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This was one of the best bites of food I've ever eaten. From the Trio menu (precursor to Alinea) at Next in Chicago, the black truffle explosion ravioli:

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What are we looking at here?

The dish is the final course and titled Tropical Fruit.

Here are the elements I recall: frozen coconut, golden pineapple, passion fruit, rum, kaffir lime, sour cherries, compressed watermelon and chocolate.

The previous photo was taken immediately after Chef Achatz breaks the coconuts.

Here is another prior to the break:

I went to Alenia about a month ago and was somewhat disappointed. I just thought it was more about the presentation and the wow factor than the actual taste of the food. I just don't care for molecular gastronomy I guess and thought French Laundry and Per Se was much better.

I agree, the experience is much more than just flavor. But I thought everything was great except for a fish oil and seaweed cracker. That was a struggle.

My wife and I wondered if we would have enjoyed it as much had it just been us. Two of our group are season ticket holders to Next and one is a master sommolier that has been a fan of Achatz since he [the MS] was a student at the CIA. Those three had eaten at Alinea before as well as the French Laundry, EMP, Masa and Per Se. They pimped the experience hard going in; so, we were biased from the beginning.

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I thought the 1/4" thick bacon was too much.

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j/k

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This was one of the best bites of food I've ever eaten. From the Trio menu (precursor to Alinea) at Next in Chicago, the black truffle explosion ravioli:

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So good, it deserves another mention:

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Awesome! I bought a plane ticket up there for December so now I just need to get a dinner reservation. They were closed when I was there over July 4th and I've been really wanting to dine there since we hit Next's Trio last fall.

went back for more pizza... pepperoni Detroit-style pizza at Via 313 in Austin.

December will be your last chance till the middle of 16'! They're renovating Chicago and will be opening pop-ups in Miami and Madrid for the interm.

Alinea is booked. Now the waiting game begins...

Italian bread I made yesterday.

Garganelli I made today.

Had dinner at a new restaurant in river oaks this weekend. Got the sticky, smoky beef rib. Big enough to share. Apparently the chef has several restaurants in Atlanta but this is his first in his hometown of Houston. It was really good. Came with fresh made roti and a mess of greens to add to the "tacos" I made.



Edit: forgot the restaurant name: http://www.stateofgracetx.com

Hunter's Waffle and Bardot Brasserie in Vegas. That's duck confit hanging out in there.

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Bucket list item checked off!

After a Snake Rivers Farm Wagyu NY strip and a side of white truffle polenta (not pictured but holy geez good), I ordered 4oz of authentic Kobe strip for dessert. Hyogo Prefecture, 100% Tajima cattle.

The strip that my cut came off of:



The plated piece (less three slices already devoured):



Single slice:



Not a bad day

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We need to bring this one back!

Butternut squash soup (Bouchon recipe)

White truffles and white truffle rissoto

Bouchon porn from tonight:

Maple pork belly over black truffle infused scrambled eggs with brioche toast



Black truffle risotto

Caprese

Sage chicken and waffles at Hash House A Go Go

Nice

That looks awesome, but you lost me at sage.

I am thankful for all the pictures, but is everyone at every table snapping pics as the meals come out? Seems like that might get annoying.

If you are taking pictures, you have to use discretion. As I mentioned earlier in this thread, with the cost of some of these meals, the last thing I'd want to do is diminish someone else's experience...or my own. If others are snapping a shot at tables around me, I won't hesitate. If taking a pic might interrupt the dining experience, I'll refrain...and I do that a lot. For every one shot I post here, there are probably 25 dishes I passed on because it didn't seem like the right thing to do.

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no one eats as well as BSD.

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It's showing right now, too. Time to diet before my beach vacation in June.

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I am thankful for all the pictures, but is everyone at every table snapping pics as the meals come out? Seems like that might get annoying.

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The Simpsons did an episode mocking this. It was pretty funny.

Food pics are some of my favorite vacation photos. I can really remember and enjoy the memory even more.

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I am thankful for all the pictures, but is everyone at every table snapping pics as the meals come out? Seems like that might get annoying.

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I don't think Hash House minds, it is free advertising.

Some of the more exclusive joints might mind, though.

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Sage chicken and waffles at Hash House A Go Go

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I've been to their Linq location in Vegas multiple times, but didn't make it this trip.

Great food, although relatives have complained about the noise level.

Black Truffle Risotto from Da Marco in Houston:

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Sage chicken and waffles at Hash House A Go Go

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Exactly what I got at the Hash House in SD, good stuff over there, brunch is epic.