Degustation

Dégustation is the careful, appreciative tasting of various food, focusing on the gustatory system, the senses, high culinary art and good company.

[citation needed] Dégustation is more likely to involve sampling small portions of all of a chef's signature dishes in one sitting.

Usually consisting of many courses, it may be accompanied by a matching wine degustation which complements each dish.

Sampling a selection of cheeses, at home or in a restaurant, may also be called a dégustation.

The popular Spanish style of tapas is similar to the dégustation style, but is not in itself a complete set menu offering the chefs' signature dishes, but instead offers a variety from which the diner can choose.