NEIGHBORHOOD GUIDE

Three Michelin stars.  Four stars from the New York Times. Five from Forbes Travel Guide. Five awards from the James Beard Foundation. You don’t just go to a place like Eleven Madison Park; you transcend time and space. The alternative universe we speak of is actually a distinguished marble and nickel-walled hall in the art deco Metropolitan Life Building, with 35-foot ceilings and grand windows onto the infinite green of Madison Square Park. Executive chef Daniel Humm joined the team in 2006 after having earned a Michelin star himself, excelling here to earn the James Beard award for Best New Chef: NYC in 2010. Like so many practitioners of contemporary French cooking, he favors foams, bisques and gelées. Which are what you can expect to experience at EMP. In place of a traditional menu, diners receive a 4×4 grid containing 16 ingredients. Each row represents a different course, and you’ll be asked to choose the ingredient that fancies you most. Then, you can choose either four courses or a tasting menu. Be prepared for some pleasant surprises – for the true epicurean or even novice adventurer, Eleven Madison Park dazzles.

Photo credit: Julian