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One of our favorite activities when traveling
is to try new restaurants. Over the years, a
few very special meals still stand out as the
most memorable. Every experience was unique,
but each meal shared several qualities in
common: excellent food from start to
finish, fine service and an innovative
approach with dishes and flavors we hadn't
tasted before.
Here are our
top five most memorable fine dining
experiences:
Alan Wong Restaurant -
Honolulu, HI
Despite being oddly
located in an office building, Alan Wong's has
been an institution for Honolulu fine dining
for over 15 years. Alan Wong was one of the
pioneers of the 'Asian fusion' style of cuisine
so synonymous now with Hawaiian
cooking. Our favorite dishes include
the Chinatown duck nacho appetizer -
a long-standing staple of the menu (for good
reason) and the five spoonfuls of crème brulée.
Passionfruit was the standout flavor.
Cyrus - Healdsburg,
CA
One of the things
Cyrus is best known for is their Champagne and
caviar cart. I can't say we live fabulously
enough to have indulged (not surprisingly
partaking is pricey), but the
touch certainly sets a luxurious
mood. Cyrus' multi-course approach
rivals The French Laundry, with amuse-bouches
and tasty small plates
or sorbets compliments of the chef
between menu selections. On the night we dined
here, we had an amazing foie gras starter and
the sommelier came by to let us
taste an 80+-year vintage
Sauternes opened earlier that day for
another table. Memorable? You bet.
Le Bec Fin - Philadelphia,
PA
This venerable dining establishment
specializes in a traditional French
gourmet dining experience in a beautiful
setting in downtown Philadelphia. Dishes are
creative and inspired without going into any
experimental territory. Just make sure to save
room after your main course - the cheese cart
and dessert cart are truly a wonder to behold.
There is even an option to try a small sampling
of each dessert on the cart - or if you want to
be slightly less indulgent, you can limit your
tasting to *just* the chocolate desserts
:).
Le Champlain - Quebec City,
Quebec
Located inside
the Chateau Frontenac, tables in the glassed-in
room overlooking the St. Lawrence
River are especially romantic. Every dish
and every course is impressive throughout the
menu. The food is highly refined and
excellently executed but still draws from
traditional, rustic Québecois influences.
Highlights included the rabbit tournedos and
veal filet as well as the mignardises at
the end of the meal. Service is warm and
welcoming.
Radius -
Boston, MA
In an elegant
downtown setting in Boston's Financial
District, Radius features Modern
French cuisine in a vibrant
yet comfortable atmosphere. Every dish
we've enjoyed here has been seasoned
perfectly - with a deft attention to
creating balanced flavors. The tuna tartare
appetizer and lamb 'two ways' entrée are
particular standouts. A quick glance into the
kitchen as the servers are passing through
belies the relaxed mood they help create -
there is a lot of behind-the-scenes scurrying
at this busy spot.
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