Across 5 meals comprising significant critical acclaim across two cities, I was exposed to a broad range of ingredients, flavors, techniques, dining rooms and service. I learned a lot about all of these elements and of my belief of what makes a meal great. I tried to avoid comparisons across these restaurants in individual post, as each dinner certainly deserves space for its story & experience. This post is the opposite; this post will compare everything experienced in this week of great eating.
It's hard to pinpoint which meal was "the best." Marea was hearty & satisfying; Bon Soiree was creative & stunningly well-executed; Next's el Bulli was clever, and enjoyably hands-on; The Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare was a spectacle of precision applied to perfect ingredients. I give the edge to el Bulli for its interactivity & historical significance. The friend who was with me for the week preferred Bon Soiree. I'd gladly have any of these meals again (including Eleven Madison Park, though I won't be funding their chance at redemption).
Most impressive was Bon Soiree. I might be biased by the BYO aspect & enjoyable bottles I took, but to have that meal outperform EMP, challenge Next's el Bulli menu for overall quality, and come with such a relaxed, enjoyable atmosphere made a great experience.
Most memorable dishes: composed duck plate & the raw ingredients from Chef's Table (along with the spectacle of caviar scooping); pheasant dish with a chocolate-influenced sauce at EMP; pasta dishes at Marea; motoyaki, duck, "Chocolate 8 ways" at Bonsoiree; rabbit & shrimp dishes at Next. These have all hung in my mind as standards for great dishes.
The lasting impression of those dishes, meals, and varied formats have been implanted in my mind and compared against all fine dining meals since then. It's been over 6 months now, and the memories are still vivid. This week will always stick with me as an educational experience and surely formative on all future food experiences.
Showing posts with label high-end. Show all posts
Showing posts with label high-end. Show all posts
Thursday, October 4, 2012
Monday, May 28, 2012
Finest Binge: Next el Bulli
I already had planned a pair of 3-star dinners in New York when tickets for Next went on sale, so the purchase became an easy decision when the Friday following those NYC meals showed as available. The stage was set for a great week. I carried high hopes for the el Bulli dinner at Next. I loved the Paris 1906 meal a year prior, enjoyed Ferran's biography, saw him speak a few months earlier, and was intrigued by the chronological perspective of the meal. I read as little as possible about the menu and individual dishes so as to take in surprises as they came. We were rushed to get to the meal on time, which guaranteed that minimal time was spent discussing, speculating, or anticipating--we sat down excited & happily uninformed.
A waiter explained a few finer points to us, outlined the available beverage options (I took all wine, she took the wine/beer/tea route..we both preferred the latter), and told us to get ready. Our reservation was a bit on the early side, so only a few other tables were occupied. Our spot was in a corner, where we had limited view of other tables' dishes--a good thing, in my mind, to preserve the element of surprise. Small bites started showing up in waves. The iconic spherical olives lived up to their fame; the iberico sandwich & golden egg were both delicious presentations of familiar flavors; and the carrot air with coconut milk was a blend of liquid & air in which the combination of flavors exceeded either individual component--a great dish. My favorite of these early courses was the black sesame sponge cake. It made me question: why aren't savory cakes used more often? Least appealing to me was the smoke foam. I typically enjoy smoke in all dishes, but a dish of only smoke flavor was overpowering & uninteresting.
The next 9 dishes came from earlier years (1987-2001) and began to showcase the interesting evolution of el Bulli's food. A cauliflower dish & red mullet dish each showed explorations in creative plating; hot crab aspic & tomato ice were early signs of pushing the boundaries of texture. While I didn't enjoy the tomato ice, it and the dishes around it carried a similarity: flavors true to their source. The trumpet carpaccio showcased earthy mushroom flavors. The nasturtium dish with eel & marrow was mind-bending in a challenging way that stayed with me for days. A suquet of prawns was fantastic--my favorite dish of the night--and tasted more like prawns than anything I've tasted before or since. A rabbit dish from 2000, included to feature the first ever hot jelly, perfectly balanced hearty rabbit & tart apple flavors. By this point in the meal I was more than impressed.
Several of the following dishes featured interactive elements: cracking the ice of a mint pond, breaking apart a gorgonzola ball, guessing at ingredients on a plate of spices, and digging for marshmallows under waving inflated hands. Some earlier dishes utilized interactive elements, and many bites throughout the night were taken without utensils, but these later ones stepped up the involvement. The hands-on nature of these dishes was purposeful and--my impression--created to be fun for the diner (successfully).
The Saturday prior we visited the Guggenheim museum and saw 3 Picasso works in one room, all from distinctly different periods of his career. This meal was that exact experience, displayed on plates instead of canvas. I came out feeling like I had learned something about Ferran Adria & culinary history. All told, this was the most enjoyable meal of the week and among the best of my life. Each dish was thoughtful, the interaction was enjoyable, and the sum of the dishes was cerebral. It provided benchmarks that I'll compare against future meals. I'm glad I had the chance to enjoy Next's el Bulli; it was both a culinary education and memorable dining experience.
