Here's a neat interview about Alinea (with a little Next and The Aviary thrown in too). Nice insight to the creative process and perhaps some upcoming trends in cuisine:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0wzp4F1O_vA

And though it's not, strictly speaking, about Alinea, anyone who's at all familiar with The Alinea Project (Allen Hemberger's fanatical, fascinating project of cooking his way through the cookbook) owes it to themselves to take a look at this video "homage" to the project. Stunning stuff--as is the project itself.

More insight as to the upcoming Alinea reservations/reinvention and pop up in NYC, and, now apparently out west too!

http://www.chicagomag.com/dining-drinki ... 15+13%3A09

My wife and I are meeting 2 others for dinner at Alinea in early March and we are contemplating whether to do the wine pairing or just order bottles. I would love to hear peoples opinions as well actual information on the pairings and the wine list.

What is the price for the Wine Pairing(s)?

What is the wine list like? I assume there are amazing wines but are there nice selections sub $200? Sub $100?

If anyone has done both the pairings and ordering bottles I would especially love to hear your opinion on which you preferred.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Been just over a year since last visit, but at that time I recall wine pairing was $150 for standard and $250 for reserve. I have always opted for either a bottle (there was a fair amount in the $70 to $100 range last time I perused the wine list), but last two visits I described to the sommelier what type of wine I enjoy best, gave him a budget and had him select three wines by the glass to spread out throughout the meal. Worked perfectly first time; Richard Richardson (the sommelier) chose some wines that I absolutely loved. Last visit he was no longer there and I was not so crazy with the wines served on that occasion. Never done the pairings other than EMP @ Alinea, but those were EMP's wines. Am heading back in March and will give wines by the glass another shot.

FlavaDav wrote:My wife and I are meeting 2 others for dinner at Alinea in early March and we are contemplating whether to do the wine pairing or just order bottles. I would love to hear peoples opinions as well actual information on the pairings and the wine list.

What is the price for the Wine Pairing(s)?

What is the wine list like? I assume there are amazing wines but are there nice selections sub $200? Sub $100?

If anyone has done both the pairings and ordering bottles I would especially love to hear your opinion on which you preferred.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

I am not a huge wine drinker / know-er but I am slightly familiar on the topic. The pairing I believe, is $150 a head. I shared a pairing with my brother one time. I also shared a nice bottle of Sancerre on another visit, which was reasonably priced given the caliber of the restaurant, around $120 I believe. They also have a reserve pairing but I do not know the price.

Really depends on how adventurous you are. If your wine knowledge / taste is basic, just order whatever you like. If you are wanting to explore... do the pairing.

Since it's inception, they have been super focused on the flights... but have always kept a good selection of bottles from my understanding.

$150 for the standard, $250 for the reserve. Last 2 times I went they no longer would offer a split pairing, so I passed as I can't drink that much wine. Entry level bottles are in the $100 range, no bargains obviously, but no different than the up charge at similar higher class venues. The list is on the small side but well thought out and somewhat interesting.

Royal Lichter wrote:

FlavaDav wrote:My wife and I are meeting 2 others for dinner at Alinea in early March and we are contemplating whether to do the wine pairing or just order bottles. I would love to hear peoples opinions as well actual information on the pairings and the wine list.

What is the price for the Wine Pairing(s)?

What is the wine list like? I assume there are amazing wines but are there nice selections sub $200? Sub $100?

If anyone has done both the pairings and ordering bottles I would especially love to hear your opinion on which you preferred.

Thanks in advance for any advice!

Really depends on how adventurous you are. If your wine knowledge / taste is basic, just order whatever you like. If you are wanting to explore... do the pairing.

Since it's inception, they have been super focused on the flights... but have always kept a good selection of bottles from my understanding.

I have a somewhat different perspective on this first point. If you are knowledgeable about wine and want to be adventurous, for the same $600 you would pay for four pairings, you could have a very interesting night with bottles and half-bottles. When we were at EMP in NYC, the sommelier told us they recommend the pairings for two people, but for larger tables they discourage them because they can customize a much more advanced and personal experience by the bottle for the same price. (This discussion ensued as we were admiring Master Sommelier Dustin Wilson, featured in the movie SOMM, tonging port at an adjacent table.) But that was EMP, not Alinea.

