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Even if you haven't been to Chicago, you've likely heard of it: Alinea is one of the country's premier restaurants, a fine-dining institution that's won three Michelin stars, was dubbed the World's Best Restaurant by Elite Traveler—even beating New York's own fancy-plate powerhouses like Eleven Madison Park—and, yes, was featured on Hulu's The Bear. (That was head chef Grant Achatz hilariously giving Will Poulter's pastry chef Luca a hard time in the season three finale.)
And now, after two decades of molecular gastronomy greatness—we're talking helium-filled green-apple "balloons," slices of see-through pumpkin pie, fizzy lemon soda arriving in powered form inside a dissolving packet and that famous pop-in-your-mouth potato truffle "explosion"—Alinea is celebrating its big 20th anniversary by taking those avant-garde kitchen wonders on the road. And, yes, Achatz and co. will be spotting in New York.
This summer, the Alinea crew will be popping up at three restaurants in three different cities, "each holding a special place in our story," per the restaurant's website.
First up on the list is Brooklyn's own Olmsted, which will reunite Achatz with Chef Greg Baxtrom, who was a member of Alinea's opening team. Serving up "a multi-sensory experience celebrating the imagination and innovation of the last 20 years and the future to come," the Alinea Brooklyn pop-up will take over the acclaimed Prospect Heights restaurant from Thursday, March 20 through Sunday, April 13. Reservations can be made on Tock.
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After that, the Chicago-based concept will move on down to Miami, returning to Faena Miami Beach, the site of the restaurant's 2016 residency, from Wednesday, April 30 to Sunday, May 25. (“We had to look for people who were into creating an experience, not just dinner," Achatz previously said about why they chose the Florida city for that spinoff.)
And then Alinea will pull into The Maybourne in Beverly Hills, Los Angeles—"a city of creativity, innovation and longtime friends," says the restaurant—from Wednesday, July 23 through Wednesday, August 20.
Reservations for both the Miami and Los Angeles pop-ups are soon to come. A few tour stops will also reportedly include pop-ups of the restaurant group's acclaimed cocktail bars, including The Aviary and The Office, but no word yet on if either of those properties will be coming to New York.
“Over the years, we have had the privilege of working with an incredible team, building strong relationships with farmers, purveyors, and wine makers, and forging lasting friendships with industry peers around the world,” Achatz told Robb Report. “We are grateful for the journey, and what better way to celebrate than by bringing the Alinea experience to new cities and sharing it with our loyal guests, while also inspiring our team and reconnecting with industry friends and partners.”
Apparently, there's even more to come: according Alinea's website, the team will be releasing destinations and dates for the second leg of the 20th anniversary tour in the near future. Keep an eye out on the restaurant group's Instagram for more info!