A waiter explained a few finer points to us, outlined the available beverage options (I took all wine, she took the wine/beer/tea route..we both preferred the latter), and told us to get ready. Our reservation was a bit on the early side, so only a few other tables were occupied. Our spot was in a corner, where we had limited view of other tables' dishes--a good thing, in my mind, to preserve the element of surprise. Small bites started showing up in waves. The iconic spherical olives lived up to their fame; the iberico sandwich & golden egg were both delicious presentations of familiar flavors; and the carrot air with coconut milk was a blend of liquid & air in which the combination of flavors exceeded either individual component--a great dish. My favorite of these early courses was the black sesame sponge cake. It made me question: why aren't savory cakes used more often? Least appealing to me was the smoke foam. I typically enjoy smoke in all dishes, but a dish of only smoke flavor was overpowering & uninteresting.
The next 9 dishes came from earlier years (1987-2001) and began to showcase the interesting evolution of el Bulli's food. A cauliflower dish & red mullet dish each showed explorations in creative plating; hot crab aspic & tomato ice were early signs of pushing the boundaries of texture. While I didn't enjoy the tomato ice, it and the dishes around it carried a similarity: flavors true to their source. The trumpet carpaccio showcased earthy mushroom flavors. The nasturtium dish with eel & marrow was mind-bending in a challenging way that stayed with me for days. A suquet of prawns was fantastic--my favorite dish of the night--and tasted more like prawns than anything I've tasted before or since. A rabbit dish from 2000, included to feature the first ever hot jelly, perfectly balanced hearty rabbit & tart apple flavors. By this point in the meal I was more than impressed.
Several of the following dishes featured interactive elements: cracking the ice of a mint pond, breaking apart a gorgonzola ball, guessing at ingredients on a plate of spices, and digging for marshmallows under waving inflated hands. Some earlier dishes utilized interactive elements, and many bites throughout the night were taken without utensils, but these later ones stepped up the involvement. The hands-on nature of these dishes was purposeful and--my impression--created to be fun for the diner (successfully).
The Saturday prior we visited the Guggenheim museum and saw 3 Picasso works in one room, all from distinctly different periods of his career. This meal was that exact experience, displayed on plates instead of canvas. I came out feeling like I had learned something about Ferran Adria & culinary history. All told, this was the most enjoyable meal of the week and among the best of my life. Each dish was thoughtful, the interaction was enjoyable, and the sum of the dishes was cerebral. It provided benchmarks that I'll compare against future meals. I'm glad I had the chance to enjoy Next's el Bulli; it was both a culinary education and memorable dining experience.
Tuesday, May 22, 2012
Finest Binge: Bon Soiree
A couple of weeks before my trip to New York, Shin Thompson of Bon Soiree tweeted that he needed a creative night out for Valentine's Day and would offer up a 5 course dinner for two as reward for the best idea. He liked mine, so it only seemed right to fit it into the week of great meals. We upgraded to 9 courses and set the reservation for a few days after we arrived back in Chicago. After the highlights in New York & with the anticipation of el Bulli at Next (the night after Bon Soiree), we didn't spend a lot of time discussing or building up the night out in Logan Square. In the back of my mind I knew it had a chance to stand shoulder to shoulder with other great meals of the week, but didn't mention that until the cab ride; I wanted us both to come in without expectations (though I'd been a couple of times previously).
The small, clean dining room is always welcoming. Even though the room was less than half full when we arrived, the music & staff gave it an upbeat feel. We picked a table & our waiter came by to open the wine I'd brought (Lallement Champagne & an 08 Rivers-Marie Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir, both were delicious). Courses started coming: "Consumer Advisory" sashimi, a seafood stew, and a wagyu short rib all brought "oh, wow" with their presentations & smiles with their flavor.
Three of the next four courses were plates of multiple components, built from a focus ingredient (shellfish, duck, lamb). The scallop & crab motoyaki, duck roulade with pork belly, and lamb loin were highlights--all were among some of the best dishes of the week--and almost everything was great (one exception: a lamb sausage that was a bit dry). While each plate centered on a single ingredient type, it seemed a bit odd to have both warm and cool pieces on the shellfish plate; similarly, the duck roulade & tongues could have justified separate plates. Shin could have easily stretched this menu to 15+ courses. Not a negative, but at minimum, interesting that so many unique bites were worked into the meal.
The last couple of courses were both fantastic. Cheese with a "candied gooseberry ornament" was a delicious contrast of textures, bitterness, and sweetness. Then came dessert: "8 presentations of chocolate." A perfect, fun plate that took us a bit of time to work through and discuss--it was interactive and educational to compare the various forms & flavors. Chocolate spaghetti was my favorite, but all were delicious & fun.
An incredibly humble Chef Shin came out front to chat with us. He seemed to take little pleasure when we told him that his performance equaled or bettered the New York meals we had recently enjoyed. His only reply was, "those are great restaurants, I'm glad you liked your meal here." That soft-spoken humility belied the confident, creative, well-executed food we had just experienced, but it fit the restaurant's simple decor, BYO beginnings, and off-beat location. Bon Soiree clearly reflects Shin's personality, showcases his wealth of culinary talent, and should be considered among Chicago's best restaurants.
The small, clean dining room is always welcoming. Even though the room was less than half full when we arrived, the music & staff gave it an upbeat feel. We picked a table & our waiter came by to open the wine I'd brought (Lallement Champagne & an 08 Rivers-Marie Summa Old Vines Pinot Noir, both were delicious). Courses started coming: "Consumer Advisory" sashimi, a seafood stew, and a wagyu short rib all brought "oh, wow" with their presentations & smiles with their flavor.
