cheeses will have strong flavors and could smell like old sweat socks (and so could your breath afterwards). Mild cheeses will be more like those you might find in the supermarket.

French meals are book-ended by drinks. Like with other cuisines, coffee is popular after a meal - bear in mind that it is usually served after - not with - dessert. Following that, though, is another alcoholic drink of your choice. Cognac is a very French choice, though you can have whatever liquor you like. And that's all there is.

First of all, we use quality food for our haute cuisine in Moscow. Anything that is not fresh is nonsense! Additionally, each dish is paid a lot of time and attention. It is no way fast food.

So be prepared to wait a little longer - and your expectations will be fully paid by delicious fantastic dishes followed by our best selections of wine!