FOOD!

[Diego]

top notch lamb. yumyum.

Agree, I ordered the same thing when I was there.

edit- the vegetables are to die for

[maldoror]

went to blue hill for my birthday dinner.

did you go to stone barns or the manhattan location on washington place?

[Chinorlz]

Received the gastroporn Alinea cookbook yesterday. Fucking beautiful.

Just now ordered my second copy from Amazon that way I don't get the Alinea restaurant edition with the signatures all messed up with oil and grease when I tackle these recipes. One to thumb through, one to use.

... now if only the fat duck cookbook drops to sub-$100 I'd be willing to throw down. It's a LOT off the cover price already on Amazon for those interested.

Rock that immersion circulator!!!!! I can't wait to see what develops!

[reborn]

Great mexican food in NYC: I have to give a huge thumbs up for Crema in chelsea. That place has the best Mexican food I have ever had in the North East. Seriously, I'm from Texas and have traveled throughout Mexico...Crema is awesome upscale mexican food...They have huitlacoche...and the cream of pumkin soup with chipotle salsa...yum!

[Chinorlz]

Great mexican food in NYC: I have to give a huge thumbs up for Crema in chelsea. That place has the best Mexican food I have ever had in the North East. Seriously, I'm from Texas and have traveled throughout Mexico...Crema is awesome upscale mexican food...They have huitlacoche...and the cream of pumkin soup with chipotle salsa...yum!

Really?!

I haven't found it yet in san antonio.

[reborn]

Really?!

I haven't found it yet in san antonio.

Really, and it's damn good... And they have an amazing house flavoured tequila: pineapple and peppercorns which is sweet and picoso (spicy hot) yet smooth.

[raddy]

just booked a night at moto, a night before alinea. i will be fat. i need to sell plasma in order to pay for dis.

How did you end up liking Moto -- I haven't been there in a LONG time.

Avenues is really really underrated. Beef + coconut + basil = SO GOOD. Lots of contemporary, pretty unusual flavors. (Maybe not as out there as Alinea...) Really gorgeous presentations -- I wish I saw more of the desserts but all of my friends are increasingly health conscious and shy away from them now.

As for other places in chi, I know Blackbird is a lot less popular than it once was, but it's still very awesome and very well priced and has fantastic staff.

At Blue Hill, I remember having some sort of very light gazpacho which had as its two dominant flavors, licorice and cucumber, and was awesome. (Maybe it was star of anise or something?) I had the Sea Bass as my main which wasn't really anything special.

[Avantster]

Just bought the book A Day at elBulli.

Some great photos and insights into how the restaurant runs. It's a little sparse on text, but there are a few recipes and it's a good book for the everyday reader who wants to learn more about arguably the best restaurant in the world.

[theetruscan]

Fallen into repetitive habits in NYC, where should I go for dinner this weekend? One dinner can be fairly nice, but not stupid expensive (80-100 for entree, appetizer, glass of wine), one should be cheaper. Thinking about checking out WD-50 and seeing if I can get in, dunno.

Loving the Alinea cookbook.

[Faust]

I'm not an haute eater, otherwise I'd help you. From hearsay, 11 Madison Park and Blue Hill would be my choices.

[reborn]

Fallen into repetitive habits in NYC, where should I go for dinner this weekend? One dinner can be fairly nice, but not stupid expensive (80-100 for entree, appetizer, glass of wine), one should be cheaper. Thinking about checking out WD-50 and seeing if I can get in, dunno.

Loving the Alinea cookbook.

Have you tried L'Ecole? I believe it received an honorable mention (or something) from Michelin...Everything is prix fixe multi-course. I've been there many times for lunch ($25) and for dinner ($45) and I have never been disappointed (the prices are approximates).

http://www.frenchculinary.com/lecole.htm

[Faust]

Funny thing about L'Ecole - I had wonderful experience both times I went, but I've heard lots of lukewarm reviews at best on places like Chowhound. I don't know, I liked it.

[Chinorlz]

if you can get in at we-50 I say go for it. If you don't do the tasting menu then be sure to ask for the sunny side up "egg" :) its the only dish there that uses the alginate-calcium chloride sphere technique at least in the past. Since you've been reading the foodjizzfestbook known as the alinea book, may as well have some desserts from a former alinea member.

Lecole was pretty good and definitely very fairly prices. Tasty, clean and borderline conservative in terms of dishes but everyone there is doing their best and they love talking about the food. Pleasant, no frills meal.

[reborn]

Funny thing about L'Ecole - I had wonderful experience both times I went, but I've heard lots of lukewarm reviews at best on places like Chowhound. I don't know, I liked it.

From my experience (about a 12 meals), I think one visit was less than stellar. However, the last time I was there for dinner, my table received an additional palatte cleansing asian pear and champagne sorbet as well as take-home baked goods from the pastry program at no additional cost.

PS: The marizpan filled croissants made a yummy breakfast the following morning.

[Chinorlz]

From my experience (about a 12 meals), I think one visit was less than stellar. However, the last time I was there for dinner, my table received an additional palatte cleansing asian pear and champagne sorbet as well as take-home baked goods from the pastry program at no additional cost.

PS: The marizpan filled croissants made a yummy breakfast the following morning.

Damn! Now that's a good experience :)

Reborn, you hit lespalier in Boston yet?