Michelin Starred Restaurants Bring Life Lessons

How to slow down and enjoy life

“Pull up a chair. Take a taste. Come join us. Life is so endlessly delicious.” ― Ruth Reichl

It all started in 2018 when I watched a show called Chef’s Table on Netflix. I loved seeing the artistry and love Michelin-starred chefs put into their restaurants.

I remember feeling so much joy during several episodes.

One of the restaurants featured on Chef’s Table was Alinea in Chicago. I was awed by the mystique of the food served there. The meal included edible floating sugar balloons. What a dream!

We went to Chicago that summer to experience it for ourselves. It felt surreal to be in a place I had only seen on the screen.

This was our first Michelin star restaurant meal.

We have always been food adventurers. This was our first foray into fine dining.

We fell in love with it.

It is about those small, exquisite details in life.

One of the best life lessons we have learned as a family is valuing experiences over things.

We have a simple home, a car that is over twenty years old, and we only recently replaced our TV that was fifteen years old.

Yet, we splurge when it comes to a once-in-a-lifetime meal.

Here are the lessons we learned from our three experiences in Chicago, Japan, and Las Vegas.

Enjoy the Mystery in Life: Alinea in Chicago

Alinea is a beautiful mystery. It is a three-star Michelin restaurant.

The outside looks very plain. There are no windows, fancy signs, or trappings of elegance.

However, when you walk into the dining room, the magic starts.

At first, we all sat at one long dining table, as if at a dinner party. A lovely flower bouquet graces the middle.

After our first course, they lead us into the kitchen. The chefs here are master illusionists as they serve us a dish that tastes like pizza but looks like a flower-topped appetizer.

When we return, we are dispersed into individual tables.

The magic show continues, and dessert is my favorite part. The servers come by to throw and smash things onto a large disk, including mouses, cotton candy clouds, and more.

All the while, a fog machine is engaged, and music plays.

Our senses are delighted by this theatrical meal, mesmerized by every moment.

I will never forget any detail of this meal as it plays like a movie in my mind.

This restaurant experience taught us to enjoy the mystery of life. Many foods were disguised as something and were another. I now embrace more of the mystery in every day.

How can you embrace the mystery of life?

Celebrate The Beauty of Nature: Narizawa in Japan

While on our trip to Japan during the summer of 2019, we loved visiting Narizawa. It is a two-star Michelin restaurant.

The tradition they follow here is called Kaiseki. It is a form of Japanese cuisine using seasonal ingredients artfully.

I love how nature is revered in this restaurant.

It feels as if you are enjoying the best of the season, presented as an art piece.

One of our favorite dishes was the bread. At first, it is presented in a beautiful dish of hot water, rising at the table amongst a crown of leaves.

Later, it is baked with hot stones, and everyone enjoys eating it.

Another lesson we learned at Narizawa is to try everything. You never know what you will enjoy.

For example, most of my life I have avoided oysters. One of the many courses included a baby oyster. It was so beautiful, and I loved it.

My husband usually does not like uni; or sea urchin roe along with raw shrimp. However, we were served a cracker with raw shrimp and uni on it. He ended up liking it so much, he ate mine!

Through this meal, we learned to appreciate food in season, the places the food came from, and to try everything.

Opening up yourself to new experiences is the best thing you can do in life.

Embrace a love of nature and the food it provides.

How can you learn to try new things and appreciate your food?

Slow Down and Taste Every Bite: Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas

Our most recent experience was at Joel Robuchon in Las Vegas. It is a three-star Michelin restaurant.

We loved how quiet, peaceful and relaxed the atmosphere was here.

The ambiance was a sharp contrast from the lights, noise, and constant action in the casino.

Joel Robuchon is the most traditional of the three fine-dining restaurants we visited.

Each dish was a work of art, and the ingredients were the stars.

Everything at this restaurant was beautifully presented. I love how the servers placed each dish on silver trays.

There were large chandeliers and beautiful modern art pieces. Everything was tall, grand, and expansive.

One of our favorite parts was at the beginning of the meal.

They brought out a large bread cart and explained all of the options. It was a delight to try everything from a traditional baguette to a gluten-free roll.

Even the butter was presented beautifully, carved from a large cylinder and sprinkled with coarse salt.

Every detail felt magical.

You could tell everyone at the restaurant took great pride in the quality of their work. They strove to make sure it was the best meal ever.

It was fun to talk to everyone, from one of the chefs to the wine expert.

Through our experience here, we learned to slow down and enjoy every bite of food. Our meal lasted more than three hours, and we loved every moment.

How can you slow down and enjoy your meals?

I am deeply grateful for our fine-dining experiences. They are moments I treasure in my heart.

Have you had a memorable meal experience in your life? Please share your story in the comments. I appreciate you!