ClassyPenguin
Banned
a tasting menu can be as much as 10 or more courses.
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The best restaurant in the world is...
- Thread starter thomaser
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a tasting menu can be as much as 10 or more courses.
entremet
Member
El Bulli was known for its 20 plus course tasting menus, so yeah.
Zoramon089
Banned
Fine dining is like high art to me...I just don't get it...
a posh hammer
Member
You get 10+ diff things, adds up.
So many places to go...need to take Per Se down first.
That's a misguided attitude. As mentioned many times, these are tens of courses being served to you.
I can eat a porterhouse for three by myself without blinking and have never been disappointed with a meal portion at a higher end establishment. Anyone who insists that their hunger can't be satiated by these kind of menus aren't speaking from any kind of experience.
That's a misguided attitude. As mentioned many times, these are tens of courses being served to you.
I can eat a porterhouse for three by myself without blinking and have never been disappointed with a meal portion at a higher end establishment. Anyone who insists that their hunger can't be satiated by these kind of menus aren't speaking from any kind of experience.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
jstevenson
Sailor Stevenson
usually when I eat at Michellin-starred places I'm so full by the end I can's stand it. The dishes may be small, but by the time you have 4 courses, 1-2 amuses, bread, wine/champagne, coffee, and potentially supplemental courses (additional deserts, cheese course etc), you'll have plenty of food
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Beat me to it.
Been to French Laundry twice in the past 2 years, going again in August. Can't wait!
Looks like nipple cancer to me.
Exactly.
Something that also isn't mentioned is the fact that the serving is timed, often leading to the experience of having the prior course settle in before you eat more. I'm almost certain it impacts the fullness you feel compared to wolfing down a massive plate in 10 minutes.
Eating at these kind of places are carefully designed experiences; at the calibre of these world class establishments, no one is going to make the elementary mistake of leaving you hungry.
This kind of food has little appeal to me. After living all over the place and eating all kinds food, I find myself thinking "just give me some steak and potatoes" most of the time.
But I would obviously not pass up the opportunity to eat at one of these places.
But I would obviously not pass up the opportunity to eat at one of these places.
jstevenson
Sailor Stevenson
To add to my other post, I haven't made it to anything on this list. French Laundry is down in the 40s and is roughly similar to Per Se, and eventually I'll get there. Been to Thomas Keller's Bouchon though and that's great.
The best meal here in LA I've had was at Josiah Citrin's Melisse. 2-star (when LA had a Michelin guide for a couple years) - absolutely sensational. Photos shamelessly ripped off online.
Amuse was a goat cheese covered and pistachio encrusted grape:
Two of the early dishes were the best, this Egg Caviar
was absolutely mind-blowing.
Our favorite might've been this Lobster Bolognese that had black truffle and truffle foam:
Both mains we got off the seasonal menu. Both were excellent and perfectly executed. I know I had rabbit or squirrel or something, and the wife had some sort of lamb. Loved it, but I can't remember exactly enough to find photos.
The cheese supplement was insane too in terms of the amount of cheese and accompaniments:
The waiter, while cutting our cheese platter, realized I was from Nebraska, and his wife was from Nebraska. So he got the chef to give us an additional palette cleanser, this Strawberry Yogurt amuse (Red/White coloring = Scarlet/Cream of Nebraska). One of our favorites from the night too
We ended with desert, a chocolate suffle they inject at the table and chocolate peanut butter crunch:
The best meal here in LA I've had was at Josiah Citrin's Melisse. 2-star (when LA had a Michelin guide for a couple years) - absolutely sensational. Photos shamelessly ripped off online.
Amuse was a goat cheese covered and pistachio encrusted grape:
Two of the early dishes were the best, this Egg Caviar
was absolutely mind-blowing.
Our favorite might've been this Lobster Bolognese that had black truffle and truffle foam:
Both mains we got off the seasonal menu. Both were excellent and perfectly executed. I know I had rabbit or squirrel or something, and the wife had some sort of lamb. Loved it, but I can't remember exactly enough to find photos.
