Seven days. Three Michelin-starred pop-ups. Six total Michelin stars.
We hit the road in California with chef Nick Curtin and the team from Michelin-starred restaurant Alouette in Copenhagen for a once-in-a-lifetime culinary road trip up the California coast. From Los Angeles to Carmel to Carlsbad and San Francisco, this Michelin pop-up tour brought together some of the most exciting fine dining restaurants in the United States.
Over the course of a week, Alouette collaborated with Kato in Los Angeles, Aubergine in Carmel, Lilo in Carlsbad, and Birdsong in San Francisco. We went behind the scenes inside these Michelin-starred kitchens to document what it really takes to pull off a one-night-only fine dining pop-up – from sourcing local California produce and visiting farms to prep days, staff meetings, and the final tasting menus.
Below, you can watch all three episodes of our California Michelin road trip series. Buckle up.
Episode 1 – Aubergine x Alouette in Carmel
The first stop on our Michelin road trip was two-Michelin-starred Aubergine in Carmel-by-the-Sea. Chef Justin Cogley and chef Nick Curtin drew inspiration from the California coast, local abalone, and Monterey produce to create a collaborative tasting menu blending Nordic and coastal California flavors.
Watch the full behind-the-scenes episode below.
Episode 2 – Lilo x Alouette in Carlsbad
Next, we headed south to Michelin-starred Lilo in Carlsbad for a 24-hour collaboration. A road trip pit stop at In-N-Out led to an “omega-style” cheeseburger topped with caviar before the real work began. After sourcing produce at Sage Hill Ranch, the teams raced through prep to execute a one-night-only tasting menu featuring Japanese wagyu, grilled oyster, pumpkin and caviar, and more.
Here’s the full Carlsbad episode.
Episode 3 – Birdsong x Alouette in San Francisco
The final stop was Birdsong in San Francisco, our favorite fine dining restaurant in the city. Chef Chris Bleidorn and chef Nick Curtin collaborated over open fire cooking, dry-aged meats, and bold California flavors, culminating in one of the most indulgent Michelin meals we’ve ever experienced.
Watch the San Francisco finale below.
Where should we take our next Michelin road trip?