Three of the next four courses were plates of multiple components, built from a focus ingredient (shellfish, duck, lamb). The scallop & crab motoyaki, duck roulade with pork belly, and lamb loin were highlights--all were among some of the best dishes of the week--and almost everything was great (one exception: a lamb sausage that was a bit dry). While each plate centered on a single ingredient type, it seemed a bit odd to have both warm and cool pieces on the shellfish plate; similarly, the duck roulade & tongues could have justified separate plates. Shin could have easily stretched this menu to 15+ courses. Not a negative, but at minimum, interesting that so many unique bites were worked into the meal.
The last couple of courses were both fantastic. Cheese with a "candied gooseberry ornament" was a delicious contrast of textures, bitterness, and sweetness. Then came dessert: "8 presentations of chocolate." A perfect, fun plate that took us a bit of time to work through and discuss--it was interactive and educational to compare the various forms & flavors. Chocolate spaghetti was my favorite, but all were delicious & fun.
An incredibly humble Chef Shin came out front to chat with us. He seemed to take little pleasure when we told him that his performance equaled or bettered the New York meals we had recently enjoyed. His only reply was, "those are great restaurants, I'm glad you liked your meal here." That soft-spoken humility belied the confident, creative, well-executed food we had just experienced, but it fit the restaurant's simple decor, BYO beginnings, and off-beat location. Bon Soiree clearly reflects Shin's personality, showcases his wealth of culinary talent, and should be considered among Chicago's best restaurants.
Tuesday, March 20, 2012
Finest Binge: Eleven Madison Park
On my trip to New York last November, I visited Eleven Madison Park for dinner in the bar area. Several courses there were very good, and with high praise from Michelin and diners I trust, getting to experience the full menu was a top priority for this trip. We were forced a bit of an early dinner--6 o'clock--because we had tickets to a concert that night, with plans to arrive at the venue by 10. We arrived to a dining room with only a few other seated guests, but were in no way let down by the room's grandeur; large windows, a spacious table, and deep red roses as decor created great presence.
Our head waiter stopped by with a few questions: "any allergies?" (1 gluten in our table of 4). "Any foods you don't like?" (no). "Any time constraints?" (no; we had 4 hours & didn't want to rush service). "Great. You're in for a treat tonight; I'll fill you in when I come back." He hopped away, giving the sommelier a chance to pour us each a glass of Champagne. The waiter returned a few minutes later to describe the situation:
Out came a succession of small bites. A chickpea fritter might have passed as the best french fry to appear on this earth, and an egg & bacon bite was quite good; however, the curry-dusted goat cheese lollipop was unappealing. Other bites were tasty, but couldn't quell our anticipation for the heart of the menu.
Finally, fuller plates began to arrive. First was a cup of yogurt accompanied by black sesame, shiso, and plum compote. All of us took a bite, considered the taste, took another bite, then exchanged puzzled glances. I tried ingredients separately; I tried them together in various combinations, but couldn't find a pleasant flavor profile. 2 of my friends did not finish theirs.
At this point that the front of house manager came over to invite us into the kitchen. We were served delicious edible cocktails (involved pomegranate foam, apple syrup, and liquid nitrogen, among other components). Shaking hands and chatting with chefs Humm & Kostow was enjoyable; both seemed quite friendly and we appreciated that they did not seem rushed to leave us. Brightened by that experience, we returned to the table with renewed excitement.
After a bit of a delay, because of our kitchen visit, next came a "cauliflower couscous." We were, again, disappointed--rather crunchy, as raw cauliflower can be. The flavors were quite simple as well. We spent a while discussing the letdown we were all experiencing until the next course arrived.
With the next plate, cured venison with tuna, a positive course correction occurred. It was tender, just a bit chewy (good thing), and quite meaty. The next course, a lobster dish, was a knockout plate--the favorite of a couple folks at the table. Of the next 4 courses (sturgeon, squab, pork, chevre cheesecake) only the squab was enjoyed by all--perfectly cooked and interestingly balanced with beets & chocolate jus. As for the other dishes: some of the sturgeon components didn't make sense, most of the pork pieces were overcooked and on the dry side, and the chevre cheesecake was at worst bland; at best good with added salt.
The hit & miss food was frustrating, but perhaps more frustrating--and exacerbating the food frustration--was the service. We did not experience the flawless service I'd been told to expect (except for our sommelier--he was great). We frequently waited over 20 minutes between courses. After the chevre cheesecake course (12 plates in) we had been at the table for nearly 4 hours. This extremely slow pacing was a surprising failure and caused us to miss the concert.
One unique piece of service was the egg cream. Our waiter, channeling his best salesman spirit, told us of the building and area's history while mixing a frothy cream cream drink on a tableside cart. The monologue was interesting and the drink was good. This was followed with a goat cheese, blood orange, and vanilla cheesecake. This was nice, but the textures seemed overmanipulated--vanilla "snow" and an odd treatment to the fruit detracted from the flavors present. The last dessert, a chocolate-based dish, was sadly unbearable. Nobody at the table could understand why the components were put together, and nobody could finish it--our tastebuds told us to stop.