The cheese supplement was insane too in terms of the amount of cheese and accompaniments:
The waiter, while cutting our cheese platter, realized I was from Nebraska, and his wife was from Nebraska. So he got the chef to give us an additional palette cleanser, this Strawberry Yogurt amuse (Red/White coloring = Scarlet/Cream of Nebraska). One of our favorites from the night too
We ended with desert, a chocolate suffle they inject at the table and chocolate peanut butter crunch:
IAmtheFMan
Member
Funny, I was just there last week. Fantastic food...
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
To add to my other post, I haven't made it to anything on this list. French Laundry is down in the 40s and is roughly similar to Per Se, and eventually I'll get there. Been to Thomas Keller's Bouchon though and that's great.
The best meal here in LA I've had was at Josiah Citrin's Melisse. 2-star (when LA had a Michelin guide for a couple years) - absolutely sensational. Photos shamelessly ripped off online.
Amuse was a goat cheese covered and pistachio encrusted grape:
Two of the early dishes were the best, this Egg Caviar
was absolutely mind-blowing.
Our favorite might've been this Lobster Bolognese that had black truffle and truffle foam:
Both mains we got off the seasonal menu. Both were excellent and perfectly executed. I know I had rabbit or squirrel or something, and the wife had some sort of lamb. Loved it, but I can't remember exactly enough to find photos.
The cheese supplement was insane too in terms of the amount of cheese and accompaniments:
The waiter, while cutting our cheese platter, realized I was from Nebraska, and his wife was from Nebraska. So he got the chef to give us an additional palette cleanser, this Strawberry Yogurt amuse (Red/White coloring = Scarlet/Cream of Nebraska). One of our favorites from the night too
We ended with desert, a chocolate suffle they inject at the table and chocolate peanut butter crunch:
Nice!
I wrote up my first FL trip here: http://www.neogaf.com/forum/showthread.php?p=19896769#post19896769
Black_Mamba
Member
The World's 50 Best list is a joke. If you want to eat at the best, buy the Michelin Guide and start travelling.
It's a shame that this list is getting so much publicity these days. Anyone with some experience in eating at this kind of restaurant will see how bizarre and comical the list is. Unfortunately, the vast majority don't know much about these places, so they will believe in this insane ranking and continue to support this event.
Not a single restaurant from France or Japan in the Top 10? Best french restaurant is L'Atelier (which I've been to a dozen times. Really like it, but the best of France? No way!)? Best restaurant in Asia is Iggy's? Narizawa the best in Japan (wouldn't be in my top 20 for Japan)? Not to mention the totally random choices from 51 to 100.
I respect Alex Atala, from D.O.M., but unfortunately his charisma is greater than his food.
It's a shame that this list is getting so much publicity these days. Anyone with some experience in eating at this kind of restaurant will see how bizarre and comical the list is. Unfortunately, the vast majority don't know much about these places, so they will believe in this insane ranking and continue to support this event.
Not a single restaurant from France or Japan in the Top 10? Best french restaurant is L'Atelier (which I've been to a dozen times. Really like it, but the best of France? No way!)? Best restaurant in Asia is Iggy's? Narizawa the best in Japan (wouldn't be in my top 20 for Japan)? Not to mention the totally random choices from 51 to 100.
I respect Alex Atala, from D.O.M., but unfortunately his charisma is greater than his food.
That sounds so wrong to read out loud.
bggrthnjsus
Member
i turned down an invitation to eat at alinea earlier this year to get wasted instead
DanteFox
Member
way more
Member
I suppose it does make more sense that we have twice as many idiots.
MisterNugNug
Member
Noma is interesting in that the chefs actually forage for ingredients. They'll go out and walk around Copenhagen and start collecting seaweed, mushrooms, herbs and other goodies unique to the area. I think when you're served they tell you where they got the ingredients specifically. Food looks outstanding.
