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Despite the long-running joke here about eating instant ramen to fund headphones, I've heard snippets of conversations on these boards that suggest that there are some hardcore foodies here. So, for those of you who do have a great appreciation for food, please describe the last great meal you had (or any meal from before that has remained vivid in your memories). Pictures are always a plus.
I'll start with my experience last night at Culina, located in the Los Angeles Four Seasons. They're a modern Italian restaurant particularly known for their Crudo, a kind of Italian sushi. I tried the kampachi, ahi, and sea urchin, and found them all to be fresh and well-balanced in flavor. The sea urchin in particular stood out for being extremely tender and having a subtle lemon agrumato that did not overpower the natural flavor of the sea urchin.
Next we tried the risotto and truffle croquettes, wagyu meatballs, spinach lasagna, and ravioli. The meatballs and lasagna were balanced and well executed, but the croquettes and ravioli really stood out. The ravioli was cooked with brown butter, but was remarkably light and delicate. The corn served with it added a complimentary sweet note, and the sage served as an excellent counterbalance.
Following these, we tried the lamb, brussels sprouts, and mushrooms. All had rich and textured flavors, although some of the vegetables had a heavy dose of acid. The meat was prepared perfectly; rare enough to bring out the full flavor, but extremely tender at the same time.
For dessert I tried the budino, a multi-layered pudding of hazelnut, coffee, caramel, and creme fraiche. The different elements gave the dish a good depth, and the salted caramel topped it all off superbly.
Overall, it was an excellent meal. Unfortunately, I have no pictures (I thought it would be poor form since I was being taken out by someone I did not know that well). Also, I don't remember what three of the wines that we had with the meal were, but I do remember that one of them was the 1999 Grands Echezeaux DRC Grand Cru. This was the first wine of that caliber that I've tasted, and it was really incredible. On first tasting it, it is slightly sweet, but later the tannins start to assume a stronger presence. It maintains wonderful balance the whole time, though, and has excellent depth. The finish is also quite long; I counted over 30 seconds.
I'll start with my experience last night at Culina, located in the Los Angeles Four Seasons. They're a modern Italian restaurant particularly known for their Crudo, a kind of Italian sushi. I tried the kampachi, ahi, and sea urchin, and found them all to be fresh and well-balanced in flavor. The sea urchin in particular stood out for being extremely tender and having a subtle lemon agrumato that did not overpower the natural flavor of the sea urchin.
Next we tried the risotto and truffle croquettes, wagyu meatballs, spinach lasagna, and ravioli. The meatballs and lasagna were balanced and well executed, but the croquettes and ravioli really stood out. The ravioli was cooked with brown butter, but was remarkably light and delicate. The corn served with it added a complimentary sweet note, and the sage served as an excellent counterbalance.
Following these, we tried the lamb, brussels sprouts, and mushrooms. All had rich and textured flavors, although some of the vegetables had a heavy dose of acid. The meat was prepared perfectly; rare enough to bring out the full flavor, but extremely tender at the same time.
For dessert I tried the budino, a multi-layered pudding of hazelnut, coffee, caramel, and creme fraiche. The different elements gave the dish a good depth, and the salted caramel topped it all off superbly.
Overall, it was an excellent meal. Unfortunately, I have no pictures (I thought it would be poor form since I was being taken out by someone I did not know that well). Also, I don't remember what three of the wines that we had with the meal were, but I do remember that one of them was the 1999 Grands Echezeaux DRC Grand Cru. This was the first wine of that caliber that I've tasted, and it was really incredible. On first tasting it, it is slightly sweet, but later the tannins start to assume a stronger presence. It maintains wonderful balance the whole time, though, and has excellent depth. The finish is also quite long; I counted over 30 seconds.