Next 2019 - Silk and Spice, Italy, and Jose Andres

Hey Gang -

Hadn't seen any chatter on Next's newest menus for this year but I am excited about them and am heading to Silk and Spice at the end of this month.

Anyone been yet?

Paraphrased some details from an old Eater article:

- Silk and Spice - Jan 19 - April 20 -Food from the old Silk Road spanning Asian, African, Middle East and Europe.

- Modern Italy - April 26 - August 11 - Pasta, red sauce, and other traditional dishes with contemporary technique.

- Jose Andres & Grant Collab - August 17 - Jan 12 2020 - Grant and Jose will create a menu to celebrate "Spanish tradition, hyper-modernism, and global cuisine" and raise money and awareness for Andres' charity - World central Kitchen.

Haven't been to a Next dinner in maybe 2-3 years so excited to see how they are doing!

J.R.

Hope you can remember to update us. Silk & Spice is the only one that really interests me but I fear I may be over extended wrt tasting menus this spring already.

I guess I shouldn't be surprised that Next lumps together four massive regions of the world in the "Silk Road" as if Africa, the Middle East and Central Asia do not each have their own unique, deep, and expansive cuisines and sub-cuisines. I'd be much more interested in exploring the tastes of, say, Bukhara or Samarkand, than this hodge podge but maybe I'm being too pessimistic. I also don't trust just anyone to moonlight with cooking something like plov, which to do properly, one must apprentice and learn from a master.

Not surprisingly, Italia was delicious. Just an onslaught of multi-regional, expertly-prepared dishes, built with quality ingredients and served by a friendly, competent staff. As for pairings, three of us shared two of the Reserve (middle level of three) and one of us went for the non-alcoholic track. The reserves were well chosen. The N/A's were distinctive and interesting, though I think I would have enjoyed them more on their own than as pairings (not necessarily relevant because I wasn't the one who ordered them). At the end of the meal, three of us opted for 1-ounce pours from the Amaro Cart, which was rolled tableside. It featured a variety of somewhat rare, vintage bottlings that were pretty cool.

I don't have any pictures because it was too dark to capture any meaningful images. But I liked the comfortable and cozy ambience, and after I spilled on my shirt early in the meal, it was barely visible, so that was another plus.

Here's the menu . . .


In addition to this, we were treated to a 'gift from the kitchen,' an enticing Truffled Gnudi with Brown Butter and Roasted Hazelnuts.

As much as I enjoyed the meal and the experience -- and I really did -- it would be hard to categorize it as a good value. All in, our meal for four came in just north of $1500.00. But it was a gift for one of the people in our group and she was really happy with it, so that was good enough for me. In that regard, the splurge was well worth it.

=R=

ronnie_suburban wrote:our meal for four came in just north of $1500.00.

Did your ass hurt?

Jazzfood wrote:

ronnie_suburban wrote:our meal for four came in just north of $1500.00.

Did your ass hurt?

No, the seats were really comfortable.

=R=

Butt of course

jpeac2 wrote:...but I am excited about them and am heading to Silk and Spice at the end of this month.
Haven't been to a Next dinner in maybe 2-3 years so excited to see how they are doing!

did you end up going to Silk & Spice? I was curious on how this menu played out, if it was worthwhile

Anyone been to José Andres? Thinking of that for tomorrow night. Any intel on reserve wine v. Ultra reserve would be appreciated, in particular. Thanks in advance.