1. Cocina de Autor - Grand Velas, Mexico
The moment you walk into the Grand Velas’ Pairing Restaurant, you recognize how modern and chic it is. Right away you'll see a huge glass piece of marble hanging from the ceiling; it's absolutely beautiful! This is the ideal backdrop for a great evening meal. The seating and place settings are at a crisp white table, and as this is a pairing restaurant, you can be seated next to your date. It really does add more intimacy to your meal.
This restaurant features an incredible pairing menu, which includes a whopping 13 courses! Each course is quite small, so you are able to fully enjoy everything on the menu. Another great element to the pairing menu is that each course is accompanied by a specific choice of wine or champagne. This dies cost an extra $55 per person, but it really is worth it because it elevates the overall quality of each dish. If you prefer, you can bypass this option and you will get the house wine for the entire meal.
Some of the highlights from the menu include the sorbet to help cleanse your palate and prepared you for the delicious food coming your way. The gin and tonic foam is an experience in engaging with food and the senses. Another great course is the green ball olive, which you eat with your hands rather than with utensils. A crowd favorite is the exquisite mushroom quesadilla along with the ahi and green sauce.
The restaurant also gives you a taste of other cultures as well. For instance, one of the courses includes snails, followed by squid and brown pudding. It's worth mentioning that the presentation of the food is amazing. After all, they say you eat with your eyes first! Your senses will be reinvigorated with the yummy rockfish for something savory and the fig berries and peanut butter for something sweet. There is also duck, and it will blow your mind! Both the food and the overall dining experience are unforgettable and highly recommended. Come here ready to try new things and savor new flavors. It really expands your palate and even if you don't particularly like something, you can still say that it was a new flavor that you had never experienced before!
One more thing that is luxurious about this restaurant is that the waiters serve your wine from huge glass vases. They cost as astounding $600 each! All in all, expect to spend about 2 hours enjoying your food and the spectacular ambiance. Have you ever gone to a mind-blowing restaurant? What was it and where? What did you eat? Mention it in the comments below!