Bringing a little Napa Valley to Chicago: The French Laundry @ Next Restaurant
Even though it's been almost ten years, I remember it like it was yesterday. We were driving to Yountville, sipping champagne and exchanging stories about dishes we'd heard about and speculating on what the experience would be like. It was almost as if we were kids in school gossiping about what took place on the playground. Quite possibly the shortest 45-minute drive I've ever taken.
I’ll be honest: fish just isn’t my thing. I’m not the person at the table ordering the branzino or raving about the quality of the crudo. Seafood, for me, has always been that category I quietly sidestep. Of course, there’s always an exception, but rest assured, you won’t find me ordering salmon for dinner. So when everyone in my orbit started raving about Kase X Noko as if it were some sort of spiritual experience disguised as a tasting menu, my reaction was exactly what you would expect. I was skeptical. Very skeptical, in fact.