Notes

Movie - 'The Menu'

How I imagine Chef Julian's menu for the fictional restaurant Hawthorne would look like in real-life....

First Bite

Movie: Lemon Caviar Served On Raw Oyster With Mignonette

Real Life: Many possiblities here. Chef Thomas Keller's signature dish Oysters and Pearls at The French Laundry, Yountville. Perhaps Oysters at Chef Dominique Crenn's Bar Crenn, San Francisco

The French Laundry, Yountville (March 2013). Oysters and Pearls

Bar Crenn, San Francisco (July 2019). Oysters with Muscadet gelee and smoked oyster cream

Amuse Bouche

Movie: Cucumber melon, milk snow and charred lace

Real Life: Kona Kampachi Tartare from Protégé, Palo Alto. Or salad from The French Laundry, Yountville

Kona Kampachi Tartare (cucumber, avocado, Meyer Lemon Kosho)

The French Laundry, Yountville (March 2013). Salad of Heirloom Beets (English Cucumber, Meyer Lemon, Wild Calendula Blossoms and Red Ribbon Sorrel)

First Course

Movie: Frozen ocean water rock with edible flowers and scallop

Real Life: Mermaid's Feast from Merchant Roots, San Francisco

Merchant Roots, San Francisco (July 2022). A Feast for Mermaids Menu - Oyster Aioli, Powdered Seaweed, Line-caught Tuna, Salmon, Scallops, Wild Coastal Garlic

Second Course - “Accompaniments”

Movie: Breadless bread plate

Real Life: This is a tough one. Perhaps you would like some freshly dug potato or fermented wild onion from The Restaurant at Meadowood, St Helena while I look for a better match?

The Restaurant at Meadowood, St Helena (April 2018). Freshly dug potato, fermented vichyssoise first peas wild onion

Third Course - “Al Pastor”

Movie: Chicken thigh, laser engraved tortillas

Real Life: Taco from Californios, San Francisco combined with Saté Chicken from Tim Raue, Berlin would possibly make a good match

Tim Raue, Berlin (Sep 2018). Saté chicken with mango and peanut

Californios, San Francisco (Oct 2018). piachon (sour tortilla, chamoy, house mole)

Fourth Course - The Mess

Movie: Vegetables, bone marrow, potatoes confit

Real Life: Roasted Bone Marrow + Cured Pig's Head from Scratch | Bar & Kitchen, Encino.

Scratch | Bar & Kitchen, Encino (Jan 2014). Cured Pig's Head, Roasted Bone Marrow n Sourdough

Palate Cleanser

Movie: Wild Bergamot And Red Clover Tea

Real Life: Flower tea from Dim Sum Restaurant would do. Or perhaps you would fancy some fragrant mint tea from Odette, Singapore?

Jumbo Seafood, Singapore (March 2022). After tea service

Odette, Singapore (March 2022). Mint Tea

Fifth Course - “Man’s Folly”

Movie: Dungeness Crab, fermented yogurt whey

Real Life: Lobster from Aska, Brooklyn

Aska, Brooklyn (Dec 2022). Lobster from Maine with Siberian sturgeon caviar, wild carrot flower and salted chanterelle

The Reward - "Passard Egg”

Movie: Egg, creme fraiche, maple

Real Life: Foie Gras Egg Custard from Raku, Las Vegas

Raku, Las Vegas (Dec 2011). Kaiseki Menu - Foie Gras Egg Custard

Sixth Course - “Tyler’s Bullshit”

Movie: Lamb, butter, leeks, shallots

Real Life: If done right, it would be something like Anderson Ranch Lamb from Sorrel, San Francisco. Served with lamb heart tartare on the side.

Sorrel, San Francisco (May 2022). Anderson Ranch Lamb, Lamb Heart Tartare

Bonus - Traditional Cheeseburger

Movie: A classic cheeseburger, regular cut fries

Real Life: Not quite a cheeseburger but another American classic that brought back childhood memories. McRibs from Bonnie's, Brooklyn

Bonnie's, Brooklyn (Dec 2022). Cha Siu McRibs (cha siu glaze, steamed ribs, chinese hot mustard, b&b pickles + milk bun)

Dessert Course

Movie: S’mores with a twist

Real Life: Dessert from Alinea, Chicago combined with Baked Alaska from Eleven Madison Park, New York?