My experience at Alinea (just once) and Next (every menu until Bistro) mirrors Royal's in that they are focused on the flights/pairings, and don't seem to encourage other options except for trophy wines. Since I am not super-knowledgeable about wines, and Alinea and other top-tier restaurants have boutique wines unfamiliar and otherwise unavailable to most of us, I tend to order the pairings. I enjoy not having to make any decisions and leaving myself totally in their hands to provide the full experience they envision. If your goal is to just have some wine and spend less money than the pairings, as previously mentioned it can now be done by the glass or bottle.

I have really enjoyed the wine pairings at Alinea. There's a clear emphasis on the "pairing" of the wines to the food and it enhances the dining experience.

One meal we were presented with sake to accompany an early salad course. I am not a sake fan, and as good as this sake was, the first sip did nothing to convert me. Yet when paired with the tomato, watermelon, and chili salad, the sake was outstanding. The taste of the sake was completely transformed when consumed with the salad, and the dish was one of my favorites of the entire meal. That meal taught me to appreciate the "pairing" feature of a good wine pairing.

While I haven't asked to split a pairing, on our last visit we asked for "smaller pours" and they obliged at a slightly reduced rate. It ended up being the perfect amount of wine for the evening.

Thanks to Gonzo70,Royal Lichter, BrokenSpatula, Smassey, ReddiWhipSmart for the fantastic and informative responses!

Arguments against wine pairing (in no particular order)
1. It appears that the sommelier at Alinea changed recently(?) and I see less rave reviews of the wine pairings than pre-2014 reviews
2. We tend to prefer old world wines and also less sweet wines and it seems the tastings are replete with both
3. 3 people drinking wine is a $450 budget for bottle wines

Arguments for Wine Pairing
1. Trust Alinea, as you are with the menu. They have spent hours working alongside the chefs to pair the dishes with the wines that go best
2. I don't have to think and stay ahead of the wine drinkers with the next bottle to order
3. I don't have to balance red/white course, they do it for me

We will be discussing with the couple we are meeting and I will post back on our decision as well as the outcome!

As an argument in favor of the wine pairings - we dined at Alinea in January and the Somm Andrew Algren is absolutely one of the best out there at pairings. Our table of 4 diners who all regularly dine at fine dining/tasting menus and have impeccable palates and taste in wine were thrilled with the Sparkling, Wines, Beers, Sake, and Dessert wines paired with our 24+ course meal.

We even ordered a bottle of fantastic Burgundy to match some of the special courses the Kitchen was preparing that evening for our table.

Andrew adds to the excellent pairings with deep knowledge of the Vintners, the Vintages, and the Varietals he offers.

I highly recommend going for the pairings. The $150 per person pairings are listed below in a picture taken the night of our meal.

Enjoy and please report back on your experience.

MichelinChaser, I agree with your sentiments toward Andrew. He is really great at what he does. Craig Sindelar, who helped Joe Catterson open Alinea, is also part of the team and is as well incredible at what he does. It is my understanding that they lead the wine team at Alinea.

If anyone is curious there is a great piece on Andrew by John Lenart in Chicagoist:

http://chicagoist.com/2014/11/06/top_10 ... eliers.php

Wow, Thanks MichelineChaser! That is fantastic information and I especially appreciate the photos of the wines you tasted.
Question - Is that Burgundy on the right middle of the photo the one you purchased or is that one that was part of the tasting?

I also love your name on here - my wife and I are also Michelin Star chasers!

FlavaDav wrote:Wow, Thanks MichelineChaser! That is fantastic information and I especially appreciate the photos of the wines you tasted.
Question - Is that Burgundy on the right middle of the photo the one you purchased or is that one that was part of the tasting?

I also love your name on here - my wife and I are also Michelin Star chasers!

Thanks FlavaDav --- yes the 2008 Burgundy by Bruno Clair Gevery-Chambertin "Clos St. Jacques" was a bottle we purchased for a special Wagyu course - it was drinking very well - only a few left on the list there.

Enjoy. When do you dine at Alinea?

MichelinChaser wrote:

FlavaDav wrote:Wow, Thanks MichelineChaser! That is fantastic information and I especially appreciate the photos of the wines you tasted.
Question - Is that Burgundy on the right middle of the photo the one you purchased or is that one that was part of the tasting?

I also love your name on here - my wife and I are also Michelin Star chasers!