As a bit of praise, our frustrations were recognized. Several of the waitstaff exchanged frantic looks during a few of our longer waits and a few drinks were comped. But when it was all done, the 15 course meal took 5 hours, we missed the concert (only a minor complaint, really), and just a few dishes could be acknowledged as exceptional. Our group re-hashed and discussed, attempting to make sense of the situation. The collaboration must have caused kitchen issues, forcing slow service. Also, many of the folks I have heard praise Eleven Madison Park opted for the 4 course menu or went for lunch; if those meals only incorporated the best dishes we were served, the food could come off as outstanding. But as it were, we experienced many poor plates & frustrating service. Not the room's presence, the free drinks, nor the inventiveness of a few good dishes could uplift us from severe disappointment.
Our head waiter stopped by with a few questions: "any allergies?" (1 gluten in our table of 4). "Any foods you don't like?" (no). "Any time constraints?" (no; we had 4 hours & didn't want to rush service). "Great. You're in for a treat tonight; I'll fill you in when I come back." He hopped away, giving the sommelier a chance to pour us each a glass of Champagne. The waiter returned a few minutes later to describe the situation:
"Tonight is a special night. Chef Christopher Kostow, of Meadowood in Napa, is working with us tonight. He was formerly Daniel Humm's sous chef, and tonight they're collaborating on a special tasting menu. As Chef Kostow has also earned 3 Michelin stars at Meadowood, we are cheekily calling this a 'six star Saturday'. Would everyone like to participate in the full collaboration tasting menu tonight?"The four of us nodded in unison. We were elated--if it weren't for the formality of the space, we might have been high-fiving and cheering our good fortune. Given the murder's row week of meals this night fell into, my friend gave me a "is this real?" look. Six star Saturday. Fantastic.
Out came a succession of small bites. A chickpea fritter might have passed as the best french fry to appear on this earth, and an egg & bacon bite was quite good; however, the curry-dusted goat cheese lollipop was unappealing. Other bites were tasty, but couldn't quell our anticipation for the heart of the menu.
Finally, fuller plates began to arrive. First was a cup of yogurt accompanied by black sesame, shiso, and plum compote. All of us took a bite, considered the taste, took another bite, then exchanged puzzled glances. I tried ingredients separately; I tried them together in various combinations, but couldn't find a pleasant flavor profile. 2 of my friends did not finish theirs.
At this point that the front of house manager came over to invite us into the kitchen. We were served delicious edible cocktails (involved pomegranate foam, apple syrup, and liquid nitrogen, among other components). Shaking hands and chatting with chefs Humm & Kostow was enjoyable; both seemed quite friendly and we appreciated that they did not seem rushed to leave us. Brightened by that experience, we returned to the table with renewed excitement.
After a bit of a delay, because of our kitchen visit, next came a "cauliflower couscous." We were, again, disappointed--rather crunchy, as raw cauliflower can be. The flavors were quite simple as well. We spent a while discussing the letdown we were all experiencing until the next course arrived.
With the next plate, cured venison with tuna, a positive course correction occurred. It was tender, just a bit chewy (good thing), and quite meaty. The next course, a lobster dish, was a knockout plate--the favorite of a couple folks at the table. Of the next 4 courses (sturgeon, squab, pork, chevre cheesecake) only the squab was enjoyed by all--perfectly cooked and interestingly balanced with beets & chocolate jus. As for the other dishes: some of the sturgeon components didn't make sense, most of the pork pieces were overcooked and on the dry side, and the chevre cheesecake was at worst bland; at best good with added salt.
The hit & miss food was frustrating, but perhaps more frustrating--and exacerbating the food frustration--was the service. We did not experience the flawless service I'd been told to expect (except for our sommelier--he was great). We frequently waited over 20 minutes between courses. After the chevre cheesecake course (12 plates in) we had been at the table for nearly 4 hours. This extremely slow pacing was a surprising failure and caused us to miss the concert.
One unique piece of service was the egg cream. Our waiter, channeling his best salesman spirit, told us of the building and area's history while mixing a frothy cream cream drink on a tableside cart. The monologue was interesting and the drink was good. This was followed with a goat cheese, blood orange, and vanilla cheesecake. This was nice, but the textures seemed overmanipulated--vanilla "snow" and an odd treatment to the fruit detracted from the flavors present. The last dessert, a chocolate-based dish, was sadly unbearable. Nobody at the table could understand why the components were put together, and nobody could finish it--our tastebuds told us to stop.
As a bit of praise, our frustrations were recognized. Several of the waitstaff exchanged frantic looks during a few of our longer waits and a few drinks were comped. But when it was all done, the 15 course meal took 5 hours, we missed the concert (only a minor complaint, really), and just a few dishes could be acknowledged as exceptional. Our group re-hashed and discussed, attempting to make sense of the situation. The collaboration must have caused kitchen issues, forcing slow service. Also, many of the folks I have heard praise Eleven Madison Park opted for the 4 course menu or went for lunch; if those meals only incorporated the best dishes we were served, the food could come off as outstanding. But as it were, we experienced many poor plates & frustrating service. Not the room's presence, the free drinks, nor the inventiveness of a few good dishes could uplift us from severe disappointment.
