As the chill of fall begins to settle in, we’re excited to announce that our 2024 Fall Menu, filled with seasonal favorites, is now live! We sat down for a Q&A with the creative minds and culinary experts behind this year’s menu to chat about all things fall.
Read on for some interesting insights and conversations!
Chatting with Executive Chef, Nick Webber
Nick Webber is one of our team members that has grown up alongside Tuxedos and Tennis Shoes. Now, as Tuxedos & Tennis Shoes' Executive Chef, Nick serves as our ultimate culinary quality control, keeping our kitchens stocked with the best ingredients (and the best people!) to ensure first-rate food.
Q: What makes this menu so special?
A: “For me, fall is all about comfort. It’s the season to turn the oven back on, light a fire, pour a glass of stout or Côtes du Rhône, and braise some meat. But it’s not just about meat and potatoes. Harvest time offers a bounty of seasonal vegetables, like the hard squashes that sweeten beautifully when roasted, and the mushrooms that are so elusive at other times of the year. What I love most about this season is that it feels like people are truly inspired by their favorite flavors, and that’s what really shines through in this menu.”
Q: What are you most excited for clients to try?
A: “I have to say, I am looking forward to bringing back the House Smoked Pastrami Sandwich. The sweet and spicy coleslaw adds a satisfying crunch and pairs perfectly with the pickled onions, Swiss cheese, and pastrami that takes nearly a week to prepare. The time and patience are definitely worth it!
One of my new favorites is actually vegan: our Mushroom and Lentil “Steak.” It’s both hearty and flavorful, complemented by creamy cauliflower mornay, vibrant herb pistou, and crunchy vegetable crisps that add a touch of sweetness. I’m not a vegetarian, but I would eat this time and time again.”
Dessert Insights from Pastry Chef, Brideen Baker
As Brideen says, “resistance is futile”. In the battle between willpower and one of Brideen’s artful cakes and pastries, temptation wins every time. You can taste her talent, years of experience and passion in every melt-in-your-mouth forkful!
Q: How does this year’s dessert menu differ from those of previous years?
A: “This year, I’ve been focusing on crafting vegan and gluten-free desserts to ensure everyone can enjoy our fall treats. I’m not a huge fan of substitute ingredients, so I aimed to find recipes that are naturally vegan or gluten-free.
One of our seasonal staples is the Fruit & Berry Crisp, which we make with fresh, seasonal fruit and a rotating herb-infused coconut crème. For the fall season, we’re featuring blackberries, raspberries, apples, and pears, with rosemary as our herb of choice. It’s hard to believe this dessert is both vegan and gluten-free—it’s incredibly rich, crispy, and creamy, while also allowing the vibrant flavors of the berries to shine through.”
Q: Do you have any returning favorites for the 2024 fall season?
A: “Many of the items on our Fall Menu are beloved classics that we bring back every year. The Bourbon Pecan Tartlet is a delightful, bite-sized treat, perfect for rounding off a hearty meal. Our Pumpkin Cheesecake remains a fall favorite, with just the right balance of sweetness and spice, complemented by a ginger molasses graham crust. And of course, the Spiced Cupcake with Maple Buttercream and Candied Bacon is returning because, y'know, bacon!”
My Personal Favorites of the Season!
As DSquared’s Creative Director, I am lucky enough to not only handle the creative direction of our photoshoots, but also taste test our delicious dishes! I am especially excited for our clients to try some of my personal favorites on this year’s menu.
Q: If you had to say, what is the standout dish this season?
A: “It’s so hard to choose! The Crispy Beet Chip with Roasted Apple Slaw and Pickled Mustard Seed is definitely a highlight for me. It’s one of those simple ingredient dishes that offers a delightful burst of complementary flavors. Another favorite of mine is the Seared Halibut with Creamed Leeks and Roasted Tomatoes. I mean… need I say more? Okay, I will mention the creamed leeks one more time because they seriously melt in my mouth!”
Q: Do you have any speciality fall cocktails on this year’s menu?
A: Absolutely! Our Apricot Bourbon Sour and El Presidente cocktails are perfect for warming up on a cold, blustery Seattle fall day. The bourbon of the sour, mixed with fruity notes of the apricot in our Apricot Bourbon Sour reminds us that while winter is around the corner, we can still hang onto the lingering notes of summer. As for the El Presidente, the rum mixed with citrus notes strikes the perfect balance between ‘classy’ and ‘sassy,’ making each sip a fall favorite!”
Inspiration Behind the Shoot with Mandee Rae
We’ve had the pleasure of working with Mandee Rae numerous times now, and each time the experience exceeds our expectations. As a published portrait photographer and creative director, her creativity and talent makes each menu photoshoot a collaborative dream! We’ve built such a lovely relationship with her and are beyond excited to continue to share our work.
Q: What was your favorite part about this shoot?
A: “It is just the absolute best experience and joy to work with the Dsquared team. They are the ‘let’s dream big and see how creative we can get’ type of people. Everyone is always in great spirits when you enter 4105, and you can just tell that everyone loves what they do and the people they do it with! I feel so lucky to get to work with them.”
Q: Why did you choose to include people in this photoshoot?
A: “One of my favorite aspects of working with people in food photography is the universality it brings. It allows the viewer to see themselves in the scene. I love that it creates a sense of relatability and inclusivity, where anyone can imagine themselves in that moment—sharing that meal, enjoying that company. It evokes warmth, connection, and the shared experience that food brings–perfectly aligning with the fall season.”
Q: Do you have any fun moments to share from this year’s shoot?
A: “We felt a little stumped on the actual backdrop for our fall photo sets. Matt had been working on fall inspiration for about two weeks before this shoot. It wasn’t until the morning of our shoot that he had the idea to use rusted corrugated metal as our backdrop. So, literally as we are setting up lights and getting ready to shoot, Matt took off to Second Use in Seattle looking for sheets of corrugated metal. He found them successfully and it ended up being the perfect photo backdrop! I loved that the entire day felt like one big play day.”
Photo Credits: Mandee Rae Photography
Creative Direction:Matt Haggerty, Abi Haggerty, Mandee Rae
Important Note: 4105 Fall Tours!
We are open for tours every Friday from noon until 5pm! Reach out to info@dsquaredcompany.com to let us know you're coming in so we can make sure to make you an extra fresh sweet fall nibble for your walk about!
