Alinea.
No play-by-play "my take" of the dishes for you, just those that stood out for me. No need for me to play the food critic, who am I anyway?
Alinea's is a meal worth experiencing, and I'm just going to share my experience.
A nondescript door. If it wasn't for the valet parking sign, you wouldn't notice the place. Down the hallway a sliding metal door to your left.
We were led to the second floor and these "flags" of flower-pressed rice paper were placed on our table.
"Don't eat it yet. Just sit and admire them for now."
English Pea (iberico, sherry, honeydew)
Shad Roe (shallot, mustard, bay aroma)Bayleaf stemmed out of the fried shad roe, but it's only for the aroma. Eat everything else in one bite.
A pair of two shrimp courses:
Yuba (shrimp, miso togarashi) - the shrimp is wrapped around the dried yuba.
and
Chao Tom (sugar cane, shrimp, mint) - "Chew but don't swallow."
An extra napkin was provided for you to spit out the chewed sugar cane gracefully. Or try to.
Distillation of Thai FlavorsI saw the video about this "flavored water" and totally thought it was an April Fool's joke. No joke. This glass of water was absolutely spiced with thai spices.
This shot of 'water' is just a primer for the next course.
Pork Belly (curry, cucumber, lime) - a DIY spring roll.
This was paired with: Abbazia di Novacella Kerner, Valle Isarco, Alto Adige 2008.
"Pick up the glass and place it in front of you"
Salt, fried shallots, bananas, basil seeds, cashews, onions, chili paste, etc.Then we had to arrange the metal contraption and they placed the flower-decked rice paper we've been admiring all this time.
Topped it with deliciously creamy and fatty looking pork belly.
Add all the condiments in (yes, ALL), and wrap.
Lobster (parfait, salad, soup)
Paired with: K Vintners Viognier, Columbia Valley, Washington 2008.
The Parfait (chilled lobster consomme, greek yogurt, grapefruit cells, ginger pate de fruit, poppy seeds and pistachio-butter powder, topped with quenelle pistachio ice cream and poppy seed nage)."Don't touch the bottom part, it'll burn your hands."
Confused (because the parfait is chilled), we asked, what could possibly make it so hot.
"Oh, I can't tell you something like that."
Upon finishing our parfait, the servers lifted the top, revealing, voila! the Salad (Eggplant confit and Poached Lobster).
Sneaky, sneaky.
The server poured lobster bisque over the salad and it traveled down the slits on the bowl. "For aroma," he said.Again the bowl at the top is removed, this time revealing various spices soaking in the poured lobster bisque.
Lobster bisque meets Masala chai? Yes, please.
Paired with: Casar de Burbia, Bierzo, Spain 2006.
Barhi Date (maple sap, lemon, cognac)
Bacon (butterscotch, apple, thyme)
Kumquat (rye, peychaud's, demerara)
Foie Gras (pear, white wine, allspice)
Paired with: Reinhold Haart 'Piesporter Goldtropfchen' Riesling Auslese, Mosel 2002.
A nice pairing with the late harvest Riesling that cuts the richness and sweetness.
Green Almond (yuzu, wasabi, basil flower)
Sturgeon (potato, leek, smoke)
Paired with Avanthia Godello, Valdeorras, Spain 2008
This dish was created by sous chef Andrew Graves and apparently the first dish in Alinea history to be introduced on the menu before Chef Achatz being on hand to see the final prototype.
Hot Potato (cold potato, black truffle, butter)
At this point my wine glass was switched out to this gorgeously decorated antique wine glass. This was filled with the wine for the next pairing: Albert Morot Beaune-Toussaint 1er Cru, Cote de Beaune 2006.
Our next silverware was also noticeably antique.
Filet de Boeuf (godard) - wagyu tenderloin, black truffles, mushroom cap, sweetbreads, cockscomb (yes, cockscomb - see it? right hand side), quenelle of beef mousse.
The pairing ended up working pretty well too as the astringency of the wine and the richness of the dish balance each other out.
Black Truffle (explosion, black truffle, butter)
Lots of truffle essence here. Love it.
Squab (charred strawberries, lettuce, birch log)
Paired with: Anima Negra "An", Mallorca, Spain 2005.
Lemon Soda
Since I had to take this in one shot and can't place it on the table, taking a photo was impractical. No photo for you, lemon soda for me :p
Bubble Gum (long pepper, hibiscus, creme fraiche)
Transparency of raspberry, yogurt
Earl Grey (lemon, pine nut, caramelized white chocolate) - served on a pillow containing earl grey aroma (!)
Chocolate (coconut, menthol, hyssop)
At this point our table is cleared and a silicone cover is placed over it.
Coconut milk, chewy coconut, menthol cream, frozen coconut mousse, warm coconut mousse.
The clear cylinders were then removed revealing the now-solidified warm chocolate mousse.
So there you have it, the Alinea Tour for $225 per person (and $80 for my "mini" wine pairing that was not so mini after all), a truly unique dining experience.
Alinea
1723 N Halsted St
Chicago, IL 60614
(312) 867-0110
www.alinea-restaurant.com