HIs book “Bread is Gold” is one of my favorite reads of the year. It’s not just the story of how he opened up a special soup kitchen - it’s the recipes and the stories that were created during that time. Inspiring and amazing.
I wish that we (as a culture, generally, not necessarily this site specifically) could get away from the obsession with Listology. Lists such as these are inherently flawed, and they’re often both overinclusive and underinclusive (as is the case here), present a narrow viewpoint, etc. However, a lot of the conversation against lists that you see in Comments sections is equally tiresome. Of course, these lists are hugely important for business, but I consider them to have as much substance as say new car rankings by a car magazine.
Been to Francescana, Can Roca and Gaggan. All incredible restaurants and experiences, but my humble opinion (agreed to by my dining companion) is that Can Roca is a noticeable head above the others in all food-related categories. Service might be technically more impeccable at Francescana, but Francescana feels stuffier and less welcoming than Celler, which has outstanding service without feeling stuffy. I get the feeling that Can Roca is the truest spiritual successor to El Bulli.
An institutional bias against the kind of clean, market-based cooking of California chefs such as Suzanne Goin, Alice Waters and Nancy Silverton is regrettable but consistent.
Nah. We’re just not a white linen / fine utensil town. I don’t take it as a slight to L.A. - Actually it’s rather more a compliment.
Nevertheless, it would be drole to see a Gulfstream full of pink-shirted hedgies from London touching down at Santa Monica Airport, all intent on cutting in front of me in the queue for Ricky’s Fish Tacos.
And I see it as neither a compliment nor a slight. As that article pointed out very clearly there’s a different mindset. IMO it’s neither good nor bad, just different.