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00:01With more than 15 million restaurants in the world,
00:04from uber casual to who's paying for this,
00:07there's an unforgettable dining experience
00:10to satisfy your every craving.
00:12But sometimes, you have to dig deep, go far,
00:16and even get weird for a truly unique food experience.
00:20As a globetrotting comedian, I've
00:22had some mind-blowing meals in one-of-a-kind places.
00:25But there's so many more dining adventures out there.
00:29Piedmont Plus One, as we explore 1,000 Ways to Dine.
00:34Some restaurants are so good, their locations
00:37have to be kept secret.
00:39Hidden tapas behind false storefronts,
00:43pastas protected by password.
00:45Open says me.
00:48And some serious steakhouse security.
00:50Are you a cop?
00:51The thrill of just getting inside is part of the fun.
00:56Don't forget the password.
00:57You're going to need it.
00:58Because on this episode of 1,000 Ways to Dine,
01:01we've got the goods on Secret Spaces.
01:07That's an alien brain.
01:14Hey, everyone.
01:15I'm Michael Yeo.
01:16Today's show has the inside scoop on restaurants that are so
01:20on the down low to eat there.
01:23You have to be in the know.
01:24Come on in.
01:25Come on in.
01:25Time to go into stealth mode and visit some super secret spaces.
01:29If you don't want to sleep with the fishes, you better know the password to get into our first secret space.
01:40Vernon's Speakeasy is a mob joint in Los Ranchos, New Mexico.
01:45The American Southwest is a rumored hot spot for the witness protection program.
01:50So if you think you see a familiar face at Vernon's, you don't say nothing to nobody.
01:56You got it?
01:59You have to know someone on the inside to get the address for this steakhouse.
02:04But don't worry.
02:05I got a guy.
02:06The entrance to Vernon's Speakeasy might look like an inconspicuous liquor store,
02:12but the giant picture of Al Capone's face out front might give savvy diners their first clue.
02:20You got a password?
02:21Uh, red light?
02:23Are you a cop?
02:24No, sir.
02:26If you ever wanted to dine like a gangster, but without the crime, then Vernon's Speakeasy is the first place you'll want to hit.
02:33I mean, visit.
02:36I mean, can we go back?
02:39Being an underground kind of place, it has a little bit of mystique around it.
02:44We don't advertise.
02:46It's all word of mouth.
02:47So you have to know somebody to know how to make the reservation.
02:51What you can expect is to flash back to the 1920s.
02:55You knock on the door.
02:56We actually have an actor at the door giving you rules and making sure you're on the up and up.
03:00First off, no rods, no Roscoes, no choppers, no heaters, no tommy guns.
03:05If you're packing heat, outside it goes.
03:08Gabiche?
03:09Gabiche.
03:10All right.
03:13There's a lot of speakeasies around, but not very many that are actually fine dining.
03:17And that makes us unique.
03:19That's really good.
03:21Delicious.
03:23We do have our Black Diamond Lounge.
03:25That's where we can sit in front of live music.
03:28Jazz was really popular back in the 1920s and 30s, but frowned upon with the general public.
03:34So it was like, you shouldn't be listening to this.
03:37But in a speakeasy, you can listen to it because nobody's going to bother you.
03:41Don't bother me when I devour these steakhouse classics.
03:46If you don't know what to order, just think, WWPWD.
03:51What would poorly walnuts do?
03:52We're known for, of course, our steaks.
03:55Steaks are kind of like a man's meal.
03:58So just like the old gangster days, you wouldn't see Al Capone eating anything but a steak.
04:03We have the filet, which is our most popular.
04:06We also have a boneless ribeye, a 20-ounce bone-in ribeye, which we call our Los Rancho Star.
04:11Have you all said a good meal as well?
04:13Yeah, I think it's fantastic.
04:14Perfect thing.
04:15Oh, yeah, it's amazing.
04:16Good.
04:17We do have seafood and chicken and pork, so we do offer other things.
04:23That's okay.
04:24We have not only the best food in town, but the best unique experience in town.
04:29Everybody wants to come back.
04:31This is clearly why gangsters ate at places like this.
04:35Because nobody could find them.
04:38Tough guys, tender steaks, and a place committed to an OG experience.
04:43Cats out of the bag on Vernon's speakeasy.
04:51This next secret space is so well hidden, even a private eye would have trouble finding it.
