Grand Food In the Minneapple

Number 1

Minneapolis, Minnesota: La Belle Vie

Last but not least I do have to highlight my hometown of Minneapolis, La Belle Vie; I believe will always be on the top of my list for fine dining experiences.  This restaurant’s chef, Tim McKee won the James Beard Award for “Best Chef Midwest.”  The food is inventive, flavorful, and artfully presented.  The décor of the restaurant is clean and sophisticated without being stuffy, and the lounge is filled with a classic elegance.  This restaurant has everything going for it, and the service matches the quality perfectly.  From the moment you open the door, or should I say the door is opened for you, to the time you walk out, the experience is flawless.  This restaurant may feel a bit snooty or pretentious for some but if you want to feel like a King or Queen at dinner, this is the place I would recommend.  Some may say that the attention to the most miniscule details are not needed, these are the details that make the experience truly unique and memorable.  The timing, food, and the service are all part of the attentive “extras” that make this place shine and truly special.

These four experiences are all distinctly different in food and atmosphere but what they all how in common is attentive caring service. What sets them apart from the rest is not just the quality of food but the way each of them made their guests feel special, comfortable and welcome. They assisted in allowing a meal not just to be consumed but to be lived and shared.

I am planning a trip to Chicago soon in search of new favorites to add to the list of best dining experiences. Stay in touch to see what else is new. Share your thoughts on the best dining experience you have ever had.

Food and Wine, it just Makes Sense

Number 2 of 4

Sonoma Valley, California: Ledson Winery

You may have heard of it if you are familiar with Sonoma Valley, but if not, seek it out if you are going for a visit. You can’t miss this winery, as it is a beautiful castle-like estate.  They offer fine wine and a great café for picnic lunches.  I don’t really know how my brother did it, but somehow he had arranged for us to have a private lunch there.  This was all a surprise to me as I thought we were going for wine and a picnic, but instead we were led up the grand staircase to a quaint table outside on the small veranda overlooking the vineyard. The wine was poured, and an 8-course lunch began.  To this day I don’t know what my brother had told them, but the chef personally delivered each dish with pride an explanation and perfect paring of wine. It was one of the longest and most delicious, fun, and beautiful meals I have ever experienced.

Share your favorite food and wine paring? I love red wine, friends and good brie with apples.

Fine Dinner at a Casino

Number 3 of 4

Milwaukee, Wisconsin: Dream Dance in the Potawatomi Bingo Casino

I know what you thinking, really, a casino, and in Wisconsin?  That makes your top four? Yes it does, and let me tell you why.  At the time I went to the restaurant, it was still within the casino, so the experience was very odd to walk through a smoky casino to get to a “high-end” restaurant.  Currently, the restaurant has it’s own entranceway.  However, that small environmental design flaw could even then, be over looked by the quality of food, service, ambiance and little extras.  I have eaten at Dream Dance several times, as I worked with them in the past. Their menu items were delicious and presented well with the help of high quality servers that understood the meals that they served.  However, the reason it makes my cut is because it is unique.  The meal always started with a visit from the Champagne Cart. The Champagne Cart was a lovely rolling cart of a variety of tastes of Champagne.  It was attended by a very kind, knowledgeable and approachable sommelier.  If you wanted to try something new, celebrate the evening, or just have a small taste of Champagne, to have it offered in that manner was well appreciated.  Out of all the items I have tasted from their menu, I have not come across anything that was sub-par my standards.  My favorite dish, the Pumpkin Soup, served tableside as they poured it over a stunning presentation of duck confit.  Shortly after the deserts, a visit from yet another rolling cart, the same wonderful sommelier, but this time it was the Port Cart.  The Port Cart was to finish your meal with a little something sweet and rich.  I appreciate this very much because I feel that both Champagne and Port are two drinks that are not commonly consumed, here they made them approachable, taking the time and consideration to find a taste that everyone enjoys.

Stay tuned the top 2 places are yet to come...

The 4 Most Magical Evenings

A recent dining experience out with my love happened to be the far worst service I have ever experienced in a restaurant.  I dine out quite a bit and have an understanding that not always things go as planned, mistakes are made, and after all, we are all human; but this evening took top prize in poor service. It sadly left us with no other option at the end of our meal, to pull the manager aside to have a kind, but very candid conversation. It concerns me that other people can have similar experiences as the one I had that evening.  Nonetheless, I am reminded of all the good times, and I am grateful for the, oh, so many amazing dining experience I have been blessed with. When I think about the most memorable meals I personally have many, but there are just a few experiences that rank above the rest.  Here are my top 4 most exquisite and best dining experiences.

Number 4

Florence, Italy:

To be honest, I do not remember the name of the restaurant, the street it was on, or the name of our charming waiter, but this will forever be a moment of restaurant joy for me.  I was traveling with a group of students from culinary school.  A few girls and I decided to venture out for late dinner one evening.  It was the very first time I had ever ate real gnocchi; the homemade potato dumplings, not the packaged dense glue balls that we can buy at our grocery store.  It was presented in a simple marinara sauce with fresh basil and Parmesan.  These little heavenly pillows of potato melted away like butter on my tongue.  I reminisce of these pure simple flavors now although it was several years ago.  Not only was the food superb, clean, fresh and simple, it was accompanied by the charm of our, not one, but three handsome dark haired Italian waiters.  As a table of 6 young American girls, we caught their attention.  After dessert, we all left with a stunning red rose, a humble gift from our very attentive servers.