Category Archives: Tasting Menu

April 11, 2011
12:08 AM
by: Uhockey

Pierre Gagnaire, Paris France

…save for the few things that can be strictly qualified objectively it is difficult to define something as “the best” and it is nearly impossible to designate perfection; even in the smallest of things there are simply too many variables … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, France, Paris, Pierre Gagnaire, Tasting Menu, Vacation

April 9, 2011
4:38 PM
by: Uhockey

Le Cinq, Paris France

“You’ve never seen a room like it” said one friend. “The service is the best I’ve ever experienced” said another. “Éric Briffard should have three stars – he should have had it a year” said yet another. With these statements … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, France, Ice Cream, Le Cinq, Lobster, Macaroon, Madeline, Paris, Pork, Tasting Menu, Vacation

April 9, 2011
12:19 AM
by: Uhockey

Le Chateaubriand, Paris France

My mother always told me to avoid judging a book by its cover but I’m not going to lie, when we first walked up to Le Chateaubriand my first thought was “is this the right place?” Ranked by S. Pellegrino … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Food, France, Ice Cream, Le Chateaubriand, Paris, Pork, Tasting Menu, Vacation

April 8, 2011
4:30 PM
by: Uhockey

La Bigarrade, Paris France

…as is the case with almost any flight I take we arrived late to Paris – 55 minutes late to be exact and with the hassles of customs and transportation our expected 9:00am arrival had us running dangerously late for … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Crab, Dessert, Food, France, Ice Cream, La Bigarrade, Macaroon, Paris, Tasting Menu, Vacation

March 30, 2011
9:24 PM
by: Uhockey

Roberta’s, Brooklyn NY

I generally prefer to write my thoughts on restaurants in the order in which I experience them – it is a stylistic choice mostly, but I also think it also helps to put my trips into context for the people … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Brooklyn, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Ice Cream, New York, Pizza, Pork, Roberta's, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Vacation

March 29, 2011
11:09 PM
by: Uhockey

Cafe Boulud, New York NY

There is a part of my food ramblings that will unfortunately remain lost in the void – a handful of meals from a work-related trip to New York that are annotated and photographed but of which my memory has faded … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Cafe Boulud, Coffee, Dessert, Food, Ice Cream, Lobster, Macaroon, Madeline, New York, Pork, Tasting Menu, Vacation

February 19, 2011
5:05 PM
by: Uhockey

Bouley, New York NY

I’ll admit I was skeptical – I’d heard negative comments from a pair of trusted palates that the restaurant was old and tired – a relic resting on past glory despite the new location and positive reviews from Bruni and … Continue reading →

Posted in Bouley, Bread Basket, Coffee, Crab, Food, Ice Cream, Macaroon, New York, Pork, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

February 19, 2011
1:31 AM
by: Uhockey

Corton, New York NY

If you’d have asked me what my top five “must visit” restaurants were prior to this most recent trip to New York you’d have heard only two ranked before Paul Leibrandt’s Corton – those being L’Astrance and Pierre Gagnaire’s flagship … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Corton, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Macaroon, New York, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

February 18, 2011
6:36 PM
by: Uhockey

Eleven Madison Park [2], New York NY

On June 24th 2008 my sister and I had a lovely meal at Danny Meyer’s Eleven Madison Park – the service was first-rate albeit a bit “hovering,” the food was excellent, and the room exquisite. Still relatively new to the … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Crab, Dessert, Eleven Madison Park, Foie, Macaroon, New York, Pork, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

February 17, 2011
1:38 AM
by: Uhockey

Compose, New York NY

Substantial hype is both a gift and a curse – on one hand the exclusivity of ten diners five days a week plus a chef coming off his stage at the best restaurant in the world is sure to fill … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Compose, Dessert, Ice Cream, Lobster, New York, Pork, Tasting Menu