04:56I'll give you a hint.
04:58It's in San Francisco, California.
05:00You'll have to think like a gumshoe or get the 411 from someone in the know if you want to find the pawn shop.
05:11To keep it a mystery, outside there is no restaurant sign, and we want to keep it that way.
05:16We want to keep the focus on the experience.
05:20Located in the city's Mission District, the pawn shop really blends in.
05:26The front is an actual pawn shop, but it's the only one in the neighborhood with a secret door
05:32and delicious tapas hiding behind it.
05:36Well, if you know anything about 6th and Mission, it's definitely an interesting area.
05:40We have a lot of pawn shops.
05:41That's why we kind of made it an ode to the neighborhood.
05:44In order to get in, you actually have to bring a tchotchke.
05:46Hey.
05:47This is Randall.
05:48Hi, Randall.
05:49Oh, my God.
05:50Well, we're going to find a nice place for Randall.
05:53If you're one of the lucky few who know how to find this hot spot,
05:57then you know bringing a trinket to the pawn master is the key to unlocking the door.
06:02The idea is that you come through the door and you play around with the pawn master.
06:05The pawn master controls your entrance into the pawn shop.
06:08Right, right this way.
06:09There's actually a certain code that he has to punch in
06:12and play around with these trinkets to get it open.
06:18And we always thought that that would be kind of a really fun thing for people to step through
06:22into an alternate world.
06:25Pull up.
06:25Applause on entry?
06:26I have worked my entire career to get that response.
06:33The pawn shop is hidden in plain sight, but you'll need to know the trick to getting inside.
06:39Right this way.
06:40It kind of makes you feel like you're a part of a secret society of tapas lovers.
06:47The food at the pawn shop is Spanish tapas.
06:51All their tables have been designed as communal tables.
06:54And when you see people actually starting to talk about the food,
06:57you don't know the person next to you.
06:59You're like, hey, what did you guys get?
07:00I'm not one to share my food.
07:03Especially if I had this carne la plancha smothered in salsa verde.
07:07Don't touch.
07:08Don't touch.
07:09This was mine.
07:10The star of our show is the pulpo la plancha.
07:14So the octopus.
07:15There we have a whole way of preparing and it's absolutely tender.
07:20It's like butter inside and then crispy and a golden outside.
07:24It's absolutely fantastic.
07:26My favorite dish are the dishes that we offer that are more on the healthy side.
07:30The tasty tapas include ensalada primavera, a blend of snap peas, radishes, and turnips,
07:36served on a bed of avocado creme fraiche and garnished with crunchy lotus root.
07:42And of course, the patatas bravas I think are the best in the city.
07:45He had me at patatas.
07:49And these beauties look brava.
07:52San Francisco has very small spaces, so we have a limited amount of seats.
07:57Some people are asking, would you be willing to get rid of the pawn shop to get some more seats?
08:02And absolutely not.
08:03That experience that we offer is unique.
08:06That Damien is a classy guy who refuses to sell out.
08:10And speaking of classic, I know exactly what I bring as my object to trade for entry.
08:15A signed copy of my comedy special, Michael Yo, I Never Thought.
08:20What?
08:21It's a collector's item.
08:23Just, uh, look online.
08:28Fake storefronts, secret doors, and patatas on ma plata
08:33have made this Bay Area secret worth telling.
08:36The pawn shop gets a standing up.
08:40The pawn shop gets a standing up.
08:41The pawn shop gets a standing up.
08:43Our next stop is so secret, it's actually classified, so I can't even tell you where it is.
08:49Okay, twist my arm.
08:51It's in Buenos Aires, Argentina.
08:54And this place is one of the best kept secrets in town.
08:57Casa Salt Shaker is an example of puertas cerradas, AKA closed door restaurants.
09:10Puertas cerradas were created by the city's top local chefs.
09:16Instead of opening up restaurants in a dicey economy, they serve private dinners to complete strangers in their own homes.
09:24Totally normal.
09:26These existed long before us.
09:27There were places all over Latin America that did this, and everybody has their own way of doing it.
09:32My husband is also my partner in the business.
09:35We welcome guests into our home at a communal table once or twice a week.
09:39Finding this hidden dinner party isn't easy.
09:42Most people discover them by word of mouth.
09:45They heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who heard it from a friend who loves five course clandestine dinners.
