Friday night I had the honor of eating at Next Restaurant for the Childhood Menu. It was such a fantastic experience- I literally could not stop smiling the entire evening!
I am not a food blogger, but I had to take pictures of all the 9 courses.
When we sat down at the table, we were presented with a "present". When I unwrapped the paper, and opened the box, this is what was inside:
Our waiter advised us to take a bite and talk about what we tasted. Peanut Butter and Jelly Sandwich!
The next course was called "Chicken Soup". This was very interesting because the noodle was actually made of chicken!
And then there was "Fish & Chips", this was my least favorite course, (not a huge fan of walleye) but I loved the innovation. The plate was literally meant to look like it was drawn by a child, with all the illustrations being different flavors...
Next up: Mac & Cheese. The waiter lifted the vessel below and the macaroni fell out on a "merry-go-round of garnishes"
This following dish was completely amazing. "Autumn Scene" was inspired by a walk through a michigan forest. The vegetarian dish, comprised of mushrooms, carrots, broccoli and cheese polenta arrived on a piece of plexi-glass over a smoking log. YES, I said LOG.
Here is a shot of my dinner date, Sam, with all 17 of our wine glasses. We decided to go with the wine pairing, which was a good decision, because the pairings actually enhanced the flavors of each dish. Also a good decision, because I got realllllly tipsy.
The next course, I must have blacked out in delight, as I realized today that I forgot to photograph it. It was a "hamburger" that was, in fact, a short rib with hamburger accompaniments around the plate. It was my favorite dish!
Now on to the most hilarious course: LUNCH BOX! Roger Rabbit arrived at my seat.
When I opened it, not only was there a note from "mom", but there was 6 snacks!
(A Nutella snack pack, wagyu beef jerky, apple-brandy fruit roll up, truffled oreo, homemade funyun chips, and a thermos filled with a spiked mixed berry drink that took me back to freshman year of college!)
This was so well thought out, that the kitchen even included a plastic spoon to eat my snack pack with!
Recognize the utensil below? This was supposed to take you back to your childhood memories of licking the batter off your mom's mixer! The batter was Foie Gras and the donuts were cinnamon flavored.
The last course was called "Sweet Potato Pie" and the waiters actually brought a campfire to our table. The "logs" were actually blackened sweet potatoes. We roasted the marshmallows!
At the end of the meal the waiter presents you with the menu below.
When we finished our meal, we were invited to view the kitchen which was like nothing I had ever viewed. There were over 20 chefs, each in charge of plating the 9 courses. They have the entire experience down to a science.
When we got home, I could not help but relating the dinner to theater. It was so much more than a dinner! Each course actually elicited emotions and memories, and made the experience the most whimsical I have ever had.
If you are able to score a pair of tickets to Next Childhood, DO NOT PASS IT UP!!!
xx
Lindsay