December 25, 2010
1:17 AM
by: Uhockey

Picasso, Las Vegas NV

In 2002 my parents offered to take me to Los Angeles via way of Las Vegas to see the Los Angeles Kings for the first time at Staples Center – it would serve as my present for graduating college. A … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Las Vegas, Lobster, Nevada, Picasso, Tasting Menu, Vacation

December 22, 2010
12:04 AM
by: Uhockey

Melisse, Santa Monica CA

Posted in Bread Basket, California, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Lobster, Los Angeles, Melisse, Santa Monica, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Truffle

December 20, 2010
2:30 AM
by: Uhockey

L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon and Joel Robuchon [2], Las Vegas NV

One year ago a woman named Dara Pierce served as one of the best reservationists I’ve ever worked with and a lovely meal at Joel Robuchon at The Mansion followed. Highlighted by Kamel Guechida’s desserts there was no doubt in … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Coffee, Dessert, Foie, Food, Joel Robuchon, L'Atelier, Las Vegas, Macaroon, Nevada, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

December 19, 2010
3:07 AM
by: Uhockey

Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, Las Vegas NV

Picasso came first from Serrano – the French masters came later; Robuchon, Savoy, Ducasse, and finally Gagnaire. Say what you will about Vegas, but without an overseas flight it is the only place (save for L’Atelier and Adour NYC) that … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Dessert, Foie, Food, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Las Vegas, Nevada, Pork, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Twist by Pierre Gagnaire, Vacation

December 18, 2010
7:07 PM
by: Uhockey

Julian Serrano, Las Vegas NV

…with a great meal at Sage the night before I’d had a chance to scope out the menu at Julian Serrano, the concept looked to be eclectic tapas with “something for everyone” and as such a great fit for our … Continue reading →

Posted in Dessert, Foie, Food, Ice Cream, Julian Serrano, Las Vegas, Lobster, Nevada, Octopus, Tasting Menu, Truffle

December 18, 2010
12:57 AM
by: Uhockey

Sage, Las Vegas NV

While I cannot be certain of it I’m willing to wager that when Aria was conceptualizing their restaurant collection it was not Shawn McClain that they expected to steal the spotlight – a Beard Award winner in his own right, … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Bread Pudding, Dessert, Foie, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Las Vegas, Lobster, Nevada, Pork, Sage, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

November 6, 2010
11:19 PM
by: Uhockey

Everest, Chicago IL

Next to Charlie Trotter’s iconic restaurant, Everest stands as perhaps the most well known elder statesman in a dining scene dominated by cutting edge technique and “hyper-modern” cuisine. While both styles clearly have their place in 21st century dining, Chicago’s … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Chicago, Dessert, Everest, Foie, Ice Cream, Illinois, Pork, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Vacation

November 5, 2010
11:08 PM
by: Uhockey

Schwa, Chicago IL

If you’re reading this site you are likely aware of Schwa, Chef Michael Carlson, the obscure reservations system, and even the GQ Article that vaulted the restaurant above other temples of molecular gastronomy as “The Most Revolutionary Restaurant in America.” … Continue reading →

Posted in Chicago, Dessert, Illinois, Italian, Octopus, Pork, Schwa, Sweetbreads, Tasting Menu, Truffle, Vacation

November 4, 2010
11:14 PM
by: Uhockey

Bonsoiree, Chicago IL

The circumstances that led my sister and I to a table at BonSoiree on the evening of November the 4th are a bit complex but I’ll try to explain. When I originally booked the trip I knew I would have … Continue reading →

Posted in Bonsoiree, Chicago, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Gnocchi, Ice Cream, Illinois, Pork, Tasting Menu

August 28, 2010
11:04 PM
by: Uhockey

Le Bec Fin, Philadelphia PA

Amongst the primary reasons for visiting Philadelphia – research, museums, sports, dining, and culture – dining at Le Bec Fin was decidedly one of the more significant. Once considered by many the best restaurant in the United States I’d recently … Continue reading →

Posted in Bread Basket, Crab, Dessert, Foie, Food, Le Bec Fin, Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, Souffle, Tasting Menu, Vacation