Alinea
<p>At the forefront of the groundbreaking molecular gastronomy movement, Alinea offers meals that are quite simply unlike any others. Dedicated followers eagerly await chef Grant Achatz's scrupulously deconstructed innovations, which are always as delicious as they are surprising: venison is served atop a pillow of scented air; tiny spheres explode with familiar flavors in the mouth; and bite-size courses of sweet potato and bacon are served on a spike. The staff, as expertly choreographed as the Bolshoi Ballet, instructs patrons on how to eat the exquisitely constructed and artfully presented concoctions (the serving ware is created by an accomplished sculptor), while offering hints as to ingredients. Although this is clearly a temple to experimental cuisine, the atmosphere in the elegantly converted, dramatically lit town house is decidedly laid-back. You won't find starchy waiters or icy attitude here, where all that's required is an interest in extraordinary dining and an open mind.</p> <p><strong>Tip:</strong> The optional wine pairing, featuring glasses from bottles specifically chosen to complement the courses, further heightens the one-of-a-kind gustatory experience.</p>
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From Food & Wine , AUG 2011
'When I was 22, I found myself at the Montreux Jazz Festival in Switzerland eating a delicious steak at the table next to Herbie Hancock at 1 a.m., after seeing The...MORE>>
From Food & Wine , AUG 2010
Chef Grant Achatz at Alinea in Chicago serves a sheet of liquefied raspberries turned into brittle...MORE>>
From Food & Wine , DEC 2006
Grant Achatz, the 32-year-old chef at Chicago's Alinea, has a hyper-experimental cooking style that's put him in the vanguard of American cuisine...MORE>>
From Travel + Leisure , JUL 2006
Achatz likes to atomize, spindle, and otherwise manipulate food, so expect flavor-packed combinations of powders, foams, and...MORE>>
From Travel + Leisure , JUL 2005
At press time, high-flying chef Grant Achatz, formerly of Trio in suburban Evanston, had just...MORE>>
Last updated August 2011
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