It would not matter to me!

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Hmm. I've probably eaten at Lupas more than a dozen times and have never been too impressed. Not that it is bad but it wouldn't make my top 10 Italian/mediterranen places in NY.

You're kidding, right? You know that Irvine waa exposed as a complete and utter fraud and liar a year ago, right?

Jacques Pepin for me.

I'm suprised nobody has mentioned Heston Blumenthal yet. I'd pick him over Emeril or some of the other names mentioned. Though I've never eaten at Fat Duck, who knows, maybe I'll be disappointed.

I'm thinking the same thing!

RE: Batali - I might have chosen him before I read Heat, but I now I think he's just too pretentious for my tastes. His "my way or the highway" attitude wouldn't suit me.

Flay
 

I've only been to Bobby Flay's Mesa Grill in Vegas, and it's very good, I had the coffee encrusted filet mignon and sixteen spice duck breast.^

I'd love to have Giada Delaurentiis or Sandra Lee cook for me...doesn't matter what they cook. :D

Or even IF they cook...esp GD

So this begs the question--why go back that many times if you've never been that impressed? :confused:

(OK, well if someone else was paying...)

OK, I am convinced. I am going to reserve a table at Morimoto's for my Birthday next month. What can one expect to pay for dinner for two? Just a ballpark.....

I ate at Del Posto and did the prix fixe menu. It was very good but I'm not sure I'd do it again. (Interesting--the website shows the prix fixe menu as $52--we paid $95 per head, even though the composition appears to be the same. I'd say it was worth $52 but not $95.)

A-MEN, y'all! Best southern food I've ever had was the Sunday brunch buffet at A Lady & Sons in Savannah. Finger lickin' good!

If I could take a lesson from a chef, I'd go with Alton Brown--I love his scientific take on why stuff does what it does. For pure food, though, I'd probably go with Batali or maybe Emeril (though I don't care as much for watching his show anymore). I've actually watched a lot less Food Network in the last couple years than I used to so I'm probably forgetting some of the shows and chefs.

I have in LA and didnt like it. I loved Morimoto's though.

Its been a few years since Ive been there, but it was around 200 for me with drinks of course. IIRC you could choose your omakase price or there were a few to choose from (100,125,... or something like that).

I just found this:

m o r i m o t o o m a k a s e
“chef’s choice” a multi-course tasting menu designed to allow you to
experience the essence of morimoto’s cuisine
omakase is available sun-thurs until 10 pm and fri-sat until 11 pm
$80, $100 or $120 and up per person
b e v e r a g e o m a k a s e
a carefully chosen selection of beverages paired
with each course of our chef’s tasting menu.
$45, $65, $85 and up per person

Thank you for the info. My wife does not have as adventurous a palate as I do. Usually, everyone must do a tasting menu. I might have to order from the menu.

They are VERY accomodating, and have options for each course based on your likes/dislikes/allergies or whether you've been there before. Just have your wife explain to the server what her comfort level is, and you should be fine. I went with the mid-level ($100) tasting.

photos here

Morimoto is definitely on my all time top 5 meals list.

Or Ina Garten.