Petit Gourmand Menu at Trummer's on Main

by Micaela Williamson

Interior Dining Room, Trummers on Main

The Sage cocktail at Trummer's on Main is perhaps my favorite drink on the entire east coast.  In fact, when my parents visit and we have free childcare, my husband and I drive out to Clifton just to get it. We usually sit at Trummer's beautiful, intimate bar, have a drink or two, and order off the excellent menu. We always leave thinking about our next visit. We tell ourselves, this is no place for little kids, and so we wait.

Until now.

Executive Chef Austin Fausett has recently introduced the Petit Gourmand menu, inspired by the Trummer's European travels of where Stefan saw firsthand how menus and atmosphere accommodated children while preserving a sense of sophistication and good manners.

"I build the dishes on our Petit Gourmand menu to incorporate seasonal, innovative ingredients and introduce children to culinary technique and presentation, while still maintaining an ease of palatability and sensitivity to their youth," explains Chef Fausett. "The dishes on our Petit Gourmand menu are built with the same level of detail and creativity as all of Trummer's menus."

 

This isn't chicken fingers or mac and cheese with "fancy" diced ham.  The Petit Gourmand menu features diverse, new flavors that are child-friendly and cheaper than getting a babysitter.  When we visited, the Petit Gourmand menu included small arancini balls, miso cured Alaskan halibut, beef stroganoff with paparadelle pasta, apples with a homemade caramel sauce, and a wonderfully fun "make your own sundae" option for dessert.  

Besides incorporating so many great, diverse flavors, the structures of the dishes were "kid-friendly." The arancini balls came with a dipping sauce, playing on kids' love of dipping things, and the deconstructed sundae gave the children a sense of ownership and creativity.  Plus, there were "mocktails," a the children delighted in a delicious drink with elderberry, vanilla, and juice served in an official Trummer's pouch that mimicked a Capri Sun.  (The adults relished in their own alcoholic Capri-Sun like drink too.)

Fried Arancini: risotto balls & escabeche mayo: Trummer's on Main Petit Gourmand

Prosciutto, Grapes & Cheese: Trummer's on Main Petit Gourmand

Miso Cured Alaskan Halibut, English Peas, Purple Potatoes: Trummer's on Main Petit Gourmand

Beef Stroganoff with paparadelle pasta: Trummer's on Main Petit Gourmand

Build Your Own Sundae: Trummer's on Main Petit Gourmand

The kids were served at the same time as the parents, and the number of tastings matched ours perfectly.  The cadence of the services was just right; we didn't feel rushed and were able to enjoy the great food and conversation.  At the same time, the thrill of what's next, and the delivery of such well planned plates prevented our boys from feeling bored or needing entertainment. 

In addition to the tasting menu format, the dishes from the Petit Gourmand menu may also be ordered a la carte.  We shared our meal with families with children ranging from toddlers to preteens, and there were no meltdown.  The children felt important. and the bright atmosphere of Trummer's main dining room kept everything calm, yet merry.

Every now and then you want a fine meal, to celebrate, to treat yourself, to remember what food can taste like.  But, with kids, the options are few and far in between.  Trummer's  on Main has come up with a novel solution with its Petit Gourmand menu that brings out the best in the food, and the families that visit.

Trummer's on Main
7134 Main Street
Clifton, VA
703-266-1623
http://trummersonmain.com/

Photo credits: Jay Williamson, All rights reserved
Disclosure: We received a complimentary tasting for this review.  All opinions are our own. No other compensation was received.