Fwiw I did tastebuds and got a surprise free dinner at Noma for two included at any point during my membership with an easy booking around whenever I could get the time to get to Copenhagen. And the products were super fun and I got to meet a lot of friends through it.
I don’t think it’s the payment for the early booking so much as the early access is another perk. I pay for a membership club with a band (the national) every year where I get unreleased tunes, free vinyls, and access to shows - I don’t see this as any different for someone who wants to participate in this way.
Coincidentally, I am also a member of The National’s fan club. But that’s $50/year. And the exclusive annual vinyl normally sells on eBay for $50 or more. Plus you get presale access as you mentioned. You’re getting your money’s worth out of that fan club.
I am not saying I expect to always get out what I put in to a fan club or any other club/organization. But - let’s set your surprise free dinner aside - at first glance what it offers seems pretty paltry for the price. Perhaps I don’t fully understand what Taste Buds offers. When you say you “got to meet a lot of friends through it” - was that through the “in-person events” it mentions? Are the events all over the world, or just in Copenhagen?
I think if I bought all the items I received quarterly throughout the year it would be at least 600$ the year I was a member. Maybe more after shipping.
I don’t know where other events are other than Copenhagen now but I’d hope they host some in the states this year with the popup.
I get what you’re saying - it’s expensive - but you are getting physical goods and not just access.
Gotcha, in that case I recant my insinuation that this is a thinly veiled attempt to extort LA diners who want to go to the popup.
Coincidentally, I’m going to Copenhagen in December to see Radiohead - unfortunately I couldn’t get in to Noma as reservations were already live for the season. I did snag the last spot at Geranium, though - anyone been - is it worth it?
I do not like geranium. The food was extremely fussy and none of it tasted good to me. (Edit: sorry I was typing fast - it all tasted fine - none of it was amazing. It felt presentation forward over taste focused - thus not my cup of tea) My favorite restaurant in cph (more than Noma even) is Kadeau!
You have to know what you’re getting into. It is, unsurprisingly, very expensive and the wine pairing can get even more pricey. IIRC there was no poultry or red meat on my menu, not to say it’s a light meal, we were absolutely stuffed. Just if you’re expecting the kind of progression of heavier courses from a more traditional tasting menu, you will be disappointed. The food is presentation forward and lighter/more subtle in flavor profile as @mzonelli says. I would recommend the non-alcoholic pairing, in some ways I felt it paired better with many of the courses than the mid-range wine pairing I got. Disclosure: the person who develops the non-alcoholic pairings is a friend of my cousin.
I’m glad I experienced it, but I did not feel an immediate desire to return as I have with my most memorable meals.
Whatever interest I had in eating at Noma ended when I read about the unpaid iintern who worked there for three months doing nothing but making beetles out of fruit leather.
The idea that I need to pay $3,000 upfront for a meal that I can’t cancel with less than four weeks notice is bullshit. People get sick or have unscheduled business trips. So F Noma and all restaurants with ridiculous “no cancellation” or “pre-paid ticket” policies.
it’s an expensive experience indeed. beverage pairing is pretty much mandatory as i understand it (that’s how it was at the Kyoto collab, which I get because they’re not going to bring a cellar while traveling). if it’s all-inclusive (and “hospitality” means that’s the total service and/or gratuity such that there’s no tip line), it’s definitely on the high end but not completely out of proportion given pairings can really tilt the price. let’s say a menu is $700ish, a pairing is $400ish, then after tax and service/tip you’re right around $1500. i think Kyoto’s meal in 2023 was about $1k, maybe a touch more after a separate currency adjustment.
i won’t get in to value of whether it’s worth it or not. but i think that you’re really paying the market price for experiencing what they’re currently up to. i have no doubt they’ll sell this one out. Noma is a legend in contemporary fine dining and it’s kind of a “let’s see how they interpret ingredients from the land / culture of _____.”
for me and dining companions, the meal at the Copenhagen restaurant was more delicious and consistent than that of the Kyoto pop up. it’s not that surprising because moving a team to a new place, r&ding a new menu with new ingredients, and having the weight / expectations a place known for a historical cuisine means they’ll be at a disadvantage in a new space. i respect the effort. what they do is a big orchestration and gesamtkunswerk. i imagine that the logistics of bringing such a team and setting up to build a new menu are pretty crazy.
in my opinion, how they approached/differed Kyoto’s cultural food framework was maybe especially challenging. caveat is from others I talked to, the impression was that the food at their first Kyoto pop up was less successful than that of their other pop ups. perhaps they dialed it in later on the second go around. food of Los Angeles is a bit more of a wildcard, and maybe they’ll have a bit less of a framework burdening them.
i’m inclined to sit this one out but watch from the sidelines.
It seems to me that if one is picking between mortgage and Noma they should not be contemplating Noma.
Perhaps Noma vs, say Kaneyoshi+Ki+Maison Kanatha?