What is a Michelin Star?
The Michelin Guide was published in France in 1900 to help travelers find good establishments on their journey. Over a century later, it has become the gold standard guide for gourmet dining. The Michelin Guide employs highly qualified inspectors to anonymously visit hotels and restaurants.
1 Star = A very good restaurant in its category
2 Stars = Excellent cooking and worth a detour
3 Stars = Exceptional cuisine and worth the journey
Restaurants with 3 Michelin Stars are rare- only about 80 restaurants in the world have this distinguished honor. There are only a handful of them in the United States and my new mission is to seek out them out, educate myself on the menu and enjoy utterly ecstatic culinary experiences!
My First 3 Michelin Star Experience
I read about Joel Robuchon in a magazine a few years ago and was fascinated with the idea of one day eating at his restaurant. Getting to live out my gastronomic fantasy was pure bliss!
The restaurant sent a limo to the hotel to pick up my dining companion and I. We were driven to the back of the MGM Grande, where we were escorted by a beautiful woman in a long black gown through a big wrought iron gate and through the Mansion's corridors. We were greeted by the host upon arrival, an attractive French man in a very sharp suit. The ambiance of the restaurant was incredible and the furnishings were so luxurious- velvet seats, a beautiful chandelier and even a foot stool under the table! We had about 8 servers throughout dinner - each person had a specific task (utensils, water, drinks, bread, entrees, etc). We had a new sets of utensils with every course. It was very overwhelming.
The restaurant sent a limo to the hotel to pick up my dining companion and I. We were driven to the back of the MGM Grande, where we were escorted by a beautiful woman in a long black gown through a big wrought iron gate and through the Mansion's corridors. We were greeted by the host upon arrival, an attractive French man in a very sharp suit. The ambiance of the restaurant was incredible and the furnishings were so luxurious- velvet seats, a beautiful chandelier and even a foot stool under the table! We had about 8 servers throughout dinner - each person had a specific task (utensils, water, drinks, bread, entrees, etc). We had a new sets of utensils with every course. It was very overwhelming.
After our cocktails arrived, a bread cart with at least 20 types of breads was rolled out for our selection. I had a "Pretty Woman" moment because I had never been anywhere so fancy (I had not even set foot in a limo until tonight). Apparently, your bread plate stays on your left hand side at all times. I kept moving my bread plate in front of me and the server kept moving it back to the left side when he visited the table to bring more bread. My friend finally just told me, "Hey, the bread stays on the side." I wonder why he didn't tell me sooner! The menu was in French with English description below. I didn't even attempt to read the French titles out of fear of further embarrassing myself. I told server I was not going to butcher his beautiful native language and that I would order in English. Everything was "Le" this and "Le" that...and I was being referred to as "mademoiselle." I was intimidated.
I had the six course meal (technically, I had 11 because my friend and I shared our courses with one another). Everything was executed so perfectly and artistically!
I had the six course meal (technically, I had 11 because my friend and I shared our courses with one another). Everything was executed so perfectly and artistically!
1. Amuse bouche
-Caviar on top of succulent crab
2. Appetizer
-King crab with asparagus blanc-manger (French panna cotta) and season vegetables
-Truffled langoustine ravioli with cabbage
3. Soup
-Creamy chestnut soup with foie gras and bacon foam
4. Main courses
-Beef ribeye, wasabi spinach and bell pepper medley
-Duck and seared foie gras with sweet and sour fruit
-Spiny poached lobster
-Pan seared sea bass
5. Cheeses (the names were so fancy I couldn't remember them!)
6. Desserts
-Blueberry compote and lemon brulee with violet milkshake
-Raspberry with raspberry brandy and coconut foam
Bonus round
-An array of mini desserts (I actually started laughing after the man named the all these desserts - how could I remember which was which to order?)
After the wonderful meal..."Le Bill!" This was hands down the most expensive meal I have ever had. Was it worth it? Absolutely! It was a mind opening experience and an incredible introduction to fine French cuisine. Joel Robuchon was hailed "Chef of the Century" by this native country...what more could you ask for?
The experience ended with us being escorted back out and driven back to the hotel by another limo. I felt like a celebrity! I also had the chorus of "Lifestyle of the Rich and the Famous" by Good Charlotte playing in my head on the limo ride back. It was very surreal. It was only 48 hours ago that I was eating frozen dinners!
The experience ended with us being escorted back out and driven back to the hotel by another limo. I felt like a celebrity! I also had the chorus of "Lifestyle of the Rich and the Famous" by Good Charlotte playing in my head on the limo ride back. It was very surreal. It was only 48 hours ago that I was eating frozen dinners!
I have included some of the pictures I secretly snapped from my iPhone (it is considered rude to take pictures in the restaurant). The ones of the bread and cheese carts were courtesy of Google Image :-)
From top to bottom we have the bread cart, caviar, duck and foie gras, crab with blanc-manger (and yes, those are gold leaves on the blanc-manger), ribeye, soup, sea bass, cheese, dessert and bonus dessert.
From top to bottom we have the bread cart, caviar, duck and foie gras, crab with blanc-manger (and yes, those are gold leaves on the blanc-manger), ribeye, soup, sea bass, cheese, dessert and bonus dessert.
Perhaps your friend didn't tell you about the bread plate sooner because he felt guilty about forgetting your birthday ;)
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