POV: EATING INSIDE NOMA'S KITCHEN ($1500 PER PERSON)

Full Noma LA Review: My experience is a bit biased since I was invited to eat for free, but I aim to provide my rating of each course as best I can. Overall, I can’t justify a $1500 price tag, but I will say that the venue and attention to detail were very impressive. The menu was inventive, but some ingredients (i.e. cactus, insects) were not my favorite. Also for me, dining at Noma right now isn't about René. There are many vulnerable staff behind the scenes who have relocated from their countries and left their jobs for this pop-up. Noma has massive global visibility, and I hope that they can pioneer real industry reform and spark a positive transformation across the culinary world. We’re at a turning point in the industry, and change comes from top down. FOOD RATING (based on taste alone) 1. Pink pepper Dungeness crab (11/10) — insane. best crab I’ve ever had 2. Daylily crab dumpling (8/10) — really cool concept 3. Chilled lobster broth (5/10) — I don’t mind a cold broth but it wasn’t very flavorful 4. Spot prawn cooked with matcha (9/10) — incredibly fresh and delicious 5. Sea urchin custard and braised acorns (7/10) - this was heavenly but I learned I’m not a fan of acorns 6. Cactus with mezcal (4/10) — mezcal flavor was overpowering for me, tasted like raw alcohol 7. Ragout of California botanicals (10/10) — really well cooked vegetables, no comments 8. Kinmedai and cep mushrooms (6/10) — good but I’m not a huge fan of raw mushroom 9. Socal seaweed and clam (7/10) 10. Tuna neck (6/10) — was expecting a bit more, the flavor was quite dull 11. Tuna eye (9/10) — surprisingly good 12. Black pearl rice steamed with avocado leaf (8/10) — good but didn’t feel special 13. Morel mushrooms with habanero and green plums (4/10) — not a fan of the texture or flavor 14. Seasonal greens and grilled artichoke in a spiced kelp mole (10/10) — perfect vegetables and delicious sauce 15. Dessert of cherimoya and lemongrass (11/10) — one of the best desserts I’ve had, textures and flavors were perfect 16. Macadamia milk custard and pistachio (9/10) — love this 17. Silver lake fortune cookie (2/10) — didn’t like the insects or texture DRINK PAIRINGS 1. Pink pepper and rose 2. Passionfruit leaf tea