Not only did Alinea’s internationally respected chef Grant
Achatz win the 2008 James Beard Outstanding Chef Award,
he’s also got a hell of a story to tell: In 2007, Achatz was
diagnosed with tongue cancer, and doctors said he might
lose his sense of taste forever. Thankfully, an aggressive
treatment looks to have beaten the cancer, and Achatz’s
sense of taste was saved. So now he’s back in the kitchen,
creating some of the most wildly creative dishes in the
country. Alinea, the Latin word for that funny little symbol
(¶) indicating the need for a new paragraph—or a new train
of thought—is at the forefront of the molecular gastronomy
movement, which re-imagines familiar foods in stunningly
innovative ways. Behind the restaurant’s purposefully
hidden entrance and up a floating glass-and-metal staircase,
you’ll be treated to breathtaking creations such as the Black
Truffle Explosion, featuring truffle-topped ravioli filled with
truffle broth which “explodes” in your mouth. Another dish
is duck served with mango and yogurt on a pillow of juniper
air. The complex meals often require equally complicated
instructions from the patient waitstaff, but trust us—you
won’t complain.
Alinea Information:
• Contemporary American menu. Dinner. Closed Monday-
Tuesday.