Wednesday, March 14, 2012
Finest Binge: Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare
Securing Friday night seats at Cesar Ramirez's Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare locked in the dates I'd travel to New York. My first awareness of Brooklyn Fare came when reading of New York's Michelin-starred restaurants. The phrase "3-star BYO" grabbed my attention. By the time I made it back to NYC, the price had been raised & it was no longer BYO. Despite that, I was intrigued by the concept. Stripped down creature comforts and outstanding food--a Michelin 3 star meal at a stainless steel counter--is a unique proposition. As I have always cared much more about food than service or atmosphere, I was excited to see this taken to an extreme.
We were rushed to arrive in time for our 7 o'clock reservation and were politely directed to take 2 stools in the middle of the stainless steel countertop. After flipping through the new, well-thought-out wine list and chatting with the Chef I settled on a bottle of 2009 Prager Steinriegl Riesling. Quickly, food began to appear.
First came a warm butternut squash soup with yogurt & citrus; pure squash flavor, a very good start. Then many raw seafood bites. These sashimi courses shared several similar components: a piece of meat, one or two flavorful sauces (a scant amount, typically hidden beneath the protein), one or two garnishes (wasabi, horseradish, scallion, etc.), and a service piece seemingly crafted for that specific, perfect specimen of meat. A scallop bite suffered from too potent of a lime foam, but all others were deliciously prepared and showed great skill in complimentary flavors. This raw portion of the meal was roughly 8-10 courses (taking notes or pictures is not allowed, and when Chef caught us trying to memorize all the courses--via "the picnic game"--he scolded us. "Don't be so serious, it's just food. Enjoy it.").
By this point in the meal, we were catching onto the room's rhythm. Most of the dishes & sauces were already prepped, so the kitchen staff's (4 people total) primary activity was plating. This invoked significant, precise use of tweezers to pull ingredients from small metal trays and build the end dish. We admired the collection of glowing copper pots and the simplicity of the operation.
Enter the warm dishes. Still entirely seafood-focused, with some accoutrements similar to the cold dishes, but featuring different proteins and the inclusion of various cooking techniques. A bit of sea urchin with black truffle was especially memorable. One item (Fluke) was overcooked but all others were spot-on. Servings progressed to be slightly larger, requiring a couple bites. Many courses into the warm portion, Chef pulled out a caviar tin. The tin in one hand, a large spoon in the other, he scooped. We watched. He dropped--the full spoon--into a service piece. Our jaws dropped with it. I believe one tin made it through 7 servings, then he opened another to finish the remainder. A stunningly large dollop of caviar, which was placed atop creme fraiche with only minor additional flavor components, then given a dose of woodsmoke & capped for a couple of minutes. It was creamy, rich, savory, and delicious--a knockout. We estimate 6-8 small warm courses were served.
Basking in the glow of smokey caviar, we were settled in, past the half way point, enjoying the food & experience. Impressive wine service & stemware (Zalto), continually creative service pieces, and an attentive staff belied the reality that this is, in plain terms, a kitchen attached to a grocery store. Chatting with Chef & watching the crew plate was a unique, enjoyable perspective. The only component of the setting that happened to detract on this night: the seating arrangement. Guests to our left were, bluntly, rather large. The male of that couple was seemingly unaware of this fact, making my personal space Poland to his frame's Germany. Among restaurants serving the caliber of food present at The Chef's Table, this is likely a unique problem. Some may be put-off by the stools themselves--we weren't--but the consequences of a broad-set neighbor will be felt by anyone subject to the scenario. Luckily my ladyfriend & I, both on the small side, could comfortably scoot closer together.
Next came a few composed plates; dishes of multiple ingredients and sauces. The standout here was a dish of abalone, fois gras, a ravioli-esque dumpling, multiple sauces, and a few other components. This was a fantastic course showcasing great skill by cooking & combining multiple proteins in a way that the textures and flavors worked perfectly together. A delicious duck plate was also served, heightened by a mushroom component the burst with flavor. Then came the cheese course, which my friend greeted by saying, "No...no. This means we're near the end. I don't want to be finished." I agreed; the quality of the meal had made time and 20+ courses fly by. The dessert courses were creative--riesling sorbet and chocolate ice cream with gold flake among them--and worthy of finishing the dinner, but not standouts in the context of earlier dishes. We were sad to see it end, but left grinning.
Discussing this meal in the days that followed, we consistently praised the precision and flavors showcased throughout the night. This is clearly market- and chef-driven omakase executed at an extremely high level (plus the new Brooklyn Fare wine list was impressive). However, while the in-the-kitchen view is a unique concept, I'm not sure that it is more enjoyable than a dining room setting. Only a modest amount of cooking occurred at the time of service, so most observable activities were plating, blending, and saucing. Considering the limited privacy (and space, given my experience) due to guests' proximity and the engagement feels a bit like being at a party where you only know one other person. That said, it's an impressive, unique dining experience and any downside of the format is more than made up for by the quality of the food served. Clearly of the highest quality, this meal was a great way to start our week of memorable meals.
We were rushed to arrive in time for our 7 o'clock reservation and were politely directed to take 2 stools in the middle of the stainless steel countertop. After flipping through the new, well-thought-out wine list and chatting with the Chef I settled on a bottle of 2009 Prager Steinriegl Riesling. Quickly, food began to appear.
