Dominique Ansel’s new dessert tasting menu explores American dreams

Each generation of Americans has their own version of the ultimate dream. Rarely would today’s obsession with social media stardom be acknowledged in the same breath as the California Gold Rush.

Maybe it’s because chef Dominique Ansel is a French immigrant, and all the dreaming before and after arriving in the United States that comes with it, that he’s taken such an inclusive approach with American Dreams, his next dessert tasting menu. The second themed experience at Dominique Ansel Kitchen’s after-hours dining room U.P. will span a century’s worth of national hopes and ambitions over seven courses (and drink pairings).

The bakery has added Wednesday and Thursday night seatings to its existing Friday-Sunday schedule, which fills up fast. Tickets for March dinners, which cost $85 per person (add $45 for cocktail pairings) and seat eight at 7:30 p.m. and 9:30 p.m., go on sale Feb. 19 at noon.

Here’s a preview of four of the courses, all of which will have their own drink pairings:

Eureka!: A Gold Rush-era plate sets two “golden nuggets” of sourdough bread pudding and salted Acacia honey ice cream in “dirt” that’s actually brew-able hazelnut-vanilla-orange coffee.

Carpe Diem: The hedonistic spirit of the Roaring ‘20s is swirled into a summer pudding of buttered brioche, huckleberries, confit of Buddha’s hand and creme fraiche, served with a glass of French 75.

White Picket Fence: The ‘50s nuclear family fantasy becomes a little house with a perfect garden where passion fruit and pickled persimmon with MishMish grow, while jicama gets a sake marinade and a side of confit strawberry, cherry tomato and chervil. And the accompanying dry martini with vodka and sake is not just for dad after his long day.

#GoingViral: A Manchego semifreddo sheep gets the social media star treatment with four “filters” that distill a tasting note of wine.