Category Archives: Tasting Menu

December 29, 2011
8:16 PM
by: Uhockey

The Herbfarm, Woodinville WA

As our trip to the Pacific Northwest was a celebration of many things including my sister’s upcoming completion of her Masters of Fine Arts I wanted to do something special to celebrate – a situation perfect for a “destination meal” … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, Coffee, Dessert, Ice Cream, Pork, Seattle, Tasting Menu, The Herbfarm, Truffle, Washington, Woodinville

November 14, 2011
9:54 PM
by: Uhockey

LQ @ SK White Truffle Dinner, Los Angeles CA

During my last visit to Los Angeles I took the advice of some “foodie” friends and visited Bistro LQ, the then-home of Chef Laurent Quenioux and his utterly fearless brand of cuisine; it was a meal that resonated a long … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Laurent Quenioux, Lobster, Los Angeles, LQ, LQ @ SK, Pork, Starry Kitchen, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

November 5, 2011
10:57 PM
by: Uhockey

Next “Childhood,” Chicago IL

The details of how I ended up seated at a two-top at Grant Achatz and Nick Kokonas’ Next – Childhood a mere five and a half hours after I’d been led up the stairs for Chris Nugent’s last tasting menu … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, Next, Pork, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

November 5, 2011
5:40 PM
by: Uhockey

Les Nomades, Chicago IL

Having stepped out of my element to enjoy the Peking/Beijing Duck feast at Sun Wah during the afternoon, Saturday evening would find me back in my comfort zone as I stepped up to the quiet doors of Les Nomades at … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Illinois, Les Nomades, Lobster, Macaroon, Madeline, Octopus, Souffle, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

November 4, 2011
6:47 PM
by: Uhockey

Alinea [3], Aviary [2], The Office, Chicago IL

Those who know me will realize that I very rarely visit the same restaurant twice and save for a little breakfast spot in Hollywood the concept of visiting someplace three times is unheard of – unheard of until my most … Continue reading →

Posted in Alinea, Chicago, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Illinois, Lobster, Octopus, Pork, Tasting Menu, The Aviary, The Office, Truffle, Vacation

September 30, 2011
7:54 PM
by: Uhockey

Kai, Chandler AZ

…how do you begin to describe a meal at Kai – the only Forbes 5-Diamond restaurant in Arizona and perhaps the only “fine dining exploration of Native American Culture” in the world? Would it be easiest to discuss it as … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Bread Basket, Chandler, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Kai, Lobster, Phoenix, Pork, Scottsdale, Souffle, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

September 29, 2011
7:06 PM
by: Uhockey

Binkley’s, Cave Creek AZ

…when you really start going out of your way to experience the best of what the world’s dining has to offer it is infrequent that you are shocked and amazed; In the era of food television, flickr, yelp, and any … Continue reading →

Posted in Arizona, Binkley's, Bread Basket, Cave Creek, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Lobster, Macaroon, Phoenix, Pork, Scottsdale, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Vacation

September 6, 2011
6:31 PM
by: Uhockey

benu, San Francisco CA

To say I went into benu with high expectations would be an understatement – this was a meal I was so excited about that I literally could not wait to visit and after back-to-back disappointments at Commis and Meadowood plus … Continue reading →

Posted in Barbeque, benu, California, Coffee, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Pork, San Francisco, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

September 5, 2011
6:39 PM
by: Uhockey

The Restaurant at Meadowood, St. Helena CA

My trip to Paris in April led to a renewed faith in the United States Michelin Guides; having dined at six 3* temples of gastronomy and four 2* establishments during our nine days in town I found that on the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Lobster, Meadowood, Napa, San Francisco, St. Helena, Sushi, Tasting Menu, The Restaurant at Meadowood, Vacation