First came a warm butternut squash soup with yogurt & citrus; pure squash flavor, a very good start. Then many raw seafood bites. These sashimi courses shared several similar components: a piece of meat, one or two flavorful sauces (a scant amount, typically hidden beneath the protein), one or two garnishes (wasabi, horseradish, scallion, etc.), and a service piece seemingly crafted for that specific, perfect specimen of meat. A scallop bite suffered from too potent of a lime foam, but all others were deliciously prepared and showed great skill in complimentary flavors. This raw portion of the meal was roughly 8-10 courses (taking notes or pictures is not allowed, and when Chef caught us trying to memorize all the courses--via "the picnic game"--he scolded us. "Don't be so serious, it's just food. Enjoy it.").
By this point in the meal, we were catching onto the room's rhythm. Most of the dishes & sauces were already prepped, so the kitchen staff's (4 people total) primary activity was plating. This invoked significant, precise use of tweezers to pull ingredients from small metal trays and build the end dish. We admired the collection of glowing copper pots and the simplicity of the operation.
Enter the warm dishes. Still entirely seafood-focused, with some accoutrements similar to the cold dishes, but featuring different proteins and the inclusion of various cooking techniques. A bit of sea urchin with black truffle was especially memorable. One item (Fluke) was overcooked but all others were spot-on. Servings progressed to be slightly larger, requiring a couple bites. Many courses into the warm portion, Chef pulled out a caviar tin. The tin in one hand, a large spoon in the other, he scooped. We watched. He dropped--the full spoon--into a service piece. Our jaws dropped with it. I believe one tin made it through 7 servings, then he opened another to finish the remainder. A stunningly large dollop of caviar, which was placed atop creme fraiche with only minor additional flavor components, then given a dose of woodsmoke & capped for a couple of minutes. It was creamy, rich, savory, and delicious--a knockout. We estimate 6-8 small warm courses were served.
Basking in the glow of smokey caviar, we were settled in, past the half way point, enjoying the food & experience. Impressive wine service & stemware (Zalto), continually creative service pieces, and an attentive staff belied the reality that this is, in plain terms, a kitchen attached to a grocery store. Chatting with Chef & watching the crew plate was a unique, enjoyable perspective. The only component of the setting that happened to detract on this night: the seating arrangement. Guests to our left were, bluntly, rather large. The male of that couple was seemingly unaware of this fact, making my personal space Poland to his frame's Germany. Among restaurants serving the caliber of food present at The Chef's Table, this is likely a unique problem. Some may be put-off by the stools themselves--we weren't--but the consequences of a broad-set neighbor will be felt by anyone subject to the scenario. Luckily my ladyfriend & I, both on the small side, could comfortably scoot closer together.
Next came a few composed plates; dishes of multiple ingredients and sauces. The standout here was a dish of abalone, fois gras, a ravioli-esque dumpling, multiple sauces, and a few other components. This was a fantastic course showcasing great skill by cooking & combining multiple proteins in a way that the textures and flavors worked perfectly together. A delicious duck plate was also served, heightened by a mushroom component the burst with flavor. Then came the cheese course, which my friend greeted by saying, "No...no. This means we're near the end. I don't want to be finished." I agreed; the quality of the meal had made time and 20+ courses fly by. The dessert courses were creative--riesling sorbet and chocolate ice cream with gold flake among them--and worthy of finishing the dinner, but not standouts in the context of earlier dishes. We were sad to see it end, but left grinning.
Discussing this meal in the days that followed, we consistently praised the precision and flavors showcased throughout the night. This is clearly market- and chef-driven omakase executed at an extremely high level (plus the new Brooklyn Fare wine list was impressive). However, while the in-the-kitchen view is a unique concept, I'm not sure that it is more enjoyable than a dining room setting. Only a modest amount of cooking occurred at the time of service, so most observable activities were plating, blending, and saucing. Considering the limited privacy (and space, given my experience) due to guests' proximity and the engagement feels a bit like being at a party where you only know one other person. That said, it's an impressive, unique dining experience and any downside of the format is more than made up for by the quality of the food served. Clearly of the highest quality, this meal was a great way to start our week of memorable meals.
Thursday, March 1, 2012
Finest Binge: Introduction
This is the first of 7 entries chronicling a week of great dining experiences: 8 days, 5 meals, ~12 Michelin stars, a few of the world's toughest reservations, and a bit of comparison between America's 2 greatest culinary cities, New York & Chicago.
The concept began simply as a weekend trip. I had a friend living in New York who planned to move away from the city in February. Having only been to NYC once before (visiting her last November) and realizing this was probably my last chance to go back with a free place to sleep, we started planning a last hurrah / "pack up the apartment" weekend.
One Monday in January I downloaded an auto-redial app for my phone, blocked off an hour on the work calendar, and the first reservation came: Friday, Brooklyn Fare. Soon after my friend booked a table at Eleven Madison Park for Saturday night. Planning non-food activities during the day Friday & Saturday--plus a group going away dinner Sunday night--left us only with lunch Sunday. Marea would fill that gap. One serious food weekend was on tap.
