Swicks

*waits anxiously for the next report* Sorry, living vicariously over here....

I thought it was pretty stupid as well. He was also acting like he was the first one to think of it and it was something super-novel. Many other chefs have been doing that sort of thing for awhile, Grant Achatz at Alinea is an easy example.

What is the Japanese term for eating yourself to ruin? Bourdain talked about it when he was in Osaka.... Sounds like (forgive the butchering) "Kwidoray"

Click here for the Society file on Richard Blais. ← Thanks, sorry I probably could have searched on my own. I am glad they cut Nimma and not the other guy (name escapes me). The basic cooking 101 execution mistakes should always, in my opinion, be the determining factor in ejecting someone over other issues such as dish conceptualization, odd flavor combos, etc.

Can someone give me some background on why Blais is so well known? His name sounds familiar to me and I am aware he is an established chef but I just don't know what for...

Hey, I happen to enjoy the lame, overwrought, ridiculous challenges! In all honesty, they don't really bother me. The goal seems to me not to make the greatest food ever, but to make better food than the other chefs. So keeping the challenges interesting and varied is OK by me as long as the playing field is (relatively) level. ← I don't mind the varied challenges or twists, i just hate when they get to the point of ridiculousness then criticize them for putting out crappy food when they had 2 minutes, $1.50, and couldn't use anything cooked.

This is an awesome report, thanks for doing it! I am supremely jealous and wish I lived closer to NYC and could get one of these tours in....

I assume for the same reason the ovens are GE Monogram, they store everything in Gladware, and they use Kingsford charcoal... ← dead on. Looks like a pretty talented group this time around, should be fun to watch. The only way they can screw it up is to have too many lame, overwrought or rediculous challenges like Quickfire eggs - Your ingredients are one raw egg and thats it, no ovens, stovetops, or heat of any kind allowed, GO!

And somewhere in the city, David Chang reads this and chuckles to himself...

Thanks for the tip Alex. Ditto on the Pork Cheek.

Awesome episode. I found the inner workings fascinating. The Ripper was working that grill like a Pueblan line cook half his age. I wonder if this episode will be an eye opener to those not familiar with the restaurant industry as to the ethnic make up of most manhattan kitchens.

$130 with wine, I was including tax and tip. it's perfectly fair and equivalent to similar tasting menus with similar levels of ambition.... ← So would this compare say to Atelier? I believe the price point there is much higher, like $190?

Interesting stuff. For a non new yorker, could someone put into perspective where this $170 menu with wine sits in comparison pricewise to some of the other top tables? It sounds like from what people think its a relative bargain?

Glad you had a great meal! Definitely glad you skipped Wildfish, I had an awful meal there about a year ago. Next time give marche moderne a shot! ← Yeah, I only found one favorable review online, and it was written right at opening. The user reviews were particularly dismal. I think he just wanted to stay there and drink for a bit more than anything. Hopefully he finds his way down here before the end of the semester, because I'm trying to transfer up to Berkeley but I really want to try Marche Moderne. Oh Egullet, why must you always introduce me to such great things which I cannot even begin to afford? ← MM actually has an excellent lunch deal which I believe is around $20 for three courses. Can someone confirm? In any case, that is a phenomenal deal that you may want to take advantage of. I think it would be worth forgoing a few pints at the bar one night, no? ← Swicks, you are correct, sir. The lunch "Spontanee" is $20 and usually includes a nice salad, entree and dessert. Last time I had the braised pork cheeks. Mmmm.... ← Thanks for the tip. Is it usally just one set menu or do they give you a few options? I gotta get in there for that. I had the pork cheeks last time I was in, delicious.

Glad you had a great meal! Definitely glad you skipped Wildfish, I had an awful meal there about a year ago. Next time give marche moderne a shot! ← Yeah, I only found one favorable review online, and it was written right at opening. The user reviews were particularly dismal. I think he just wanted to stay there and drink for a bit more than anything. Hopefully he finds his way down here before the end of the semester, because I'm trying to transfer up to Berkeley but I really want to try Marche Moderne. Oh Egullet, why must you always introduce me to such great things which I cannot even begin to afford? ← MM actually has an excellent lunch deal which I believe is around $20 for three courses. Can someone confirm? In any case, that is a phenomenal deal that you may want to take advantage of. I think it would be worth forgoing a few pints at the bar one night, no?

Glad you had a great meal! Definitely glad you skipped Wildfish, I had an awful meal there about a year ago. Next time give marche moderne a shot!

