It’s not every day you have the chance to eat at a restaurant and also influence what goes on the menu, but that’s just the type of collaborative experience you can expect at The Chef’s Table in The Marc Restaurant.
Nestled inside the The Marcus Whitman Hotel in Walla Walla, the kitchen sources the best ingredients from the rich Central Washington farmland. What can you expect on the plate? Well, that depends on the time of year and your own preferences.
"The Chef’s Table dinners are so fun because they are an opportunity for us to cook and create freely, outside the confines of a regular menu,” Chef de Cuisine Nigel Blair said. “Four changing seasons and a handful of local growers and purveyors provide the framework, and we do the rest."
Since there are no set menus, when you reserve your spot — The Chef’s Table is offered on select nights for parties of four to 10 guests — you also share your vision for the courses. You can pick a specific ingredient (fall chanterelles or spring rhubarb, perhaps) and the cooks will find as many ways as they can to incorporate them into the dishes.
At The Marc Restaurant, you can enjoy American classics with a farm-to-table feel. Photo courtesy of The Marc Restaurant
Just because there’s an emphasis on regional bounty doesn’t mean you can’t let your foodie mind wander. Guests can choose a theme, like “an adventure around Southeast Asia,” and the team will take your taste buds on a trip (as long as there is sufficient notice to source and develop the menu).
Eating family style is another option. If you want an elevated chicken dinner, carved tableside, for eight of your closest friends and family, it can accommodate your request. Of course, you can also relinquish all responsibility and let the professionals handle everything.
Throughout the night, you’ll enjoy warm hospitality in the private dining space, with ample opportunity to speak with the chefs about their own philosophies and cooking techniques, to learn about the origin of the ingredients, and of course bond with your fellow diners over unforgettable food. Wine pairings are available, and honestly, recommended, as the Walla Walla Valley is one of the premier grape-growing regions in the country.
When you’re hungry but don’t have time to plan a visit to The Chef’s Table, The Marc Restaurant serves breakfast Monday-Friday, 7-11 a.m., with daily dinner 5-9 p.m. There’s also weekend brunch, and showcase prix fixe and holiday meals are offered throughout the year.