Thanks FlavaDav --- yes the 2008 Burgundy by Bruno Clair Gevery-Chambertin "Clos St. Jacques" was a bottle we purchased for a special Wagyu course - it was drinking very well - only a few left on the list there.

Enjoy. When do you dine at Alinea?

We are really looking forward to it and while we still need to discuss with my brother-in-law and his wife, we are probably going with the wine tasting.

Our tickets are for Friday March 6 and the time can't pass fast enough!

To everyone on this board - I have to say this site is fantastic and as a soon to be visitor to Chicago, it has been an invaluable resource!

I bet that 2006 Keller is fantastic

epicFades wrote:I bet that 2006 Keller is fantastic

Why, yes it was. Always love Keller.

I have a friend selling two tickets to Alinea this Friday, March 6th, 8:45pm - total cost $702.

Send me a private message if you're interested and I'll send you his Facebook/email/telephone information.

Royal

If anyone is curious what the current menu is like at Alinea, here's some beautiful photographs. Just a heads up, though: spoiler alert!!

https://www.flickr.com/photos/jmoranmoy ... 309108412/

Alinea at 10: An interview with Grant Achatz & Nick Kokonas

On the eve of their restaurant's 10th anniversary, we sat down with Achatz and Kokonas to talk about Alinea's past and future.

Plus lots more about their other projects.

MichelinChaser wrote:

epicFades wrote:I bet that 2006 Keller is fantastic

Why, yes it was. Always love Keller.

Agreed - never had a bad one. Keller really helped me "get" Riesling.

Was back at Alinea last month after a nearly-2-year absence and had a fantastic meal. I was happy that a friend asked us to join in for her 75th birthday celebration (because I don't usually think of dining at Alinea unless there's an occasion). I really hope to post some pictures from the meal but in the meantime, here's a scan of the menu from our meal . . .


Alinea Menu w/Reserve Pairings - 15.0423

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Was back at Alinea last month after a nearly-2-year absence and had a fantastic meal. I was happy that a friend asked us to join in for her 75th birthday celebration (because I don't usually think of dining at Alinea unless there's an occasion). I really hope to post some pictures from the meal but in the meantime, here's a scan of the menu from our meal . . .


Alinea Menu w/Reserve Pairings - 15.0423

=R=

I'm glad to see that they have kept the eggplant dish around. To date, it is definitely one of the best vegetarian things I have ever had. Do not know how they get eggplant to taste like that, not to mention the cocoa and the broth itself. All with nothing but vegetables.

In an interview with Fine Dining Lovers, Achatz reveals that Alinea — which recently won The World's 50 Best People's Poll — will temporarily shutter in Chicago in the beginning of 2016 to undergo a "major redesign and conceptualization": "We're going to rip it right apart, aesthetically it's going to be very different." While the restaurant is shut, Achatz and his business partner, restaurateur Nick Kokonas will take the restaurant on the road.

http://www.eater.com/2015/5/29/8685773/ ... ami-madrid

Was fortunate enough to be back at Alinea last week for a work dinner. We had a trade show in town and wanted to reciprocate for a meal that our guests had bought for us (at another trade show) in Paris last fall. Needless to say, the meal and the overall experience completely impressed. Here's the menu (no pics this time due to it being a work event) . . .


Alinea Menu - 15.0712

It was great that nearly the entire menu (with the exception of a few 'greatest hits') had turned over since our previous visit in April. And there is nothing like seeing the reactions of people who've never been to Alinea before when they are there experiecing it for the very first time. 4 in our group of 6 had never been before. From a high-end culinary perspective, there's no better place to show off Chicago to visitors than Alinea. The food and service are completely world class and taking guests there made us, as their hosts, look really, really good.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:Was fortunate enough to be back at Alinea last week for a work dinner. We had a trade show in town and wanted to reciprocate for a meal that our guests had bought for us (at another trade show) in Paris last fall. Needless to say, the meal and the overall experience completely impressed. Here's the menu (no pics this time due to it being a work event) . . .


Alinea Menu - 15.0712

It was great that nearly the entire menu (with the exception of a few 'greatest hits') had turned over since our previous visit in April. And there is nothing like seeing the reactions of people who've never been to Alinea before when they are there experiecing it for the very first time. 4 in our group of 6 had never been before. From a high-end culinary perspective, there's no better place to show off Chicago to visitors than Alinea. The food and service are completely world class and taking guests there made us, as their hosts, look really, really good.

