...And for those of you from out of town, I am not referring to the symbol ("the beginning of a new train of thought") or the font, but the restaurant in Chicago, the house of gastronomic and sensory engagement unparalleled within 1000 miles. Nevermind its overhyped opening and the grandstanding on eGullet -- Alinea rocks my world and makes me make audible happy "yum" sounds when I eat there. If only they would get rid of the server who talks as if he's got a really painful cramp in his stomach.
One of the better known aspects of dining at Alinea is the tableware and implements for dining designed by Czech native and accomplished metalsmith Martin Kastner, who calls his studio Crucial Detail. He's now offering for sale some of his wares, although you must contact him directly to find out what and for how much. He recently relocated to Chicago from San Diego, presumably to oversee the commercialization of his products and work more closely with Chef Grant Achatz. At least that's what I presume. Who knows, maybe love has something to do with it, or the price of real estate, or the need for a really good hot dog...
