Indeed, it’s all very controversial, but the last seating at their chef’s counter before they remodel is this weekend, and I am already booked into it. I think at this point Saison has earned a kind of mythical enough status that it has to be tried for oneself, so I’ve resolved to go and see.
I don’t mean this as a personal slight at all, but looking at some of your highest rated meals, I think we have very opposing tastes, which actually might bode well for my visit! But who knows…
Fortunately, I’ve heard enough people rag on Saison that I have incredibly low expectations for the extremely expensive meal.
What really convinced me I think was 3stardining.com, which is a guy whose only joy in life and great obsession seems to be eating at the top restaurants in the world, and he continuously goes back to Saison, and proclaims it is top 5 in the world. Perhaps I’m putting too much stock in there, but I find that usually when someone with such a myopic obsession pinpoints something as being on the extreme end…I enjoy those kinds of things. So my fingers are crossed.
If nothing else, can’t imagine being disappointed by my second round at Californios!
I hope so! As I stated previously, I think I am probably in the minority as far as my opinion of Saison. I’m also the guy that was scratching his head through my meal at Noma wondering when “it” was going to happen. Same with my three visits to Red Medicine. It’s a good thing that there are a wide variety of sacred cows to go around for everyone’s tastes.
Having said that, I hope you have a wonderful time. And I am rather anxious to try Californios on one of my next visits up north.
Hmm, well, hopefully my next visit will give you a preview of Californios.
But beware, the place is currently probably my favorite restaurant in the world =P But I haven’t been back since earlier this year, so we’ll see how they have progressed.
I do like State Bird Provisions a lot, and still fondly recall the squab I had at the Progress earlier this year, so who knows, there must be some overlap in our tastes.
But I loved Red Medicine (mostly), and will be very happy when Kahn comes to Culver City.
Great list man. How was Playground this year? My biggest gripe with that place is that for all its innovation, it doesn’t seem to actually be getting much better. You’d think he would figure out what works and what doesn’t work but I feel the dishes still have the same amount of hits and misses…
So you and J Gold both like that cauliflower and millet. Interesting
Can a place be your favorite restaurant in the world if you’ve only eaten once? For instance, I’d say Troisgros is Roanne France was my meal of the year, but I’m not sure it could be considered my favorite spot in the world.
Every restaurants entire menu changes every day in Europe?
I know farm to table is way more common there but I wonder if it is really that pervasive?
If it is true I would guess it’s because they have food culture older than the USAs entire history to draw upon, and not necessarily 100% new dishes every day being created out of nothing (essentially), as is the case at the Playground. I imagine a culinary tradition to work in helps one out quite a lot with the success rate in these instances, don’t you think?
What did you have? I have been infatuated with Judy Rodgers’ cooking since I got her cookbook last fall, and that’s where she fell in love with cooking. Very sad that she died so young.
