Social Dining: Shared Plates at Michael Mina's XIV and Sangria-Fueled Snacks

June 5, 2009 7:56 pm

Social Dining: Shared Plates at Michael Mina's XIV and Sangria-Fueled Snacks

$Behind the Burner: Social Dining: Shared Plates at Michael Mina\'s XIV and Sangria-Fueled Snacks$

As I've been flying from one coast to another in the past few weeks, I've noticed a distinct trend in the restaurant scene: social dining. As many chefs continue to think and re-think their menus in this economy, a crop of small, shareable plates have been deemed winners. For those of us who shy away from committing to an appetizer, entrée and dessert and would rather have a bite of several tasty dishes that all our friends order, this is delicious news. It seems that the experts agree on my take on this phenomenon. says he's been observing "a return to comfort food, but done in a reinvented way" and emphasizes a "trend towards more casual and affordable dining", stressing that "small and shareable plates [has been] something that [Molyvos has] been practicing for the longest time their our restaurant. At Vintage Irving, Chef Jason Bunn concentrates on European-inflected small plates meant for sharing and stresses that "it's a fun way to eat that encourages people to enjoy themselves and try new things."

At XIV in Los Angeles, a lively lounge with casual dining and tasting menus on the celebrated Sunset strip, we sampled Tapioca-Crusted Tai Snapper, Broccoli Rabe, White Soy Vinaigrette; California Lamb Skewer, Chop Meguez Sausage, Chickpea Raita; and the Liberty Duck Breast, Seared Foie Gras, Leg Confit, Pineapple Star Anise--easily the star of the already stellar line up.

My college friends and I ordered 8 plates but Michael took the liberty of sending us several more courses and we attempted to dance off our desserts at Hyde a few blocks away.

From the left coast to the right one, social dining is spreading. Who best to teach the Americans about sharing than the Spaniards? The Spanish culture thrives on loud bars and plates to share. At Tapeo on Newbury street I gathered with my business school classmates over sangria, hummus, croquettes, and orange flan. Having no seen his particular bunch of friends for about five years, my general observation of the experience can be summed up in two words: babies and bangs. One would think that the main lesson learned at our fine institution was to procreate. The bangs, on the other hand, may have been cut to hide forehead wrinkles and a hesitation to indulge in Botox.

The next morning, I ran into one of my friends and asked her how she enjoyed the evening. "I had fun, I have a hangover to prove it." Beware, sangria can do that to you.

—Divya Gugnani

XIV
8117 Sunset Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA 90046
323.656.1414
www.michaelmina.net/xiv

Tapeo Restaurant & Tapas Bar
266 Newbury Street
(between Fairfield St & Gloucester St)
Boston, MA 02116
617.267.4799
www.tapeo.com