Question for the Chicago People...

[av8rmike]

Yesterday a co-worker was raving to me about some restaurant to which he had been in Chicago, which was supposedly the "best restaurant in the country". Of course, he couldn't remember the name of it, only that it was a strange name, they had very artfully presented food in little bites, and the coffee came served in a French press. That last thing is what started the whole conversation, since I make coffee in a press at the office. Does anyone know what place he might be talking about? I always thought that The French Laundry was considered the "best restaurant in the country".

Comments

[bristlesage.livejournal.com]

Alinea is the restaurant.

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

Thanks! Not to be pedantic, but according to whom? Got a cite? ;)

[bristlesage.livejournal.com]

Ask the guy who told you for his cite, but he's not far off, that's for sure. I know Grant Achatz, the chef, has won numerous awards (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Grant_Achatz), including the James Beard (http://jbfawards.com/content/2008-nominees#chef) award for outstanding chef in 2008. It's definitely possible that someone somewhere called it America's best restaurant.

Edit: Ah! In that Wikipedia article, it mentions that in 2006, Gourmet named Alinea the best restaurant in the country. It's been supplanted by now, I'm sure, but yeah, his claim is not false.

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

Ha! You beat me to the punch with your edit! Funny how the Wikipedia article for the restaurant (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alinea_(restaurant)) also requests a citation.

I did ask him, knowing full well that if he couldn't even remember the name of the place, he's not going to remember where he'd heard about it. Which, of course, he didn't. He's not very cosmopolitan, but apparently has enough disposable cash to eat at a place like that.

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

Did you look at the Flickr photostream that was linked on the Wiki page? Shows what an evening of courses looked like. Very...interesting. The abundance of "foam" in the dishes is kind of unappealing to me though.

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

It's like an episode of "Top Chef" on crack. I'm all for attractive presentation, but no way would I want to eat there.

[lollobrigida.livejournal.com]

HAAA how funny is it that the word FOAM made me think of Top Chef and then there you are with the reference too!

Also I've never even heard of that place.

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

Probably because you don't eat food that comes in "foam". I know I wouldn't.

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

The very idea is just gross. *wrinkles nose*

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

Seriously. Do you have any idea how much it costs for an evening there? I'm almost afraid to find out....

[av8rmike.livejournal.com]

According to the same co-worker, the 12-course tasting menu is $145 per person, and you "don't go there to fill up."

[tidesong.livejournal.com]

Oh, wow. Yeah, I don't think we need to be doing that anytime soon. :P Though, if I win the lottery....