Food It looks like I'm going to Alinea in November.

It's been on my list for a couple of years, but it's just never happened. Part of it is being able to get a reservation (actually a ticket, more on that later), part of it is the expense, part of it was just finding the right occasion, and part of it was that we wanted to go with someone else to share our enjoyment and it's tough to find someone who will both be open to that kind of dining and be willing to spend that much. It's one of those "experience" places that many people don't like, can't justify, or just isn't their thing. Which I totally get, but it IS something I enjoy, and so does my wife.

For those that don't know, Alinea is on the short list of "maybe the best restaurant in the world". Elite Traveler World's Top Restaurant Guide named it just that for the last two years in a row. Other top rating agencies put it somewhere in the top ten. It's the only 3-star Michelin Rated place in Chicago, and one of 10-11 in the entire US.

It's a tasting menu restaurant. Which means that you basically eat what they bring you. The menu will change frequently, and will sometimes have dozens of courses. If you have certain allergies or things you can't eat, they will accommodate you, but it limits them obviously. The appeal is in both the fusion of flavors and the presentation. Google image "Alinea" and you'll see a sampling of the type of stuff that they prepare. You can also ook them up on Yelp here for more info and reviews.










So anyway, the restaurant is difficult to get into. The only way to get in is to buy a "ticket" like you would to a concert or sporting event. Your "ticket" is for a specific time/day and you buy for a party of 2, 4, or 6. You have to prepay at that time, including tax and a basic tip (20%). You pay for any beverages (they do wine accompaniment, and have other cocktails) the evening you are there, and I'm guessing if there is a problem you could adjust the tip, or raise it for good service. This week they opened the seating for November. It just so happens that a good friend of mine from Oregon will be in Chicago for a weekend in November with his wife, and they love this sort of stuff. So he is going to surprise her with it and we are going to go along with them. It's their anniversary and we don't get to see them much, so we are celebrating the occasion with a trip there.

This morning I went online and bought tickets for a seating for 4 in late November. As much as I am fortunate enough to eat at a lot of great places, this place is pretty special. I know this type of thing isn't for everyone, but personally I'm pretty psyched about it.

The irony is that I'll probably be spending the day and a half before that up in the woods hunting. So I'll get up at the butt-crack of dawn that morning, sit in a tree stand for a few hours, go home, get all fancied up, and head to a place like that. Talk about a change of pace.

 

Jealous! It's definitely on my list.

 

The funny thing is that the exact opposite is far more likely to be true. Yes the courses are small, but when you get somewhere around 25-35 of them, you aren't going to leave hungry. Some reviews online are saying people took 5 hours to complete their meal because they were so full but didn't want to miss anything.

 

I did that at Charlie Trotter's a few years ago. Still the most memorable meal I've ever eaten.

 

Three more weeks.

 

Oh, I am sure I will come away with at least some photos. I'll try to be discreet, but I'm not above it.


It's this weekend.

 

Well we went last night.

It was truly epic.

I'll try to take the time to post a detailed review some time tomorrow.

 

One quick comment. We had a main server, a sommelier, each of them had an assistant, and there were 1-2 other servers who helped with our table. Every one was a male probably between 25-45. Every single one of them had a beard. It occurred to me during dinner that at least a couple of our female members *ahem* @mixedmedia *ahem* would've been in heaven.