September 4, 2011
7:49 PM
by: Uhockey

Commis, Oakland CA

Sunday would be a day of small bites, baseball, and both old friends and new as the day began at 4:45am with a run through the hills of Oakland followed by a shower and a quick drive into the Mission. … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Commis, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Oakland, San Francisco, Tasting Menu, Uncategorized, Vacation

September 3, 2011
12:49 PM
by: Uhockey

Cyrus, Healdsburg CA

Having originally planned to dine at Cyrus for dinner but instead changing plans a few weeks prior in order to accommodate a friend who subsequently had to back out again leaving me as a party of one the story of … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Coffee, Croissant, cyrus, Dessert, Foie, Food, Healdsburg, Ice Cream, Macaroon, San Francisco, Tasting Menu, Vacation

September 2, 2011
7:30 PM
by: Uhockey

Saison, San Francisco CA

To anyone who knows me they’ll realize that my vacation planning is extensive – there are things I enjoy (the visual arts, music, and sports in no particular order) and if I can fit in some great dining all the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Lobster, Saison, San Francisco, Sushi, Tasting Menu, Vacation

June 18, 2011
1:20 AM
by: Uhockey

Avenues, Chicago IL

For my last dinner on this trip to Chicago the choice came down to Graham Elliot, Ria, or Avenues – not a bad one in the bunch from what I’d been told, but with one standing far above the others … Continue reading →

Posted in Avenues, Bread Basket, Chicago, Crab, Dessert, Food, Illinois, Pork, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

June 6, 2011
11:05 PM
by: Uhockey

No. 9 Park, Boston MA

While many touristy stops such as Durgin Park, Mike’s Pastry, Pizzeria Regina, and Union Oyster House come to mind when thinking of the Boston dining landscape there is perhaps no other location (save for the currently closed Olives) as significant … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Massachusetts, No. 9 Park, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

June 5, 2011
11:52 PM
by: Uhockey

L’Espalier, Boston MA

As one of the earlier East Coast members of the “farm to table” revolution and a regular amongst the “best of” lists in various local and regional publications dinner at L’Espalier was the easiest dining choice I made in all … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, L'Espalier, Lobster, Massachusetts, Pork, Souffle, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

June 3, 2011
11:44 PM
by: Uhockey

Craigie On Main, Boston MA

Walking in to Craigie on Main I must admit I was hesitant; as a matter of fact, for the sake of full disclosure I’ll note that until Chef Tony Maws won the Beard Award for Best Chef Northeast one month … Continue reading →

Posted in Boston, Bread Basket, Crab, Craigie on Main, Dessert, Ice Cream, Macaroon, Massachusetts, Pork, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Vacation

April 14, 2011
4:11 PM
by: Uhockey

Restaurant Guy Savoy, Paris France

I don’t fancy the word “foodie” – it runs afoul with my sensibilities and makes me think of kids acting like everything offal is good, people lining up for food trucks, and all those folks who worship the Food Network … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, France, Ice Cream, Macaroon, Paris, Restaurant Guy Savoy, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

April 14, 2011
12:23 AM
by: Uhockey

L’Astrance, Paris France

I was stunned – baffled even – the wind entirely removed from my sails; how could such a highly regarded establishment have failed to impress? With the Michelin 3-Star location previously ranking as number two on my list of “must … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, France, L'Astrance, Madeline, Paris, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

April 12, 2011
4:22 PM
by: Uhockey

Ledoyen, Paris France

To dine in a space nearly as old as your country of origin is a strange thing – to think that those who have preceded you are the men who fill artistic, literary, and historical texts…it would make the space … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, France, Ledoyen, Macaroon, Paris, Pork, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

April 11, 2011
4:26 PM
by: Uhockey

l’Arpege, Paris France

The afternoon following the best meal of my life at Pierre Gagnaire’s eponymous restaurant on Le Rue Balzac my sister and I would find ourselves at another 3-starred eponymous (more or less) locale. Sure the small room located on la … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Food, France, l'Arpege, Lobster, Macaroon, Paris, Tasting Menu, Vacation