Arzak, Re-Visited: Part Two
Friday, June 8, 2012 at 04:45AM A couple weeks ago, I posted a happy post about my delicious meal in a month or so ago in Arzak. Playful amuse bouches, impeccable fish, and flavors from across the world.
This is part two of that post. Also known as the part where I complain a little.
The desserts were NOT GOOD ENOUGH.
This is cute. This is the Peine de los Vientos, a popular sculpture in Donosti, by Edward Chillida. It's really beautiful, but reduced to the size of a soup spoon on my plate at the number eight restaurant in the world, it was just....cute. And I expect more than cuteness from a restaurant of this level. It's got to be delicous. And this dessert was...okay.
Moving on to a dessert that I did not like AT ALL, and that for some reason unknown to me remains on the menu, it's The Balls.
There's a lot of them. They're cold, hard, and when you break them in your teeth cold, gelled liquid gushes everywhere. Gross. Reaching for the napkin to spit some out gross. I want to love you, Arzak desserts, I really do!
***positive insert***
The ice creams were truly delicious. Great flavors, such as basil, and just the right texture.
***back to that weird crunchy stuff***
As if to taunt me, the balls re-appeared in square form. Citrus flavored. Enough already. Three desserts that are basically the same? No.
And...more cuteness, this time in the form of a footprint and shoelaces. Better tasting than the sculpture plate, but with too many unecessary elements.
But, I want to end this post on a high note, because it truly was a great meal. This was a dessert that I also had the first time I went to Arzak: the fractal fluid. It appears before you, tracing lines as you watch, then you mix and spoon over another plate. For me, it's beautiful, clean, simple, and delicious. So, a success.
Have YOU eaten at Arzak? I want to hear what you think about your meal and the desserts.
arzak, dessert, elena arzak, gastronomy, restaurant, top ten
Reader Comments (4)
I've been there a few times, and every time I enjoyed every single bite of it. Specially 'the balls', I loved the texture, and the feeling when they broke into your mouth. It's almost like a kiss :-)
Regarding the desserts... maybe we reach that part of the meal with very high expectations. I think it must be difficult to make a difference on that field: nowadays, you can find impressive desserts everywhere.
Dined at Arzak in a party of four and had the tasting menu. The total experience was memorable and the food was worthy of Arzak's reputation. I didn't personally like everything and only one member of our party actually did like everything but I think that might be the purpose of a tasting menu. Anchoas, for instance, were too strong for one of our party, and the mouth-feel of a chunk of foie doesn't sit well with me (though a pate is wonderful tastewise). De Gustibus Non Est Disputandum (sp) as the Romans said.
Elena was gracious and a perfect host and we all would go back in a heartbeat.
Thanks for telling me your thoughts! I was wondering if I was alone in my thinking. David, for pointing out the balls are matter of personal taste. And Steve, I agree that I'd go back in a hearbeat and that they are gracious hosts with a wonderful restaurant. The first time I ate there I said it was the best meal I"d ever had....
I don't remember those "hard balls". However I did like the chocolate balls, those soft on the outside and liquid inside. I think they are the ones on the right side of your picture.
Anyway the desserts are usually the part I enjoy the least in any place. The rest of the meal was great, the small starters, cromlech, bogavante, red beans soup, potato "brick" with truffle, venison with guindillas in costume...