Not long after these plans were set, Next season tickets went on sale. I was number 718 in line; guaranteed a table, but rather deep in the queue. When the following Friday came up available for Next's elBulli menu, I couldn't turn it down. Now it became a two city event. Then--via Twitter--Shin Thompson offered a free dinner for two as the prize for helping him creatively celebrate Valentine's Day. He liked my idea, and we lined up Bonsoiree for dinner Thursday.
The schedule was set:
This series of blog posts hopes to convey the answers I found and detail the experience of each restaurant. My New York friend, a culinary school graduate & line cook in the fine-dining realm, accompanied me for all of these meals and provided a professional palate with kitchen insight.
Following this entry I will create a post for each of the 5 meals mentioned above. Then a summary piece. I hope these are educational & interesting; it was quite a memorable week and I want to share the experience. Feel free to comment if you have a question. Thank you for reading.
The concept began simply as a weekend trip. I had a friend living in New York who planned to move away from the city in February. Having only been to NYC once before (visiting her last November) and realizing this was probably my last chance to go back with a free place to sleep, we started planning a last hurrah / "pack up the apartment" weekend.
One Monday in January I downloaded an auto-redial app for my phone, blocked off an hour on the work calendar, and the first reservation came: Friday, Brooklyn Fare. Soon after my friend booked a table at Eleven Madison Park for Saturday night. Planning non-food activities during the day Friday & Saturday--plus a group going away dinner Sunday night--left us only with lunch Sunday. Marea would fill that gap. One serious food weekend was on tap.
Not long after these plans were set, Next season tickets went on sale. I was number 718 in line; guaranteed a table, but rather deep in the queue. When the following Friday came up available for Next's elBulli menu, I couldn't turn it down. Now it became a two city event. Then--via Twitter--Shin Thompson offered a free dinner for two as the prize for helping him creatively celebrate Valentine's Day. He liked my idea, and we lined up Bonsoiree for dinner Thursday.
The schedule was set:
- Friday 2/17: Chef's Table at Brooklyn Fare
- 2/18: Eleven Madison Park
- 2/19: Marea
- 2/23: Bonsoiree
- 2/24: Next: elBulli
This series of blog posts hopes to convey the answers I found and detail the experience of each restaurant. My New York friend, a culinary school graduate & line cook in the fine-dining realm, accompanied me for all of these meals and provided a professional palate with kitchen insight.
Following this entry I will create a post for each of the 5 meals mentioned above. Then a summary piece. I hope these are educational & interesting; it was quite a memorable week and I want to share the experience. Feel free to comment if you have a question. Thank you for reading.
Sunday, February 14, 2010
Bon Soiree
I had been eying chef Shin's seasonal menus for quite a while, after hearing of its quality from a few wine friends and later buying a Groupon to help save a few bucks. The 8 course Winter menu grabbed my attention. When I received an e-mail notifying me of a free bonus foie gras course, my resistance snapped.
The Place
Bon Soiree is located far West of my usual stomping grounds, in the westernmost part of Bucktown (I think it's still Bucktown, not certain though). It's a small, non-descript building with an empty lot next door. Inside is exposed brick, low/medium lighting, and minimal decorations that are comfortable and contemporary. Crisp white cloths cover the tabletops. It's a classy yet easy-going atmosphere that is perfectly suited to the food & experience.
The Food
Food at Bon Soiree is upscale modern with Japanese influence. I won't go into much detail on specific dishes, but in summary: this was the best meal I have ever had, bar none. I may be a pushover since this was my first visit to a restaurant that aims to push the envelope on flavors, but everything was outstanding. Many courses brought grins and ingredient combinations I had never experienced before. My personal favorites were scallop & peekytoe motoyaki and a veal/coffee consomme with chocolate and dumpling. I also really enjoyed my candied brussel sprouts. But honestly, there were no weak links here. Everything was interesting and worth paying attention to.
Most dishes shown here; click to expand
The Wine
I spent weeks brainstorming the perfect combination of wines for this dinner, discussing options with fellow wine geeks and combing through my inventory. I settled on Champagne, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, and Pinot Noir (specific bottles noted below). Each of these worked great with a couple dishes, and overall the food was very wine-friendly. I suggest at least 3 bottles: a versatile white, a medium-bodied & dark-flavored red, and a light-bodied, more acidic red (probably Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo). If you can tack on a bubbly you'll be even further rewarded (my Champagne was just a half bottle).
For additional reference, when a friend asked for budget-conscious suggestions, I directed her toward a Calera Chardonnay ($15), Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero ($20), and Sherwood Pinot Noir ($14). These worked well for her, and together can cover a broad range of foods.
Best advice though: go to Howard's Wine Cellar on Belmont and discuss with him. Howard knows his wines and dines at Bon Soiree multiple times a year, so he is familiar with the menu & food.
The Whole
Outstanding. This is probably going to serve as my gateway drug to seek out similar experiences. I'd gladly sacrifice dining out once a month to free up the budget to visit Bon Soiree a time or two throughout the year. Of note, the waitresses were extremely helpful and positively added to the experience. Also, the Groupon I used here saved $50 and apparently I caught the 2nd occasion this restaurant has been featured on Groupon--so watch for that. They even added a bonus course of Hiramasa, bringing the total to 10 courses. While it's not easy to call an $85 meal a value, the chance to experience these creations is worth every penny. I have nothing but high praise for chef Shin Thompson's abilities, staff, and creations--I suggest you start saving some change and join Bon Soiree's mailing list to pounce as soon as a menu catches your interest. It's certain to delight.
