The Edison: Food + Drink Lab restaurant presents new and innovative dishes in an industrial atmosphere that will make a person of any age feel like they are eating out of Willy Wonka’s kitchen. From more basic dishes like new york strip to fried chicken and purple sweet potato pancakes, there is something for everyone, whether they are a beginner or a foodie.
First off, there were two appetizers: charred achiote octopus and sesame tempura cauliflower. The charred octopus was served with a small salad, squid ink, and a charred lemon wedge to squeeze over. The dish was not only colorful and gorgeously presented, but the acidity of the lemon paired wonderfully with the octopus. The squid ink was an unexpected addition, but it perfectly complemented the dish and helped to keep it moist. The second appetizer, sesame tempura cauliflower, was nothing short of scrumptious. The cauliflower was cooked perfectly and then fried to perfection to create a creamy but crunchy dish. It was served with a sesame sauce and fresh radishes that perfectly complemented the saltiness of the dish and added sweet and bitter factors. It was a very interesting choice to do an Asian style cauliflower, but it ended up being one of the most delicious cauliflower dishes ever.
For the entrée, there was one dish that was more familiar and one that was more out of the usual taste range. The first dish was adobo all-natural organic chicken + pancakes. This dish was a little bit closer to home for because of the southern flavors, but it had a different twist that made it unlike anything ever seen before. The pancakes were made with purple yams and coconut, which gave an interesting flavor to an otherwise simple dish. Also, the chicken was cooked perfectly to temperature and served with adobo caramel to keep the dish flavorful and moist. The second dish was slightly more out of the average comfort zone. The Louisiana-barbecued magret duck breast served with rice middlins, corn, and fried green tomatoes was surprising on many different levels. Most of the things on the plate were unusual so its tastiness and powerful flavors were quite shocking. The duck was perfectly cooked and charred and it paired wonderfully with the crunchy and juicy fried green tomatoes.
The dessert was the most interesting aspect because it is one of the things the restaurant is praised for. One dish was the raspberry dark chocolate crunch dome that is served with chocolate mousse and smoked chocolate ice cream. The dish overall was delicious, and the pairing of raspberry and chocolate was perfect to keep the dish not too sweet and not too bitter. The dish was also dusted with hazelnut feuilletine to give a crispy and crunchy element to the smooth mousse and ice cream. The smoked chocolate ice cream was also very interesting to try. It is put in a smoker for a few hours and then frozen and scooped daily. The technique was very innovative and ultimately produced a perfect smoky chocolate flavor that otherwise would have never been thought to work with the dish.
Edison: Food + Drink Lab is the perfect restaurant for a special event or just a casual night out with friends. It has something for everyone with a modern twist that is sure to push the limits of customer’s taste buds and open them up to new and bigger flavors. No matter what the occasion, Edison: Food + Drink Lab is the perfect recommendation for out of the ordinary, wildly amazing food.
9/10
Grace Beilman // Staff Writer
