Menu No 13: Spring 2026 : Caribbean, Mint, Tarragon, Lamb, Cream, Cheese
By Brian Voll
2026
Menus is a series of, well, menus. Each contains a set of recipes for a multi-course dinner, well suited for a little dinner party. And with a plan to boot!
Travel is the art of paying attention—to color, texture, flavor, and the things that speak to you across distance and difference. Menu No 13 brings that spirit to the dinner table with a menu that feels both worldly and intimate, drawing on the same instinct that drives a traveler to reach for a handwoven textile or a sandstone bowl: the desire to bring something meaningful home.
At the center of this spring menu is a rich Lamb Bolognese with Parmesan Polenta, a dish that borrows from Italian tradition while making space for the bold, satisfying depth that only slow-cooked lamb can deliver. The meal opens with a Clarified Milk Punch—a cocktail that requires patience and rewards it—and the milk solids left behind become the ricotta in the Almond Cheesecake with Guava Mousse Cream, a trick so elegant it feels like something discovered in a market halfway around the world. Bright with fresh mint and tarragon, rich with cream and parmesan, every dish in this menu earns its place.
Designed for hosts who cook with curiosity and entertain with intention, Menu No 13 rewards the cook who plans ahead and savors the process. This is spring entertaining for people who collect experiences as much as recipes—and who know that the best dinner parties feel like finding something that speaks to you.
Menu
- Clarified Milk Punch
- Parmesan Dip with Potato Chips
- Minted Sweet Pea & Spinach Soup
- Lamb Bolognese with Parmesan Polenta
- Butter Lettuce with Creamy Tarragon-Mustard Dressing
- Almond Cheesecake with Guava Mousse Cream
Highlights
- Recipes for a Dinner Party: A full menu for an unforgettable springtime gathering, complete with pairing and planning notes.
- Sustainability Focused: Recipes crafted to reduce waste by using every part of your ingredients—including the milk solids from the Clarified Milk Punch, which become the ricotta in the Almond Cheesecake.
- Make-Ahead Friendly: From the Clarified Milk Punch (prepare a month in advance) to homemade Guava Preserves and Tarragon Vinegar, this menu is designed to minimize day-of stress.
- Flavor Profile: Caribbean, mint, tarragon, lamb, cream, cheese.
Features
- Recipes that celebrate spring and bring global curiosity to the dinner table.
- Clever use of ingredients across multiple dishes.
- Flexible approach: use the full menu or pick individual recipes to suit your needs.
- Whether you're gathering with friends or simply treating yourself, this little book will help you create something extraordinary.
Tags: $25 or less, Books, entertaining, ingredients, key ingredients, Magazines, Magazines & Merchandise, menus, seasonal, spring, sustainability, was-preorder