That's one way to do it, but remember that the Michelin inspectors have their own set of guidelines and biases that skew their judgements. They are more geared towards traditional French/Spanish cuisine than towards "new" cuisine. And they are very conservative when it comes to things like how tables are presented. If you don't have a white tablecloth on your table, you get minus points (Noma doesn't use tablecloths). All of these "best of" lists, including the Michelin guide, are biased in one way or another, and I think it's best to try to be inspired by all of them instead of just one or two.
ChiTownBuffalo
Either I made up lies about the Boston Bomber or I fell for someone else's crap. Either way, I have absolutely no credibility and you should never pay any attention to anything I say, no matter what the context. Perm me if I claim to be an insider
Alinea was great. I had a date there.
I went when Grant Achatz was looking like Christian Bale.
I went when Grant Achatz was looking like Christian Bale.
Black_Mamba
Member
It's not really like this anymore. The japanese three star restaurants, for instance, oscillates from ultra-fancy places (like Tsuruya or Kitcho Arashiyama) to extremely humble ones, like Sushi Saito (it's a tiny restaurant inside a parking lot!) or the famous Sukiyabashi Jiro Honten. In Hong Kong, there's even a hole in the wall dim sum restaurant with a Michelin star. And even in France, L'Astrance (3***), for example, has a somewhat simple decor.
I'm not saying the Michelin Guide is perfect, after all, it's only a guide and not the ultimate book of truth. But it's by far the most professional and reliable guide out there. The World's 50 Best, on the other hand, is just a big PR event to promote a small club of well connected chefs.
http://www.businessinsider.com/dinner-at-noma-in-copenhagen-denmark-2012-5#
A slideshow of some of the courses served at Noma. Looks real interesting.
A slideshow of some of the courses served at Noma. Looks real interesting.
SnakeswithLasers
Member
Ugh, since moving out of SB I was hoping I'd never see that again.
This made me lol hard. I need some sleep...
Stumpokapow
listen to the mad man
RukusProvider
Banned
Thanks for the heads up!
We ate at Pavilion Ledoyen the last time we were in Paris and it was an amazing meal.
Ramsay at Royal Hospital Road in London in contrast was a complete let down. it would have been fin for a 1 star place but by means a 3* establishment.
We're in the Bay Area. We would goto The French laundry but booking is a pain in the ass. I'm not in the mood to beg to pay money.
SnakeswithLasers
Member
Also, while you're going to leave full, the experience isn't about "getting full." I think that's why people unfairly critique and judge these places without having been there. If you're just hungry and looking to get full, you don't need to go to a world-class restaurant--you need to spend $10 downtown and get a burrito. If you're looking to taste new creations and want to treat food as an artistic experience to be savored, talked about, and remembered, then you will enjoy it.
What a strange reaction. People in northern Europe and Russia eat reindeer all the time, and they use most of the animal including the tongue. It's the same with the tongues of other animals - it's a common ingredient in large parts of the world, and hardly the outrageous thing you make it out to be.
Have you ever tasted reindeer tongue, by the way? If not, how do you know it's not delicious? One of the points of restaurants like Noma is to find ingredients that are broadly unknown or underused and show how good they can be.
RukusProvider
Banned
Stick to the Cheesecake Factory for your birthday and other celebrations.
RukusProvider
Banned
I do value the Guide more than this list but the biggest problem with the guide is that they're slow to react. Losing/gaining stars is such a slow task. We've been to places there were on both sides of the ball only to see the guide react a year or two down the road.
They have been getting better in the past year or two though.
XiaNaphryz
LATIN, MATRIPEDICABUS, DO YOU SPEAK IT
Getting a booking isn't too hard if you're local and really flexible about scheduling.
sixteen-bit
Member
bribery?
RukusProvider
Banned
I'm about an hour away. If I recall, calling in is the best method, yes?
Zoe
Member
For the longest time, I didn't even realize reindeer were real animals. Most people in the US would only ever encounter them in the context of Christmas stories.
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