Noma

Never been, but I have heard extremely mediocre things from friends who have. The answer to the second part is yes. I would suggest going to Michel Bras in Laguiole. It is a magical place.

It's like you just killed a unicorn. I'd daydreamed about eating at Noma. Now I know even my daydreams are tawdry and middling.

To be fair, I really don't know what I am talking about. I would go were I there. The impression they gave me was that it was a bit too abstract for their tastes. Of course, I hope they are wrong.

It's near my work. Nothing to write home about.

Matt, have you ever been to El Bulli?

is that on Santa Monica or Wilshire? I used to go there with my cousin in the 80s.

Oh, never made it to el bulli.

On Wilshire in Santa Monica. There's actually a better strip mall sushi place at Santa Monica/Bundy called Echigo that I go to sometimes.

I checked out the book on this place at the library tonight. Despite its beauty, the food looks so damn serious. Nothing really seemed appealing to me, aside from the mystery of how all of it was created. There's a hazy line between extraordinary fine dining and pretentious spectacle, and looking at photos of people gathering at Noma to eat eggs out of pine needle baskets reminds me of people sitting around in some indie bookstore listening to some shitty poet give a public reading.


How precious!

Was at Noma recently after Iceland.

Incredible technique, wonderful imagination, but once again I have to refer to Alinea. If you're going to do playful, inventive food, make it about the flavors.

Noma's very obnoxious... potted plants, tons of inedible shit, edible shells.. I think it might also be because my tastes are now turning away from long tasting menus. Lovely place by the water. I still think Alinea is the best, or probably Fat Duck is better. Was going to El Bulli recently but it fell through because of a personal issue keeping me at home. Have eaten Adria's food privately though in the home of the big chef in San Sebastien.

Noma is obviously a great restaurant but it isn't really for me. If I'd seen it in the early 2000s I'd think it's great but I'm becoming an old man and I'm starting to be less tolerant of adventure for the sake of adventure. Sometimes the most direct route on the map is the best, for the simplest and most efficiently chosen path gives one the most elegant result. Too many detours here... that and I spent 10 days in iceland being told just how awful danish people are.

Matt you don't even like Gagnaire, I really would not recommend a special trip unless you're already in Copenhagen (which isn't a bad place to go at all.) I think I'm starting to get your style sort of pegged and I don't see you liking it much.