I am writing this half a year after my lunch at L’Arpège. Looking back, puzzlement is the best descriptor. If it weren’t for Ryan Sutton’s review, “The Crushing Disappointment of L’Arpège,” I would almost wonder if I went to the wrong restaurant. How could my experience be so far from what this vegetable-focused Paris institution,… Read More The Puzzling Mediocrity of L’Arpège – Paris, France
Part of the fun in a multi-course tasting menu is the interaction with the staff and the education of the elaborate process behind the final product. And at nearly every single fine dining spot we’ve been to, the staff is happy to engage with customers that show an interest in learning about their work at… Read More Dialogue Discouraged at Dialogue Restaurant – Los Angeles
One of my favorite meals this year took place in the manicured gardens of Epicure Paris in Le Bristol Hotel. This was the perfect trifecta of ambiance, excellent food, and the best(!) service I’ve experienced thus far. The staff absolutely nailed my core service checklist – timing, knowledge of ingredients, a clear passion for their… Read More A Dreamy Garden Dinner at Epicure Le Bristol – Paris, France
The two Asian fine dining restaurants Gaggan and Eight Tables both made my Top 3 Restaurant’s of 2017. How cool to see them come together for this fun popup charity dinner! This event supported Chef’s for Change. Good food for a good cause? Gotta love these win wins. We were served a condensed version of… Read More Gaggan Pop Up at Eight Tables – San Francisco
Dining on the Vegas strip gives me sticker shock, even compared to the SF Bay Area. Luckily, there’s a growing number of excellent off-strip options with more reasonable prices. Kame Omakase, located 30 minutes out in Summerlin, is one of those spots. During the 2-hour meal, Chef Eric Kim takes a small group of diners… Read More Kame Omakase – Modern Japanese Off the Las Vegas Strip
Maum continues the trend of tasting menus that incorporate traditional Asian flavors in a modern and elevated dining experience. In contrast to other SF Bay Area spots like SingleThread Farms or Manresa that draw inspiration from Asian ingredients and techniques, I would consider Maum to be more similar to Benu, Hiroshi, Eight Tables, or the now-shuttered Mosu SF.… Read More Maum – A Modern Korean Tasting Menu in Palo Alto
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