Wolfgang Puck’s WP 24 Review – Distinctive Five Star Dining, Impeccable Service, Stunning Views

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Category: Haute This Issue
Published on Friday, 30 December 2016 20:00
Written by Janet Walker

WP 24, the ultra-gourmet restaurant, located 24 floors above Los Angeles in the downtown Ritz Carlton, is for the culinary connoisseur a fine dining sensory experience combining spices from the Far East to create perfectly prepared unique, exquisite, Asian flavors.

As WP 24 is more than dining, under the leadership of Chef de Cuisine, Chef-John Lechleidner, the meal celebrates culinary mastery, as an art with the plate as the artist’s canvas. The courses, from appetizers to dessert, are each part of the pleasure adding to the distinctness of the establishment.

Of course, Wolfgang Puck, with his flagship Spago in Beverly Hills, is no stranger to luxury dining. His prowess in the kitchen is legendary and patrons who have dined at any of his establishments remark on, of course the exquisite flavor combinations, and the atmosphere, whether celebrity sightings or stunning city views, which is always warm and inviting. Wolfgang creates an experience in dining.

My visit to WP 24 was a gift. The luck of the draw, essentially, as I dropped my business card in a fishbowl and became the winner of dinner for two.

Arriving on time, we were seated at a circular booth that had a lovely view of downtown Los Angeles, spread out before us. The tall buildings, were cast in a gold tone as the evening’s sun set. It was a beautiful evening.

To begin, before appetizers, all guests receive a signature pre-appetizer, Shrimp Toast, which is exactly what it sounds like. The toast is set darker, with black edges, with shrimp pieces pressed between the two slices and cut in triangles. The edges are rolled in Asian sesame seeds. A specialty of the house, served with Asian duck sauce.  

The server, as my gift included wine, matched each course a vino of my choice. As I prefer Whites, Sauvignon blanc, Chardonnays, I allowed the server to suggest the wines based on my preference.

We started off with a nice Chardonnay, then he suggested an Austrian Riesling, a delicious sweet wine, which left a nice sweet finish. It is suggested as an after-dinner wine, a sweet wine with dessert. For me, it had such a pleasant taste that when the server suggested I move on from the Rieslings to sample a French, I agreed and after a sip, it was clear, for me, the Riesling was more suited to my tastes.

Dinner at WP is made up of three courses, the appetizers which patrons choose three separate dishes. For our table I chose Peking Duck Rolls, savory shredded Peking Duck with Hoisin Special dipping sauce.

For the second appetizer, a Steamed Scallop-Shrimp Sui Mai, a thin dumpling filled with a delicious mouthwatering blend of Scallop & Prawn Sui Mai Blue Crab Ginger Sauce and thirdly a Chinese Chive Crystal Dumpling, luscious filled with Alaskan King Crab, Shrimp, Kurobuta Pork, and served on a delicious blended spicy sauce.

The appetizers are an epicurean fantasy, with savory sumptuous exotic flavors, combinations of far eastern spices, with hints of contemporary, Chinese, and Asian-American flavors.  

After consuming these three flawlessly prepared appetizers, it was onto the main course.

For the main entrée, I ordered the “Angry” Two -Pound Live Maine Lobster, made with spicy Szechuan chilies, fried garlic, scallions, and black bean dust.

The reason it is called an “angry” lobster is because it is prepared to be spicy, with a more powerful heat index, than some of the other items prepared with spice. The Lobster is extra spicy with Szechuan chilies.

Honestly, the entrée was so much that the staff graciously offered to prepare it to go as they didn’t want me to miss dessert!

Of course, desserts at any Wolfgang Puck eatery are stand along works of art, and they should be, from the designs to the flavors the dessert are pleasing and exceptionally delicious.  

For dessert, I ordered Marjolasian, layers of dark chocolate, white expresso mousse, cashew nougatine, and coffee ice cream. As the wine was over we enjoyed a after dinner cappuccino with

WP 24 stands alone in its cuisine creations, its atmosphere, ambiance, and impeccable service.

WP 24 has mastered the art of finely prepared cuisine, which when done more than correctly, when done carefully, when attention is paid to every detail, to the design, the combination of flavors, it creates a unique and unforgettable experience. The mood is set, an intimacy is created from the moment guests entered the restaurant.

Art Direction and Images by Janet Walker.

For more information:  http://www.wolfgangpuck.com

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