Saturday, September 24, 2011

Epic Alchemy

Tea that tastes like tomato soup.... all I can say it wow. Last Wednesday night I was a very lucky girl and had the opportunity to dine at Eleven Park Madison. We sat at the bar just to have a few drinks and appetizers and were treated to the full hors d'oeuvres service from the very famous tasting menu there. Since it is one of the top 25 restaurants in the world, this was nothing short of amazing. Sadly I did not bring my camera and therefore have borrowed a few images I found online. The chef Daniel Humm is also an alchemist and is playing with reductions and foams. I can't believe I am saying this but I am now am a believer... I was very anti-foam food up until this point. I think the beauty of his dishes is that he leaves enough food to chew to still satisfy my love of taste and texture.

It started with the amazing tea, a very intricate hand tied bundle of dried leaves, that of course tasted like tomato soup. I have no idea how. It then went on to course after course of delicious and beautifully presented hors d'oeuvres of raw fish, egg, uni, caviar and the very wonderful powdered beet goat cheese lollipops. Every dish was a work of art and the tastes were each unique, full of surprises and very delicious. The bread even came with butter and goat butter, something I had never seen before. As for our actually ordered appetizers we shared a seafood gnocchi and another pasta dish, a variation of tagiatelle with lemon and alaskan king crab. Both were extremely light and delicate and insanely delicious. It was truly epic. Thank you Tanner.

Eleven Madison Park
11 Madison Avenue
New York, NY
(212) 889-0905










(images from donuts4dinner.com)