Today, our goal is to get to the bottom of the Molecular gastronomy trend; to decipher fact from fiction, rumor from truth and above all else– to give you, the reader, a guess as to whether this might be some new type of culinary pursuit you may wish to investigate, sample, share and enjoy.
Let’s get to it.
What is Molecular Gastronomy?
In a flambéed nutshell, Molecular gastronomy is a type of cooking that uses scientific techniques and equipment to manipulate the physical and chemical properties of food, with the goal of creating new and interesting flavors, textures, and presentations. This can include things like using liquid nitrogen to freeze food quickly, creating foams and gels, and using sous vide cooking to achieve precise temperature control. It’s often associated with high-end, experimental cuisine.
To dig a little deeper, here are some of the specific trends that are unfolding in the molecular gastro space:
- Spherification: A technique where a liquid mixture is made into small spheres that mimic the texture of caviar or tapioca pearls.
- Foam: Creating foam or mousse-like textures by whipping ingredients and using stabilizers like lecithin.
- Sous vide cooking: A method of cooking food in vacuum-sealed bags at low and precise temperatures for extended periods of time.
- Smoking: Incorporating smoky flavors using smoke guns, liquid smoke or smoke infusion
- Low-Temperature Cooking: Using precise temperature control to cook food at low temperatures, resulting in tender and flavorful meats and vegetables.
These all do sound rather new and exciting, or at the very least, something old brought back in a new way.
If one were interested in finding such an experience, where would one want to go?
Popular Molecular Gastronomy Restaurants & Chefs, worldwide
Here are some of the most renowned French Molecular Gastronomy experiences that you will find, by country. Bon appetit!
Denmark
Perhaps the Danes weren’t who one might first think of when conjuring destinations to add to a “Must visit gastro spots” list, but it’s on there with this entry.
Noma
A two-Michelin-starred restaurant located in Copenhagen, Denmark, run by chef René Redzepi. The restaurant is known for its Nordic cuisine, which emphasizes locally-sourced and foraged ingredients.
Unfortunately for fans, Noma is slated to close by 2024 and re-open as a test kitchen. All the best to the team at Noma for their future success!
England
A visit to the UK would not be complete without some culinary exploration. If Molecular Gastronomy is your fare of choice, then here are some stops near to England that will satisfy any gastro lover.
The Fat Duck
This Michelin Three Star restaurant in Bray, Berkshire, England is run by chef Heston Blumenthal.
Known for its unique and experimental dishes, this is one stop that any gastro fan must attempt to make.
The Ledbury
Brett Graham is the capable chef at the helm of this Michelin two-star establishment.
Known for its contemporary French-inspired cuisine, with a focus on high-quality, seasonal ingredients, The Ledbury is a fine gastronomical stop in the Notting Hill area.
France
Of course, any molecular gastronomy list would be lacking were it not adorned with the name of the country that started it all, that country being France.
Molecular Gastronomy got its start in the French motherland and some of its most delectable samplings can still be enjoyed there. Here are but a few choice ones.
Le Jules Verne
All the best modern food, located in an artifact of Antiquity. You have to think about how great it would be to eat Michelin-star level food on the second floor of the Eiffel Tower. For some of us, the question is too much to bear, thus leaving us no other choice but to investigate it first-hand.
Chef Alain Ducasse runs Le Jules Verne and has created a name for his dishes to be fine examples of contemporary French cuisine with a focus on seasonal, high-quality ingredients.
Septime
A Michelin-starred restaurant located in Paris, run by chef Bertrand Grébaut.
Surrounded by all that Paris has to offer along with quaint Inns, where local homemade wines are served and sold, you’ll definitely enjoy Septime and its surrounding haunts.
L’Astrance
Three Michelin stars. This Parisian restaurant is run by chef Pascal Barbot.
Expect contemporary French cuisine redefined.
Barbot has stated his aim to create a journey for those who dine, and to welcome all with extensive hospitality.
Mirazur
A three-Michelin-starred restaurant located in Menton, France, run by chef Mauro Colagreco. The restaurant is known for its Mediterranean cuisine with a focus on fresh, locally-sourced ingredients.
L’Arpege
A three-Michelin-starred restaurant located in Paris, run by chef Alain Passard, known for his avant-garde approach to French cuisine, with a focus on vegetables and sourcing the best ingredients.
David Toutain
A Michelin-starred restaurant located in Paris, run by chef David Toutain, known for his contemporary French cuisine with a focus on precision and technique, with a touch of molecular gastronomy.
Certainly not an exhaustive list, this one will get you started down the path to some truly incredible flavor profiles.
Let us know in the comments, or at info@finefrenchdining.com how these establishments rated in your own personal opinions. If you do, we might even publish it on our site, of course with your permission.
Italy
Everybody whose ever held a whisk or sampled a pâté can tell you, the Italians and the French share quite a bit of culinary background. So, to you all, it should come as absolutely no surprise what-so-ever that you’ll find some good French gastro dining in the country of Italy.
Osteria Francescana
Three Michelin stars make this restaurant in Modena, Italy, run by chef Massimo Bottura a very notable gastro destination. It is known for its creative and playful approach to traditional Italian cuisine.
Spain
Certainly a notable stop on a worldwide French culinary tour is the country of Spain. Here are some notable gastronomy destinations in the Spanish homeland.
El Bulli
Located in Catalonia, Spain, El Bulli was considered one of the world’s most innovative and influential restaurants, known for its cutting-edge molecular gastronomy techniques. Chef Ferran Adrià was the head chef and main creator of the menu.
Mugaritz
A two-Michelin-starred restaurant located in San Sebastián, Spain, run by chef Andoni Luis Aduriz, who is known for his avant-garde and unconventional approach to cooking.
Arzak
A three-Michelin-starred restaurant located in San Sebastián, Spain, run by Juan Mari Arzak and his daughter Elena Arzak, who are known for their avant-garde and unconventional approach to traditional Basque cuisine.
USA
America has every kind of food, and most of it you’ll have to visit the big cities to enjoy. That is no exception when it comes to molecular gastronomy dining options in the USA. Most of them you will find in NYC.
Alinea
Alinea is a three-Michelin-starred restaurant in Chicago, Illinois, run by chef Grant Achatz. The restaurant is known for its innovative and visually stunning dishes.
Per Se
A three-Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City, run by chef Thomas Keller. The restaurant is known for its contemporary French cuisine, with a focus on high-quality ingredients and precise techniques.
Eleven Madison Park
A three-Michelin-starred restaurant in New York City, run by chef Daniel Humm. The restaurant is known for its contemporary American cuisine, with a focus on seasonal and locally-sourced ingredients.
But should I try it?
You have to ask yourself if you’re bored of the same tastes that you’ve been enjoying throughout your entire life. Are you ready to introduce your tastebuds to something truly new? Well, those foods are out there, even if a bit off the beaten path, requiring sometimes a plane or train ticket and a couple lorries to get to. Will you try some French molecular gastronomy dishes this year? Let us know if you do, where you had it, and what you thought!
Stay tuned for part two of this article, where we will highlight some trending French molecular gastronomy dishes that are easy enough to make at home, and some that don’t even require having a chemistry set on hand!