Wednesday, May 8, 2013

Video: Dover Sole at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon

 Videos of the server deboning the dover sole tableside at L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon.

Before
 
After

Monday, May 6, 2013

The World's 50 Best Restaurants 2013

The results are in and El Celler de Can Roca took the top spot as the World's Best Restaurant in the World. Luckily for us, we dined there back in 2011. I know the results are subjective but a list is a list. To me, it means I don't have to dine there as it will be hard to get a reservation for the unforeseeable future. I tend to look at the new entries or restaurants at the bottom of the list because a select few with time will eventually make it up the list. For example, Restaurant Andre in Singapore was ranked at the bottom of the list a few years ago and now ranks at #38. I wished I dined there during our trip in 2011.
 
Steak tartare from El Celler de Can Roca
 
An interesting ranking on the list was Eleven Madison Park (ranked #5) as it surpassed Alinea who dropped to #15. What goes up, must come down. I wasn't too surprised as I witnessed some things that were unacceptable (e.g. bad attitudes of young chefs to visible wear of the table tops). I still think Alinea is a great restaurant but it makes you wonder if too much attention is being spent on Achatz's other restaurant Next. Whatever it is, I hope it invokes game changing ideas at Alinea.
 
Narisawa, Asia's Best Restaurant in 2013
 
What's next? As for travel, I'm hoping Hubs travels to Australia as it's a country I would like to explore. I originally wanted to go to Hong Kong but the bird flu outbreak continues to be a threat. Out of convenience, we'll likely travel to Napa during the summer. New York is an option for the Fall and perhaps Europe next spring. Right now Hubs has a impending trip to India and I'm trying not to drown in research projects.

Sunday, May 5, 2013

Las Vegas: L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon

Last weekend we dined at L'Atelier de Joël Robuchon in Las Vegas, NV. We opted to order from the ala carte menu as we had a few hours to eat before the Price concert.

Here's what we had:

Bread basket
 
Amuse bouche
Foie gras parfait with port wine and parmesan foam
 
Le Foie Gras
Traditionally poached chilled duck foie gras
 
Le Burger
Beef and foie gras burgers with caramelized green peppers
 
Dover sole for Two
Glazed with lemon butter sauce
 
Pommes Purée
Robuchon's Famous Mash Potatoes
 
La Framboise
Fresh raspberry surprise inside white chocolate sphere, yuzu ice cream
 
We both agreed the amuse bouche was exceptional that day. I can't get enough of foie gras now that it's banned from California. The dover sole was the evening's special which was de-boned in front of us. Hubs took video which I will post later. The dessert was a perfect sphere before it was doused with a raspberry glaze. Overall, this was a great meal before attending an exciting show by Prince.
 
L'Atelier de Joel Robuchon
3799 S Las Vegas Blvd
Las Vegas, NV 89109
(702) 891-7358