I’m finally getting around to writing about what was probably the best dining experience of my life. Not sure why it has taken me a month to do it, but it’s likely because I feel like I don’t deserve to or that it was too good to be put into words.

I refer to Robuchon as a dining experience rather than a meal because it isn’t just about the food. Yes, the food was amazing, but Robuchon is about every detail of your time there from the second you walk through the doors. There is a reason it has been the recipient of three Michelin stars, AAA Five Diamond award, the Forbes Five Star award and Wine Spectator’s Grand Award.

When you enter, it seems very quiet and peaceful. You are led into the opulent dining room lit by a giant crystal chandelier, warm cream walls with gold trim and luxurious lilac velvet seating, pillows and drapes. There are crystal frames with actual photos that make you feel as though you are dining in a very wealthy person’s home. We sat down and one of the first things that caught my eye was a little cream leather stool by every table. We took bets on what it was for- a footstool, something for the waiter? I guessed it was for ladies handbags. I was right.

If there is one thing that could steal the thunder away from this stunning setting, it was the food. We went with a four-course menu. There are several options, including a sixteen course tasting menu, but that seemed a bit excessive. I sipped a crisp glass of bubbly as we chose our bread from a massive bread cart. You read that correctly- they have a cart of house-made breads to choose from and they are amazing. To add to the bread, a server came by with a giant brick of butter imported from France and shaved some off for us, then sprinkled it with a rare sea salt from another part of the world that I can’t seem to recall. The butter was so good I could eat just that. Next, our amuse-bouche arrived. Thankfully the server explained what it was and how to eat it because I (embarrassingly) had no idea when it arrived. It was a beautiful soup served over a bowl of liquid nitrogen so it arrived like a fantastic science experiment. I don’t normally like chilled soups, but this one was spectacular.

For an appetizer, I went with La Langoustine which is a succulent Norway lobster served truffled in a ravioli with braised cabbage. One could guess the cabbage was a garnish, but they would be wrong. It was sweet with a tang and perfectly braised so that it was not soggy or tough. It was a perfect compliment to have on a bite with the langoustine ravioli.

For a main course, I kept the theme going with Le Homard- roasted lobster in green asparagus jus with vegetable essence. All I can say is wow. Best lobster preparation I’ve ever had. It was tender, slightly sweet and rich but not heavy. It was elegant but not pretentious, as you may expect a dish with essence or foam to be. To make this course even better, they serve all mains with a side of silky whipped potatoes. I felt like they almost knew I was coming and that they were my favorite! They were rich, buttery and there was NO chance I was leaving any behind.

For the last course we had the option of a cheese course or mignardises, which are tiny bite-sized desserts. We went with the latter, obviously. The second cart of the evening came by with some of the most beautiful dessert creations I’ve ever laid my eyes on. The waiter carefully explained all 42 types of desserts on the cart and we could have as many as we wanted!! I don’t remember all that I had, but I do remember they were all completely heavenly. I do recall my favorite, which was some sort of tiny capsule that burst a lavender sauce in your mouth when you ate it. Unbelievable!

As our dining experience came to an end, we were given a parting gift bag that included the Robuchon booklet and a gift box of their house-made marshmallows that are infused with different exotic fruit flavors.

I’m almost afraid to end this post for fear of forgetting an elegantly amazing detail. Robuchon was such an amazing experience- a once-in-a-lifetime dining experience. I highly recommend for anyone to treat themselves if they have the opportunity (and save up some funds.) It’s truly a luxurious gift to give yourself.

Joël Robuchon

MGM Grand, Las Vegas

Read the original on: So Forking Good!