Sánchez told Food Network that his most memorable meal, “Lespinasse was in New York, when Gray Kunz was the chef. I had the loup de Mer, roasted artichokes and opal basil — I’ve never had a broth with so many beautiful and intense flavors layered in.” An archived version of the Lespinasse menu reveals that his favorite fish dinner cost him $42 dollars (via Studyworld).
Loup de Mer may sound like an inaccessible ingredient, but it’s actually just European sea bass, also known as branzino – loup de Mer is simply French for “wolf of the sea” (via Fortune Fish & Gourmet). It has a sweet and mild taste profile. The Lespinasse menu found on Studyworld reveals that the branzino in Sánchez’s meal was pan-crisped.
In the same interview, Sánchez also explained that ambiance played a major role in making his Lespinasse meal so memorable, saying, “It was one of the first really fancy restaurants I ever went to; I remember the chairs being far away from the table and there was no background music.” According to 24Life, when you eat in a less noisy environment, your brain is better equipped to focus on the tastes and textures of your meal.