A 24-Hour Culinary Journey Through Eric Jacquin's Restaurants
Renowned Brazilian chef Eric Jacquin, known for his role as a judge on MasterChef and as the host of Kitchen Nightmares, takes a modern twist in this culinary adventure. A dedicated food enthusiast sets out on a unique expedition: to spend 24 hours savoring dishes from each of Jacquin's celebrated restaurants. This article outlines the tantalizing experiences and evaluations, all rated on a scale from zero to five stars, culminating in the ultimate MasterChef score.
The culinary journey begins at Savá Café, situated on one of São Paulo's finest streets, Faria Lima. Diverse dishes are on the menu, starting with a Croque Madame. Although made with classic ingredients like bread, cheese, ham, and egg, it didn't stand out, earning a respectable four stars.
Next came the traditional French croissant, which disappointed with a lack of crispness, meriting just two stars.
The macaron, a quintessential French dessert, was promising but suffered from a soggy texture that prevented it from being held with one hand, resulting in another four-star rating.
The chocam, a dry pastry filled with pistachio, also failed to impress, receiving two and a half stars.
From the café's selections, the petit gâteau shone brightly, earning an impressive four and a half stars. After sampling several dishes, Savá Café received an overall rating of three stars, setting a baseline for the day’s subsequent dining experiences.
The Second Stop: Steak Beef
Next up was Steak Beef, Jacquin's steakhouse known for its luxurious meat dishes. The first dish, steak tartare, impressed with its rich flavors, garnering four stars.
However, the prime rib didn't quite hit the mark; although visually appealing, it lacked the perfect tenderness and flavor profile, earning three stars.
The panna cotta arrived as a delightful surprise, showcasing excellent presentation and taste, meriting four and a half stars.
Through testing yet another petit gâteau, the reviewer noted a similar quality across locations, assigning it four and a half stars here as well.
Although the overall dining experience at Steak Beef remained memorable, the restaurant was ultimately rated four stars due to the standout panna cotta and steak tartare.
The Third Stop: Savá
As the tour progressed, the stakes got higher at the next destination: Savá, known for its traditional French cuisine. Having previously appeared on Kitchen Nightmares, expectations were high.
Starting with French onion soup topped with puff pastry, its flavor was robust but the reviewer believed they could replicate the dish, thus earning four stars. The curiosity was piqued when a tomato heart of beef was ordered, though it was a letdown, only rated three stars.
The brave culinary task of tasting frog legs brought forth surprising enjoyment, earning the tasting palate a solid five stars. Unfortunately, the main course of grilled chicken, although a comforting choice, received a mere two and a half stars for its lack of flavor.
Dessert, however, redeemed the meal with an exquisite crème brûlée, which received a well-deserved five stars. The overall experience at Savá concluded with an average score of three and a half stars, aided by solid desserts and the frog legs.
The Fourth Stop: Vatican Secret Bar
The next stop was a hidden gem, the Vatican Secret Bar, tucked beneath another Jacquin venue. The ambience was romantic, filled with blues and jazz, and featured an impressive cocktail menu.
One drink, a strawberry concoction, didn’t impress, but the mango drink stood out as the best of the journey, earning a Master Drink title. The sandwich served with it received four stars as well.
The patience of the evening’s experience at the Vatican bar culminated in a score of four stars, as the intriguing atmosphere and quality food proved memorable.
The Fifth Stop: Lutécia
Lutécia, an Italian-themed restaurant by Chef Jacquin, flaunted gorgeous decor and stellar service. The anticipation built around their tasting menu was palpable.
The ravioli dish was flavorful but did not exceed expectations; hence, it was rated merely three stars. In stark contrast, the água transporters served as a highlight, marking one of the best bites of the day, finally achieving five stars.
Completing the dining experience was a delightful tiramisu, crafted perfectly and also marking a return to MasterChef-level decadence, rated a five-star dessert. Lutécia emerged as a notable contender, collectively earning an average of four stars.
The Final Stop: President Restaurant
The culinary expedition reached its zenith at the President restaurant, the most acclaimed establishment of Eric Jacquin. The tasting menu experience promised grandeur.
From the onset, a soup capre—a chef's surprise—wowed the palate and snagged a Master Chef score. The following dish, an egg with caviar, also elevated expectations, receiving another MasterChef rating.
Subsequent dishes like ravioli with lobster and a sea bass continued to impress but didn't quite achieve the highest accolade. The filet mignon, beautifully plated with a truffle sauce, finally bestowed upon it a MasterChef score, marking it as a high point of the culinary tour.
The overall experience at President culminated in indulgent desserts crafted with lavish detail, all collected under the mastery of Jacquin, leading to a solid MasterChef rating.
Through this epicurean adventure culminating in an unforgettable day filled with flavor, creativity, and culinary mastery, each restaurant showcased distinct elements of Jacquin's expertise. With the President taking the final starring slot for MasterChef accolades, food lovers are left salivating at the thought of these gastronomic establishments.
This undertaking not only reflects the breadth of Jacquin's culinary artistry but creates considerations for future food challenges. What could be next in this delicious series?