09:51And honestly, who doesn't?
09:53To join the party, potential guests have to apply for an invite online so Chef Dan can ensure there's no stranger danger in his home.
10:05Only 10 lucky diners will make the list.
10:07I worked in New York City for almost 23 years.
10:10First as a chef, then sommelier.
10:13And I came here to Buenos Aires with my husband.
10:17And I'd say we were a little timid about it at first.
10:20We started by inviting people we knew.
10:22So there was a personal connection.
10:26You don't have any idea where it is other than maybe the general neighborhood until you had made the reservation.
10:33With a background in Italian cuisine, Chef Dan serves up a tasty menu of Latin American dishes with a Mediterranean spin.
10:41Beginning the evening with what's called a tiradita, which is a form of ceviche where the fish, or in this case prawns, are cut into long strips rather than chopped up.
10:50Wow.
10:51So in general, I would say most of the customers we've had over the years have loved the experience.
10:56They may not like every dish that they've had, but they like trying something different.
11:02This is based on a Chilean soup called caldillo.
11:06It's similar to a chowder.
11:07Very nice.
11:08Very nice.
11:10These are pacheri and cooked in spicy cilantro sauce.
11:13And we have a seasoned ricotta with a little bit of salt, pepper, and nutmeg in it.
11:20The food screams gourmet restaurant, but the atmosphere whispers, this is somebody's home.
11:26So don't break anything.
11:28But that's all part of Casa Salt Shaker's charm.
11:31Just don't mess with one thing.
11:33My least favorite part of the evenings is people who turn the toilet paper roll around.
11:37You can't imagine going into somebody's house and turning their toilet paper roll around,
11:41but people do it.
11:42Drives me nuts.
11:44If you have TP-OCD, you might want to sit this one out.
11:48Invite only, private location, five courses, and all the comforts of home.
11:55If you're approved for entry, this secret supper is the place to be, if you can find it.
12:04For our next secret space, we're heading to our nation's capital.
12:09Home of the Secret Service, the FBI, and a very covert culinary operation.
12:15Washington, D.C.'s West End is home to the greatest fine dining restaurants in the capital,
12:23including this hidden gem.
12:25Come here, listen.
12:26You got to go past the door of the Diamond Jewelers and head downstairs for a dazzling dining experience at
12:33The Setting.
12:41Now, don't tell anyone.
12:45The Setting offers a brilliant 10-course tasting menu featuring 10-carat ingredients from around the globe,
12:53served on small plates and sometimes no plates.
12:58Best part, it's enjoyed entirely by hand.
13:00That's right.
13:01Look, Ma, no forks.
13:04Chef John treats all the guests like VIPs.
13:07Hello.
13:07Welcome to The Setting.
13:09I'll be bringing every course out to your table this evening and explaining to you the inspiration behind it,
13:13and explaining to you how to enjoy it.
13:15That's really good.
13:16I want to connect them to the ingredients they're having on the plate, where those ingredients are
13:20coming from, why they're special, and how we've developed them into the flavors that we want you
13:25to taste now.
13:26Super interesting tasting.
13:27Very good.
13:27I'm going to have one more.
13:29Can I get one runner, please?
13:30We've done brioche toast, lobster rillettes, and then some Maine lobster tail.
13:36I made a bourbon out of the heads of the lobster, and I'm just going to give your plate
13:39a little bit of that TLC, tender love and tears, what we call it here in the setting.
13:44Super cute.
13:47This is one of our favorites here, and it happens to be a sandwich.
13:51This is Wagyu.
13:52It's the eye of the ribeye, so that means it's the center of the ribeye.
13:55There's a ton of marbling in this cut.
13:57Green onion there, they kind of cut through some of the richness of this dish.
14:01Tonkatsu sauce there on the side, so you're welcome to grab this up with your hands and
14:05enjoy it in several bites.
14:07The meat is really tender, and it goes really well with the spring onions that are on it.
14:15So we're going to be doing some sour cream and onion caviar bumps, and I'd like to plate those
14:18on the back of your hands if I can.
14:21Housemade creme fraiche might be a little cold on your hand there.
14:24Chives and matcha.
14:26Golden Ocetra caviar.
14:27Cheers.
14:30Presentation 10 out of 10.
14:32Flavor 10 out of 10.
14:34Be sure to finish everything off your hand, because dessert is an actual treasure chest
14:39full of sweet treats.