My wine selections:
The Place
Bon Soiree is located far West of my usual stomping grounds, in the westernmost part of Bucktown (I think it's still Bucktown, not certain though). It's a small, non-descript building with an empty lot next door. Inside is exposed brick, low/medium lighting, and minimal decorations that are comfortable and contemporary. Crisp white cloths cover the tabletops. It's a classy yet easy-going atmosphere that is perfectly suited to the food & experience.
The Food
Food at Bon Soiree is upscale modern with Japanese influence. I won't go into much detail on specific dishes, but in summary: this was the best meal I have ever had, bar none. I may be a pushover since this was my first visit to a restaurant that aims to push the envelope on flavors, but everything was outstanding. Many courses brought grins and ingredient combinations I had never experienced before. My personal favorites were scallop & peekytoe motoyaki and a veal/coffee consomme with chocolate and dumpling. I also really enjoyed my candied brussel sprouts. But honestly, there were no weak links here. Everything was interesting and worth paying attention to.
Most dishes shown here; click to expand
 |
| From Collages |
The Wine
I spent weeks brainstorming the perfect combination of wines for this dinner, discussing options with fellow wine geeks and combing through my inventory. I settled on Champagne, Chardonnay, Tempranillo, and Pinot Noir (specific bottles noted below). Each of these worked great with a couple dishes, and overall the food was very wine-friendly. I suggest at least 3 bottles: a versatile white, a medium-bodied & dark-flavored red, and a light-bodied, more acidic red (probably Pinot Noir or Nebbiolo). If you can tack on a bubbly you'll be even further rewarded (my Champagne was just a half bottle).
For additional reference, when a friend asked for budget-conscious suggestions, I directed her toward a Calera Chardonnay ($15), Emilio Moro Ribera del Duero ($20), and Sherwood Pinot Noir ($14). These worked well for her, and together can cover a broad range of foods.
Best advice though: go to Howard's Wine Cellar on Belmont and discuss with him. Howard knows his wines and dines at Bon Soiree multiple times a year, so he is familiar with the menu & food.
The Whole
Outstanding. This is probably going to serve as my gateway drug to seek out similar experiences. I'd gladly sacrifice dining out once a month to free up the budget to visit Bon Soiree a time or two throughout the year. Of note, the waitresses were extremely helpful and positively added to the experience. Also, the Groupon I used here saved $50 and apparently I caught the 2nd occasion this restaurant has been featured on Groupon--so watch for that. They even added a bonus course of Hiramasa, bringing the total to 10 courses. While it's not easy to call an $85 meal a value, the chance to experience these creations is worth every penny. I have nothing but high praise for chef Shin Thompson's abilities, staff, and creations--I suggest you start saving some change and join Bon Soiree's mailing list to pounce as soon as a menu catches your interest. It's certain to delight.
My wine selections:
- N.V. Maurice Vesselle Champagne Grand Cru Brut Cuvée Réservée - France, Champagne, Montagne de Reims, Champagne
Nose has baked pear, a hint of green apple, a fresh cream scent, and good lemony citrusy...very perfumed & intriguing nose. This has great crema, filling the mouth with rich tiny bubbles. The flavors show great depth (white fruits, citrus, dry oatmeal) and there's gorgeous body here...very rich, seductive mouthfeel. Finishes with a nice balance of acidity and baked pear/lemon tart flavors lasting for quite a while.(92 pts.) - 2006 Brick House Chardonnay Ribbon Ridge - USA, Oregon, Willamette Valley, Ribbon Ridge
First served chilled. Nose of browned butter, baked flaky pie crust, fresh white juicy pear and a touch of red apple. Tasting initially brings apple & pear up front, then gains body and adds on toasted nuttiness (almonds, hazelnuts?) through the midpalate. Finish is a good balance of oak, baked apples, pear juice, and a bit of lemon for crispness.
Leaves an impression of a rich body with full flavors. Oak is a part of this wine and was originally a bit strong, but as it warmed up
this balanced out nicely. Paired great with a couple of rich seafood dishes.(89 pts.) - 2005 Condado de Haza Ribera del Duero - Spain, Castilla y León, Ribera del Duero
Decanted an hour, re-corked & drank 90 minutes later. Nose is dark; blackberries with some dark red fruits and a touch of smoked spices. In the mouth this remains dark with a core of blackberries & some red fruits adding interest. Finishes pretty long with dense--but unobtrusive--tannins and tart red & black fruits with a smattering of enjoyably spicy oak tones.(90 pts.) - 2006 Phillips Hill Pinot Noir Toulouse Vineyard - USA, California, North Coast, Anderson Valley
Great nose has a core of ripe dark cherries, Dr. Pepper aromas, some crushed red cherries, a raspberry tone, and dry spices. An interestingly dark and fragrant nose. The palate continues with dark & red fruits sprinkled with an array of brown spices. Elegant and mid-weight in the mouth. Finishes with strong structure, plenty of fruit, spice, body, and length.
This is intriguing throughout and comes with a body that is both rich and elegant. This was a knockout with rabbit & oxtail. 91-92 and a bit more interesting than it was 15 months ago.(91 pts.)
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