Part 1/10:
A 24-Hour Culinary Journey Through Eric Jacquin's Restaurants
Renowned Brazilian chef Eric Jacquin, known for his role as a judge on MasterChef and as the host of Kitchen Nightmares, takes a modern twist in this culinary adventure. A dedicated food enthusiast sets out on a unique expedition: to spend 24 hours savoring dishes from each of Jacquin's celebrated restaurants. This article outlines the tantalizing experiences and evaluations, all rated on a scale from zero to five stars, culminating in the ultimate MasterChef score.
The First Stop: Savá Café
Part 2/10:
The culinary journey begins at Savá Café, situated on one of São Paulo's finest streets, Faria Lima. Diverse dishes are on the menu, starting with a Croque Madame. Although made with classic ingredients like bread, cheese, ham, and egg, it didn't stand out, earning a respectable four stars.
Next came the traditional French croissant, which disappointed with a lack of crispness, meriting just two stars.
The macaron, a quintessential French dessert, was promising but suffered from a soggy texture that prevented it from being held with one hand, resulting in another four-star rating.
The chocam, a dry pastry filled with pistachio, also failed to impress, receiving two and a half stars.
Part 3/10:
From the café's selections, the petit gâteau shone brightly, earning an impressive four and a half stars. After sampling several dishes, Savá Café received an overall rating of three stars, setting a baseline for the day’s subsequent dining experiences.
The Second Stop: Steak Beef
Next up was Steak Beef, Jacquin's steakhouse known for its luxurious meat dishes. The first dish, steak tartare, impressed with its rich flavors, garnering four stars.
However, the prime rib didn't quite hit the mark; although visually appealing, it lacked the perfect tenderness and flavor profile, earning three stars.
The panna cotta arrived as a delightful surprise, showcasing excellent presentation and taste, meriting four and a half stars.
Part 4/10:
Through testing yet another petit gâteau, the reviewer noted a similar quality across locations, assigning it four and a half stars here as well.
Although the overall dining experience at Steak Beef remained memorable, the restaurant was ultimately rated four stars due to the standout panna cotta and steak tartare.
The Third Stop: Savá
As the tour progressed, the stakes got higher at the next destination: Savá, known for its traditional French cuisine. Having previously appeared on Kitchen Nightmares, expectations were high.
Part 5/10:
Starting with French onion soup topped with puff pastry, its flavor was robust but the reviewer believed they could replicate the dish, thus earning four stars. The curiosity was piqued when a tomato heart of beef was ordered, though it was a letdown, only rated three stars.
The brave culinary task of tasting frog legs brought forth surprising enjoyment, earning the tasting palate a solid five stars. Unfortunately, the main course of grilled chicken, although a comforting choice, received a mere two and a half stars for its lack of flavor.
Part 6/10:
Dessert, however, redeemed the meal with an exquisite crème brûlée, which received a well-deserved five stars. The overall experience at Savá concluded with an average score of three and a half stars, aided by solid desserts and the frog legs.
The Fourth Stop: Vatican Secret Bar
The next stop was a hidden gem, the Vatican Secret Bar, tucked beneath another Jacquin venue. The ambience was romantic, filled with blues and jazz, and featured an impressive cocktail menu.
One drink, a strawberry concoction, didn’t impress, but the mango drink stood out as the best of the journey, earning a Master Drink title. The sandwich served with it received four stars as well.
Part 7/10:
The patience of the evening’s experience at the Vatican bar culminated in a score of four stars, as the intriguing atmosphere and quality food proved memorable.
The Fifth Stop: Lutécia
Lutécia, an Italian-themed restaurant by Chef Jacquin, flaunted gorgeous decor and stellar service. The anticipation built around their tasting menu was palpable.
The ravioli dish was flavorful but did not exceed expectations; hence, it was rated merely three stars. In stark contrast, the água transporters served as a highlight, marking one of the best bites of the day, finally achieving five stars.
Part 8/10:
Completing the dining experience was a delightful tiramisu, crafted perfectly and also marking a return to MasterChef-level decadence, rated a five-star dessert. Lutécia emerged as a notable contender, collectively earning an average of four stars.
The Final Stop: President Restaurant
The culinary expedition reached its zenith at the President restaurant, the most acclaimed establishment of Eric Jacquin. The tasting menu experience promised grandeur.
From the onset, a soup capre—a chef's surprise—wowed the palate and snagged a Master Chef score. The following dish, an egg with caviar, also elevated expectations, receiving another MasterChef rating.
Part 9/10:
Subsequent dishes like ravioli with lobster and a sea bass continued to impress but didn't quite achieve the highest accolade. The filet mignon, beautifully plated with a truffle sauce, finally bestowed upon it a MasterChef score, marking it as a high point of the culinary tour.
The overall experience at President culminated in indulgent desserts crafted with lavish detail, all collected under the mastery of Jacquin, leading to a solid MasterChef rating.
Conclusion
Part 10/10:
Through this epicurean adventure culminating in an unforgettable day filled with flavor, creativity, and culinary mastery, each restaurant showcased distinct elements of Jacquin's expertise. With the President taking the final starring slot for MasterChef accolades, food lovers are left salivating at the thought of these gastronomic establishments.
This undertaking not only reflects the breadth of Jacquin's culinary artistry but creates considerations for future food challenges. What could be next in this delicious series?