Please The Palate Pick of the Week: Dining at Two-Star Michelin Restaurant Belcanto in Lisbon

Written by Allison Levine on December 8, 2018

Travel Lifestyle Food Wine

With only two days in Lisbon, my friend and I were looking to pack in as much as we could. She emailed me asking if one of our activities might be to have dinner at Belcanto, a two-star Michelin restaurant. The 2019 Michelin Stars had just been announced and Portugal has twenty-six Michelin starred restaurants, twenty which have one star and six which have two stars. Belcanto had yet again received two stars. I knew it might be a bit of a splurge but I could not say no.

Of course, the challenge would be getting a reservation. We were only two weeks away from going on our trip and the website only had an email address on it. I reached out to a friend of mine in Lisbon who works for the elegant Palacio Estoril Hotel and thought he might be able to find their phone number and call from the same time zone. The next day, I had an email from him telling me that the restaurant was completely booked BUT he was able to get us a seat at the Chef’s Table. We would experience a tasting menu with wine pairing. We immediately booked the reservation.

Belcanto is owned by celebrity chef José Avillez. Avillez has worked with gastronomic superstars Ferran Adria, Eric Frechon and Alain Ducasse, as well as received his first Michelin star at Taveres, Lisbon’s oldest and grandest restaurant. Avillez took over Belcanto in 2012. An award-winning restaurant since 1958, Belcanto had been a late night gathering place for artists and opera patrons who frequented the nearby St. Charles theater, as well as a “gentleman’s club” where dancing girls performed on a small stage. Avillez renovated it into a subtle and sophisticated intimate restaurant with only 36 seats. Read More +

A Magical Meal to Celebrate the 200th Anniversary of Champagne Billecart-Salmon

Written by Allison Levine on May 10, 2018

Lifestyle Food Wine

This story originally appeared in ATOD Magazine.

A Culinary Evening of Sheer Magic

Celebrate the 200^th Anniversary of Champagne Billecart-Salmon

From the moment I pulled up to the doors of the Waldorf Astoria Beverly Hills, I knew that a night of elegance and celebration was ahead. Guests had already started to gather and walk towards the opulent and spacious floor-level of Jean-Georges and one by one we were escorted to our tables. As we took our seats, we were about to embark on a magical meal in celebration of Champagne Billecart-Salmon’s 200^th Anniversary. Champagne Billecart-Salmon is the oldest continuously family-owned and operated house in Champagne, France. Founded in 1818 by Nicolas François Billecart and his wife Elisabeth Salmon, Billecart-Salmon is currently managed by the family’s seventh generation, brothers François and Antoine Roland-Billecart.

To honor its 200th anniversary, Billecart-Salmon has embarked on a six-city gastronomic tour around the world. Hosting intimate luxurious dinners in Singapore, Tokyo, New York, Los Angeles and London, the celebration will conclude with an elegant garden party in June at the Billecart-Salmon family’s estate in Mareuil-sur-Ay.

Billecart-Salmon partnered with three-star Michelin Chef Alain Passard of l’Arpege restaurant in Paris for the world tour. In addition, two-star Michelin Chef Jean-Georges Vongerichten joined Passard for the New York and Los Angeles dinners, hosting them at his restaurants.

I had the honor to be seated next to François Roland-Billecart, the current president of Billecart-Salmon, as well as his wife and daughter.

M. Roland-Billecart, with his heavy French accent, welcomed everyone to the dinner, and expressed how at Billecart-Salmon, ‘we aim to produce better and better [wine] every year.’

Billecart-Salmon is known for finesse and elegance. The wines are not heavy or powerful. They are balanced wines that will give pleasure to all who drink them. Perhaps that it why Billecart-Salmon is somewhat of a cult darling among sommeliers.

Once in a Lifetime Experience: Dining with the Michelin Stars

Written by Allison Levine on September 13, 2014

Lifestyle Food

This post originally appeared on FoodableTV.com

Seeking out the best restaurants in the world is a passion of all foodies. We read reviews, listen to critics and friends, and establish our own opinions and standards. And when the Michelin Guide, the prevalent rating system in the world that awards 0 to 3 stars of excellence each year, comes out and we make sure that restaurants that have received the coveted stars are on our lists.

With just over 100 Three Star Michelin restaurants around the world, and maybe double that number of Two Star Michelin restaurants, these are some of the greatest chefs in the world and restaurants worth visiting. But, it can also be a costly venture for foodies. In fact, for approximately $275,000 per couple, a UK company offers a travel package that takes guests on a six month journey around the world to eat at each of the 107 Three Star Michelin restaurants.

Eating at just one of these restaurants can be a formidable experience both for the palate, as well as the wallet. And even just meeting the chefs can be an inimitable experience, that only the truly zealous can geek out about. But, to get more than one of these chefs in a room at one time to cook together, there just aren’t words for this. However, it was done at Los Angeles Food and Wine Festival in August. Four Michelin Star chefs were brought together to create a foodie’s dream dinner. The dinner took place in Vibiana, originally Los Angeles’ first Archdiocese Catholic cathedral. With the high ceilings and the light streaming in from the windows as the sun set, it really was a once-in-a-lifetime experience, Dining With The Michelin Stars.

The Chefs

Chef Pierre Gagnaire

Born in Apinac, France, Pierre Gagnaire is one of France’s biggest culinary names. Gagnaire received Three Michelin stars in 1992 at his restaurant in Saint Etienne and Three stars in 1996 at his restaurant in Paris. In 2009, Gagnaire opened his first and only US restaurant, Twist, at the Mandarin Oriental Las Vegas.

Chef David Kinch

David Kinch is the chef and owner of Manresa in Los Gatos, California. He has been awarded Two Michelin stars for six consecutive years and is only one of seven Two Michelin star chefs in San Francisco. Sadly, in July, a fire destroyed Manresa and while the restaurant is being rebuilt and will reopen, this was a rare opportunity to experience David Kinch’s food.

Chef Dominique Crenn

Dominique Crenn received her Two Michelin stars this year for Atelier Crenn in San Francisco. This not only makes Crenn one of the seven Two Michelin star chefs in San Francisco, but also makes Atelier Crenn the first female-helmed restaurant in the United States to earn Two Michelin stars.

Chef Michael Cimarusti

Michael Cimarusti is the chef and owner of Providence in Los Angeles. Sadly, Michelin has not produced a guide in Los Angeles since 2009 however, in 2009 Providence was one of four Los Angeles restaurants in total to receive Two Michelin stars.

The Menu

The chefs worked in harmony as they created an exquisite and exemplary menu. From the passed hors d’oeuvres to the seated five course menu, there was synergy, delicacy and harmony of flavors.

Hors D’Oeuvres

Beggar’s Purses – David Kinch
Middleneck Clam with Chorizo, Coriander, Red Pepper – Michael Cimarusti
Uni/Licorice/Caviar – Dominque Crenn
Oyster/Coconut/Wheatgrass – Dominque Crenn

Menu

Tajima Wagyu Beef Tenderloin with Eggplant Cannelloni, Ratatouille Piquillos Puree – Pierre Gagnaire
Bouillon Zezette with Cod Cake, Parmesan – Pierre Gagnaire
Roasted Haunch of Wild Striped Bass with Oven-Roasted Tomato, Rosemary, Black Olive, Roasted Eggplant – Michael Cimarusti
Beef with Pole Beans & Puffed Rice, Onion Broth – David Kinch
Corn/Brioche/Chocolate – Dominque Crenn