John Sedlar 'Hallucinates' at Rivera

Agave-roasted duck, pork chop, tequila chicos, mezcal worm plate

By Lesley Balla

Having been a trailblazer since the 1980s, chef John Sedlar never ceases to amaze us. His unique take on pan-Latin cuisine, his rooftop gardens, his sheer will to cook and create whatever he wants - and serve it on plates stenciled with spices or featuring stills from Clockwork Orange - keeps rolling. So what will he think of next? A menu that may or may not expand your consciousness at Rivera.

Sedlar launched The Hallucination this week, a "personal celebration of tequila," which features six tequila-infused dishes, plus custom tequila cocktails to pair with each one ($125 per person). Oysters on the halfshell with cucumber caviar, fresh hamachi crudo with chilies and kumquats, cactus pear and purslane with tequila vinaigrette, agave-roasted duck with sous-vide nopales, and a coconut cloud with tequila-macerated fruit are just some of the menu items. Cocktails like sangrita verde or one with sherry, mezcal and mole bitters round things out. Let your mind explode - there will be a coffee "detox" at the end. And if you want to know more about the menu or dishes while you're eating it, just call the Rivera menu line (310-464-6884), press 61 and Sedlar himself will tell you all about it.

1050 S. Flower St.; 213-749-1460