Tongue in Cheek's 5-Course Herbivore Dinner
On New Year's Eve, I went to Tongue in Cheek for the 5-course vegan tasting menu. I have to say, I don't know why I don't go there more often because the entire meal was incredible. The online menu lists it at $55, but it's $65, and you can choose to get it paired with "libations" for an additional $35. I'm not sure how often the menu changes, but they do change it regularly so you don't quite know what you're going to get.
The first course is a "teaser," essentially an amuse bouche, so it's one bite to whet your appetite for the meal. Above, you'll see The Blues, which is a blueberry in basil oil with peanuts. The blueberry bursts in your mouth, and it's rich as can be.
Course two was a fried rice ball in a curry foam and topped with greens. The outside of the rice ball was perfectly crispy, and it was nice and soft on the inside. One thing I've noticed when I've gone to Tongue in Cheek is they really seem to like their foam. I most often order the Vegasm which is a rotating vegan dish, and I think every time I've had it, it's had some kind of foam on it. It's fine, but I'm happy with a standard cream or broth.
I legit felt like crying when I had my first bite of the third course. The little balls are rice cakes, and they were sautéed to make them little balls of heaven. The seaweed salad on top complimented it well, and I said that if the meal had ended there, I would have been perfectly happy. This dish is one of my favorites that I've ever had anywhere, and I'm sad that I probably won't have it again.
The fourth course was roasted cauliflower with a savory cream sauce. It was delicious and light, which was good since I was starting to get full. One of the things I especially like about Tongue in Cheek being so plant forward is that you don't get full quickly. You can take your time and truly enjoy each dish as it comes out.
My meal ended with a beautiful pots de crème. The balance of everything was spot on: not too chocolaty, not too sweet, not too firm, and not too much. If I wasn't in public, I would have licked the dish clean.
I've received excellent service at Tongue in Cheek, and the food is always awesome. I honestly think it's the best vegan food I've had in the Twin Cities. That's why it's part of My Favorite Spots, but it's not cheap so I'd recommend it for a date night or some other kind of special occasion. It's 100% worth it, though.