A great way to skip the line at the Eiffel Tower? Make reservations at Le Jules Verne, Chef Alain Ducasse’s restaurant inside the Eiffel Tower! Be prepared to pay though, because this was rather pricey for a one Michelin Star spot. Tasting menus start at 105€ for three courses (weekday lunch only) and climb to… Read More Dining Inside the Eiffel Tower at Le Jules Verne – Paris, France
Fresh off the high of excellent fine dining in Barcelona (Disfrutar, Tickets, Enigma), I was looking forward to my first three Michelin star experience in Spain. Not only does Arzak have three stars, it’s one of the rare World’s 50 Best Restaurants to be headed by a female chef (no. 31 of 50). I even… Read More The Letdown of Arzak – San Sebastian, Spain
Getting a ticket to Tickets Barcelona is no easy feat. The word is out – this may be the best value fine dining in the city, if not the world. The tapas here are a mix of elBulli’s greatest hits, along with equally impressive new creations. You can order a la carte or opt for… Read More Accessible Fine Dining at Tickets Tapas Bar – Barcelona, Spain
And the longest tasting menu award goes to…Enigma Concept for their 40+ courses, but after 20 or so who’s counting anymore? From the creative mind of Albert Adrià (of the elBarri restaurant empire and elBulli fame), Enigma Concept is a culinary journey into a futuristic dream world. While I did enjoy the experience, I felt… Read More The Futuristic Menu at Enigma Concept – Barcelona, Spain
Disfrutar means “enjoy” in Spanish, and true to its name, the lunch experience here was one of the more enjoyable meals I’ve had. With a delightful combo of whimsical table-side presentations, our extra cheerful server, and a zen dining space, there was much to love about Disfrutar. I found myself smiling and feeling especially carefree during a… Read More The Disfrutar Especial Tasting Menu – Barcelona, Spain
What’s a perk of having two weddings? Two anniversaries! Since our two weddings were a month apart, it made sense to have a month long celebration! Singlethread Farm was my original pick for my husband’s surprise birthday dinner in 2016, but due to opening delays it didn’t pan out. After 1.5 years of anticipation, we… Read More A Midweek Escape at Singlethread Farm – Healdsburg, CA
I’ve been dragging my feet on my recap of é by José Andrés, but four months later is better than never right? Eight other trips, a job change, and 100s of meals later…here’s a throwback to December 2017! é in Las Vegas was probably the most intimate dining experience I’ve had. You share a chef’s… Read More The Chef’s Table at é by José Andrés – Las Vegas
Our household has an obsession with persimmons. Because of the limited, seasonable nature of this fruit (typically November through February), we go a bit crazy at the local farmer’s market this time of year. In February, we found flats of 24 very ripe Hachiya persimmons for $10/flat. These usually go for $2+ per fruit here,… Read More Your New Favorite Quick Bread – Persimmon Whiskey Bread with Pecans and Dried Apricots
Dominique Crenn is one bad-ass lady. She’s breaking barriers as a world-renowned female chef while being a mother, and she’s incredibly down-to-earth and personable! Last weekend I had the opportunity to visit her restaurant Atelier Crenn a second time, and I loved my experience. This meal resonated with me on all levels – presentation, service, and above… Read More Atelier Crenn – A Poetic, Modern French Experience in SF
I’m a fan of savory cheese balls, but I usually pick sweet over savory. When I saw this chocolate chip cream cheese football from Belle of the Kitchen, I knew I had to try it! The adorable football shaped appetizer is so simple to make, and it’s a visual crowd pleaser. Print Chocolate Chip Cream… Read More Chocolate Chip Cream Cheese Football Dip