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| - Basis for my starred ratings (which skews heavily to the food or drink):
1 star: Never again.
2 stars: Poor food, poor experience, extraordinary measures in order for me to come back.
3 stars: Average, nothing really special, nothing particularly bad.
4 stars: Very good, would definitely return.
5 stars: A favorite, one of the best.
An excellent meal, and one of the best example of molecular gastronomy in the States.
This place has it down pat. Scoring a reservation for one of the 10 or so seats is tough. If you get one, you're rewarded with a golden ticket that they send to you before the date of your meal. It's a nice touch.
Located within Jose Andres' Jaleo, the counter seating was probably the only minor annoying thing about the night. The chef expedites right in front of you and you're served as a group. Part of the draw to molecular gastronomy is the distillation of true flavors into unexpected forms, and the kitchen performed superbly in that respect.
Truffle mist
Apple "brazo de gitano"
Jose taco - excellent
Barquillo - excellent
"El vermut"
"Merienda"
Crispy chicken skin en escabeche - excellent
Cava sangria
"Fabes" con jamon - excellent
Lobster with citrus and jasmine
Foie gras with black truffle - excellent
"Kokotxas" al pil-pil - excellent
Lamb with truffle and mamia
Torta Pascualete with cotton candy
Crema Catalana egg - excellent
After eight timbal
"Ferrero Rocher"
Yemita
More things . . .
My wife and I have experienced a lot of tasting menus. She was less impressed than I was, but this is what I have to say. The experience was excellent. Chef understands that a tasting can be more than just food, that beverages as a course can add immeasurably to the experience. That Catalan is the source of excellent food, refined here, but still deeply satisfying in that provincial kind of way. That whimsy also makes for a fun experience. That stuffy food can be served without being stuffy. And that I should have gone to minibar in DC when we had the chance. If the food is half as good as it was here, then it must be worth it.
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