What does «chef’s choice» mean?
On menus, «chef’s choice» marks dishes where the guest puts their trust in the kitchen. It might be the fish of the day, a selection of sushi or – as with us – a main ingredient whose preparation the chef decides. You choose the dish, not every detail.
For the kitchen it is a chance to show what it can do. For the guest it is an invitation to be surprised rather than pick from dozens of options.
Chef’s choice and omakase – the difference
Japanese restaurants have their own word for this: omakase (お任せ), roughly «I leave it to you». It usually means a whole menu of many small courses, often sushi, that the chef serves piece by piece at the counter.
Chef’s choice is the broader term. It can mean a whole menu, but also a single dish. At Han Kitchen it is a single main course – beef fillet, not a multi-course omakase menu.
Chef’s choice at Han Kitchen
Our menu lists «Chef’s choice (beef fillet)» in the Japanese section at CHF 45.00. Our food is cooked by a former chef of Globus Bellevue in Zurich. How the fillet is plated and what comes with it is up to the kitchen – our staff are happy to explain at the table or on the phone.
As it is meant for special evenings, booking a table is a good idea. You can also take it away: order by phone and collect it, like any other dish.
When is chef’s choice a good idea?
If you can’t decide, are curious about the kitchen’s style or are celebrating something, a chef’s choice dish is a good pick. If there are ingredients you can’t eat, mention it when you order – the kitchen can then take it into account or suggest an alternative.
Example: dinner for two
A couple are celebrating their anniversary and book a table for Friday evening. One orders bibimbap, the other goes for Chef’s choice. Rather than weighing up sides and cooking points, they let the kitchen surprise them with how it prepares the beef fillet that evening – and ask the staff what it is served with.
Chef’s Choice (Beef Fillet) CHF 45.00