14:42So we have some sweet bites for you this evening.
14:47On this side we have lemon macarons, in the middle we have orange and sea salt
14:52madeleines, and then on this side we have blueberry and milk chocolate tarts.
14:56Mmm, it's really, really good.
14:59So, so yummy.
15:00Wow, so good.
15:02The chefs really put their hearts into this menu.
15:05And even just the presentation, I've never received my dessert in a little treasure box.
15:11We're a small team, and we really care about what we do, and so we just give it all to you.
15:15Yeah, you do.
15:16Cheers.
15:17A word of mouth location, elegant food served personally by the chef, and we can lick our fingers.
15:25Take a look at that.
15:26Secret admire no more.
15:28I'm ready to say I do to the setting.
15:31Now, ladies and gentlemen, prepare to be amazed.
15:39Our final secret space is not so secret, because everyone wants in on the Magic Castle in Hollywood,
15:45California.
15:47This massive mansion sits on the base of the Hollywood Hills, for all eyes to see.
15:52But it's so exclusive that you need to use magic in order to get inside.
15:57Behind these castle walls lies a secret steakhouse, where the Hollywood elite all try to eat.
16:06We're sneaking into this high society hideaway, and it's showtime.
16:19Close-up magic in the parlor.
16:21Full-scale productions in the showrooms.
16:24All the stages feature world-renowned magicians performing new and old tricks of the trade.
16:30This place is harder to get into than an old pair of jeans on Thanksgiving.
16:35So, how do you get in?
16:37Come on, a magician never shares his secrets.
16:41Okay, just this one time.
16:45The truth is, you have to know a member to come in.
16:48There are ways to get guest passes, but you must be invited.
16:52It does keep it special. It does keep it exclusive. It is a private club after all.
16:59This is a bucket list destination for so many people. So, if they can get in, they'll have the best time ever.
17:06Dinner is always a formal affair with classic steakhouse dishes, served in an atmosphere of Victorian elegance.
17:16The castle is famous for a strict dress code. So, straighten your tie and get ready for a magical night.
17:23You'll check in with the front desk. They'll make sure you have a reservation.
17:27And then you will go over to the owl and you will say the secret words.
17:32Opened says me.
17:34And the doors will magically open.
17:36Obviously, the magic here isn't only performed by magicians. The steakhouse kitchen has a few culinary tricks up its sleeve.
17:47Watch this chef turn lump crab into crab cakes right before your very eyes.
17:54Crab cake is a new dish that is featured at the castle. I'd like to describe it as it holds together with a little bit of hope.
18:00Crab cake.
18:06About 80% crab, 20% filling.
18:09I think it's a thousand percent really good.
18:11Wow.
18:13Oh my gosh.
18:14So good.
18:15Chef has a way of transforming pasta with oil, garlic, and a hint of smoky chipotle into something magical.
18:26The bucatini pasta is also a new dish.
18:29Anybody want some before you disappear?
18:32The way the spice is there, the way it's hitting the back of my throat, that thingy thing in the back of my throat.
18:38It's making me dance.
18:39Mmm.
18:39Crab cakes and pasta, amazing. But remember, this is a steakhouse.
18:45If you've ever had beef wellington, you must have it here because it is the best beef wellington I've ever had.
18:52It's one of those dish that transcends time. It's a classic. Everybody loves it.
18:57Oh yeah.
18:59We take a tenderloin, we season it, we sear it. We put two layers. One of them is a liver pate and the other is a mushroom duck cell.
19:09And then we wrap it in puff pastry.
19:11I will bake it in the oven until it's medium rare.
19:23Getting your foot in the door of this secret space might be tricky, but if you can conjure
19:28up an invite with some abracadabra, you'll enjoy world-class magic and some out-of-this-world cuisine.
19:35Wow.
19:35That was perfect.
19:39Well, I guess the secrets are out.
19:41Now you know that magic can be made on stage and in the kitchen.
19:44Eating off your hands is classy.
19:48Mobsters make killer steaks.
19:51Pawn shops have patatas.
19:54And it's okay to talk to strangers, but only if they invite you inside their house for dinner.
20:02You didn't hear it from me.
20:04Let's keep these secret spaces between us.
20:06I'm Michael Yo.
20:07See you next time on 1,000 Ways to Dine.
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