14 hours and 48
minutes, that’s
how long it took
Maxwell and
Jessie to drive
in from Portland
to take over the
stoves of the
former AK on
Abbot Kinney in
Venice. With
Casey Lane as
their chef, the
Portland natives
and their
dedicated staff
bring a genuine,
Northwest-style
passion for food
to the space now
known as
The Tasting
Kitchen.
True to the
name, they'll be
serving a
variety of
dishes inspired
by the flavors
of Spain and
Morocco, which
are
appropriately
paired with
Italian wine and
cocktails.
TTK serves
undeniably
delicious food,
as well as
trying something
a little
different. For
its first eight
weeks of
residence in
Venice, the menu
will be changing
more often than
not, creating a
truly
entertaining
culinary
environment.
With 8 to 10
market-driven
items, Chef
Casey Lane will
be tweaking the
menu with
feedback from
his guests. At
the end of his
eight-week
experiment, the
restaurant plans
to re-open under
a new name with
a new menu. So
don’t get too
attached
(that’ll be
tough), because
what you eat off
the menu might
pull a Houdini
on you and
disappear into
culinary thin
air. This
restaurant is
not for you if
you have
separation
anxiety.
I can tell you
that I
thoroughly
enjoyed a
braised halibut,
but what does
that matter?
It’s not on the
menu anymore.
So, all I can
say is that The
Tasting Kitchen
offers intensely
flavored but not
at all fussy
creations,
ranging from
delicate market
greens tossed
with walnut
anchoiade to
pork cheek
ravioli nestled
among
balsamic-laced
radicchio. The
beer, wine and
cocktail list
contains only
two dozen
options, but
somehow here
that manages to
feel complete.
At TKK its not
just the food
and restaurant’s
décor that make
your dining
experience
special – it’s
the staff and
their passion,
an enthusiasm
and philosophy
that is shared
with the chef,
which elevates
the experience
to a new level.
Be sure to keep
your eye on this
place, its going
to be big. And
keep your eye on
the menu; it is
going to be
changing.
~ Shadi Bailey
Where:
The Tasting Kitchen, 1633
Abbot Kinney Blvd., Venice
When:
Monday through Sunday, 6 pm to 11 pm; Sunday
Brunch, 11 am to 2:30 pm
Cost:
Starters: $11 to $14; Entrees: $22 to $25;
Dessert, $8