I'll second Marche Moderne as a great choice as it is probably the best restaurant in Orange County right now, and if I had a choice I'd go there in a heartbeat. I guess we need some more info on what you are looking for when you say "different". Taleo and Taco Roas are both higher end Mexican places with excellent regional Mexican dishes. Taleo is in Irvine Taco Rosa in Newport Beach. I also really like The Crow Bar in Corona del Mar for a more casual atmosphere, but still really good food. A final suggestion is Mesa located in Costa Mesa near the Lab on Bristol. It recently was very favorably reviewed by the LA times and the kitchen is helmed by a former Susanne Goin (AOC, Luques in LA) sous chef. I have not eaten there, only had drinks but by all accounts the food is much, much improved from some initial lukewarm reports. The atmosphere is on the hip and trendy side so if that is offputting to your father keep that in mind, though much of that might depend on what night you go, weekday vs weekend. Have a great meal!

I haven't been there yet, but from the photos and various descriptions it certainly looks like Ko is aiming for a higher standard than Ssam Bar. ← Looks like its in a similar vein but much more refined (based solely on reports and pictures)

As far as good places to dine alone, I really enjoyed the Bar Room at the Modern, but you have so many other excellent places on your list this may not be a high priority. Additionally you may want to leave a meal or two open in case you want to re-visit someplace casual again. I am thinking Momo Ssam here....as when I went I wish I would have had room for a second visit. Also, no pizza?

Oh I certainly agree. But as long as the food stayed at a level as high or higher than the other NYC restaurants you mention (and that was usually the case), I figured it was justified. ← I suppose you are right, in addition you don't have to deal with all the trappings of fine dining if that is something you don't like. The restaurant certainly occupies a unique niche.

I'm glad you enjoyed them, Swicks. You're certainly not alone in your thoughts about the prices. I agree that the pricing scheme can be maddening at times. In the case of the L'Oeuf de Poule and Le Caviar Oscietre (the cappellini & caviar dish which carried the same price tag if ordered a la carte; now are both $125 I believe), I think that as AvsKick21 pointed out, it's the generous mound of osetra caviar that's the culprit. Such a price tag carries high expectations, which were certainly met, even surpassed, with the egg. The cappelini on the other hand would have felt like a waste had it not been part of the tasting menu. As for the pricing of the tasting menu at the various branches, Adam will have a better idea about this than I do, but from what I've read, I get the impression that the Vegas branch is actually the cheapest of all of them, and New York the most expensive. I don't recall the exact prices, but I'm pretty certain both Tokyo and Paris (also both on our site) were cheaper than NY. ← Yeah i understand the items with caviar, of course that is going to jack up the price significantly, but as far as the other items go, it just seems that for as semi-casual as the place is the prices are as high or higher than some of the highest end tables in NYC (extreme generalization here). Now clearly the concept and place are unique and it sounds like the price tag isn't really affecting business or anything but the pricing always confused me. The tasting menu pricing while a bit high, seemed to make much more sense than the a la carte pricing. But in all honesty, I'll be damned if I wouldnt go back for the baby oysters and the egg with chantrelles, foam and parsley puree.

Those are some great write ups, kudos to both of you. I have to ask, I still can't seem to understand the pricing at this restaurant, primarily for the a la carte items, they just seem so outrageously astronomical. For example, $98 for one of the egg dishes? Can either of you, or both explain your thoughts on it, as you seem to be two very well informed regulars. For the record, I have eaten at the Las Vegas branch, and it was one of the most memorable meals I have had in awhile, I had the tasting menu, and at that time, I believe it was $125. thanks!

This is a different Nobu. In the new Hard Rock hotel there is an outpost of teh famous Nobu (of Nobu Matsuhisa/Drew Neioporent) not the local SD place. For casual Japanees you might consider Taka (which is what you might be talking about Octabeman).

I lived down in San Diego for 7 years while in college and just post college but it has been a few years since, so the current Mexican spots are not my specialty. I would recommend the Tin Fish as a nice lunch spot downtown. Additionally, Alhambres in the gaslamp area is pretty good. Business dinner...I have not been but I have heard Nobu is excellent. There are your standard steakhouse choices, Flemings, Ruth Chris, etc, but I am sure that is probably not desirable. Some other choices you might consider are: Oceanaire - Steakhouse type atmosphere but with seafood. Very good. Blue Point - Good seafood place. Candelas - High end mexican, great atmosphere Chive - small plates, modern american, great place. Monsoon - High end Indian, excellent Rama- High end Thai, excellent Panevino - Italian Fish Market/Top of the Market - a well renowned place Outside of the downtown area...La Jolla has a lot of good choices. Market located just a bit further north in Del Mar is a new place that has garnered a lot of attention recently. Hopefully this gets you started. also check out www.signonsd.com

Interesting, I haven't been in awhile and apparently it has gone way down hill.