=R=

Ronnie, I had this menu too, on the exact same day in fact. I wish I'd have known you were there; would loved to have said hello before or after dinner. I was there last in April too, and everything was different. It's amazing to think that it's the same restaurant. As for service, it's great to see familiar faces who encourage you to have fun and roll up your sleeves for an evening.

I remain steadfast in my opinion that Alinea is not a restaurant, but it is participatory culinary theatre at it's best.

I was pretty down on them after a meal in December of 2013. The experience seemed cut short. I don't mind sitting 4 hours at alinea, I think we were done in 2. At a 7pm seating we had to wonder if they were trying to flip our table for a later cover. Certain dishes I never found to be highlights were still on the menu. A brief, for alinea, 12-13 course menu. We ended up taking 2014 off.

Seeing as how they'll be reconcepting, we took a chance on a last minute table a few weeks ago. It was the best meal I've had at alinea and one of the best I've had, period. So good in fact we booked another table in September and plan on getting in sometime in November or December before they close.

Nothing in the menu was a miss minus the balloon which I feel is all show yet something I'm totally fine with, especially seeing other diners that experience it for the first time. The tororo kombu was the best single bite of food I've had in years. I didn't think they'd top that trio of bites until the rabbit dish came out. Morels taken to a level I've never had before. Even the final dessert was fantastic. The previous incarnation was a very heavy chocolate they likened to hot chocolate. It just didn't taste good at all. This version was bright, lightly tart while still being rich and satisfying. I could keep going on.

I was left wanting more of pretty much everything. Service was easy, joking smartasses that come off on the playful side of things. This was about 3 weeks ago and the menu posted above has quite a few different dishes and additions. If you're on the fence, I'd grab a seat one last time before, as they put it, reconcept and basically give back the Michelin stars and attempt to earn them again under the new model.

Oh, and one quick question. Looking at that menu, did they have chicken in the "fire"?

brokenspatula wrote:
Oh, and one quick question. Looking at that menu, did they have chicken in the "fire"?

That's correct; this is the new table side fire course. There have been several iterations... beef, pork, and now chicken. It's absolutely delicious!

brokenspatula wrote:I was pretty down on them after a meal in December of 2013. The experience seemed cut short. I don't mind sitting 4 hours at alinea, I think we were done in 2. At a 7pm seating we had to wonder if they were trying to flip our table for a later cover. Certain dishes I never found to be highlights were still on the menu. A brief, for alinea, 12-13 course menu. We ended up taking 2014 off.

Seeing as how they'll be reconcepting, we took a chance on a last minute table a few weeks ago. It was the best meal I've had at alinea and one of the best I've had, period. So good in fact we booked another table in September and plan on getting in sometime in November or December before they close.

Nothing in the menu was a miss minus the balloon which I feel is all show yet something I'm totally fine with, especially seeing other diners that experience it for the first time. The tororo kombu was the best single bite of food I've had in years. I didn't think they'd top that trio of bites until the rabbit dish came out. Morels taken to a level I've never had before. Even the final dessert was fantastic. The previous incarnation was a very heavy chocolate they likened to hot chocolate. It just didn't taste good at all. This version was bright, lightly tart while still being rich and satisfying. I could keep going on.

Your past two experiences completely resemble mine - so much so I thought I was reading something I had written myself! When I dined at Alinea in November of 2013 I also had a barely over two hour meal, fewer courses than my previous meals and few new courses from late 2012 (and lackluster service to boot). I also took 2014 off but returned to Alinea a few months ago (with Royal actually). Much, much, much better experience. Lengthy menu, attentive service, mostly new dishes (and many of them interesting, inspired and delicious). Completely agree with you all the way through your comments regarding dessert; had loved the first few version of the interactive eat-off-the-table dessert but in 2013 could not stand the overly rich hot chocolate like dessert; loved the 2015 iteration though - even though we were pretty full at the point we managed to nearly finish every morsel. I am tempted to return one more time before they re-concept and am excited that they have already rolled out some new dishes in recent months (I did not have the rabbit or chicken dish during my most recent visit).

brokenspatula wrote:I was pretty down on them after a meal in December of 2013. The experience seemed cut short. I don't mind sitting 4 hours at alinea, I think we were done in 2.

I ate there that same month, and we had a normally-paced dinner that took four hours. And it was the best dinner of my entire life.

I gotta get back there...