Ok, so this is the most hyped restaurant I've seen at the moment. There are a million posts about this place and the chef Grant Achatz at egullet.org. And some really cool pictures! I hung out reading some of the posts there.....and I thought we were obsessive! Anyway, Grant Achatz is only 27, worked at The French Laundry, and, I can attest, a kick ass chef!
Chef Grant Achatz Background My lovely wife and I ate at Alinea last Friday night and the experience was amazing! Here are my brief notes:
Amuse: PB&J. A peeled grape, coated with peanut butter, wrapped in brioche. Paired with "Charleston" Sercial, Special Reserve Madeira, Vinhos Barbeito. Cool.
Dungeness Crab with parsnip, coconut, and cashews. Paired with Crios Torrontes, Argentina 2004. Outstanding! My favorite for flavor.
Heart of Palm in 5 sections. See someone elses photo link at the end to imagine this one. 5 hollowed out sections with the following fillings: vanilla pudding, fava bean puree, toasted bulger wheat with garlic mayo, prune, pumpernickle with black truffle. Paired with 2000 Au Bon Climat "Hildegard", Santa Maria Valley. Yum.
Broccoli Stem with grapefruit, wild steelhead roe. Paired with 2002 Oremus Tokaji Furmint "Mandolas" Good.
Snapper with yuba, toasted sesame, cucumber. Paired with 2002 Saint-Romain, Alain Gras. Great.
Squab with watermelon, foie gras, anise. Paired with 2002 I Portali Aglianico del Vulture, Basilicata, Italy. Wonderful.
Bison with beets, blueberries, and smoking cinnamon. Paired with 2002 Browen Estate Shiraz, Coonawarra. OMG!
Bacon with butterscotch, apple, and thyme. More please!
Hazelnut Puree with capsule of savory granola, curry. Paired with Hidalgo Oloroso Especial, Jerez. Yum.
Corn custard with honey, tonka bean, hyssop. Paired with Lheraud Vieux Pineau des Charentes. Another WOW.
Liquid Chocolate with milk, black licorice, banana. Paired with Domaine Despres "Cuvee Monsieur", Monbazillac 1995.
Sponge cake with sour cherry, vanilla fragrance.
OMG. Amazing dinner. Best thing about the wine pairing was getting out of my California "rut".
Here are someone elses pictures of each dish.
egullet.org pics This is certainly the French Laundry of the midwest.