drive by shooting
September 7, 2008
That’s all this photo is; a drive by shooting. Sorry to get your hopes up.
I did not get to eat here this trip. That would involve a lot more economizing on my part, like foregoing a limo and a fancy hotel. But like I always say in my travels, it’s ok to save something for a return visit. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a photo of it though since we had just finished a pleasant lunch at Bouchon and were making our way up and down “Keller Row” in Yountville. OK it’s called Washington Street, but whatever.
This street is lined with Keller restaurants. French Laundry, Bouchon, Bouchon Bakery and most recently Ad Hoc. Ironically, they are lined up in order of the fancy to the down home. We were told the reason Bouchon was opened was because Keller wanted a place to have a steak after work. It’s also where “the leftover” ingredients are sent when they aren’t used up by French Laundry. I’ll take leftovers any day.
The French Laundry episode of Cook’s Tour, the show where Anthony Bourdain eats just about everything in sight on his travels, just aired again and it was like watching the All-star game or whatever the equivalent would be for all the top, elite, best of chefs to come together and enjoy a superb meal. Of course they got the royalest of royal treatments. No two tasting menus were alike and they ate and ate and ate and traded plates for hours. Jerks.
I’m only asking for the 9 course tasting menu, priced at $240. No ingredient is ever repeated in the tasting. They also have a vegetarian tasting option. This price does not include wine pairing, which would be a must, so we are looking at about $450 per person with tax, tip and wine. This will take some careful planning in the future. I could make some small sacrifices and pack my lunch for a month or two and be that much closer. But who would drive the lunch bus at work? Yes, you guessed it, I’m that person that plans my whole day around lunch.
Calling 2 months to the calendar date ahead for a reservation is a must. There are some open tables or hotels that get the nod when there are last minute cancellations. This is when keeping running shoes near your bed is a good idea on a vacation.
One of these hotels that gets the tip off is Auberge du Soleil. I guess if i could afford to stay here, I would just as soon make a ressie and be sure my trip was not in vain.
For now, I have the French Laundry book I received as a birthday gift a few years ago. This kind of cookbook is not something one should attempt at home. It’s purely a feast for the eyes.
And for now, French Laundry shall exist as my holy grail of restaurants. That and El Bulli.
They had me at the food but the french bulldog logo…!!
*********************
French Laundry
6640 Washington Street
Yountville, CA
That’s all this photo is; a drive by shooting. Sorry to get your hopes up.
I did not get to eat here this trip. That would involve a lot more economizing on my part, like foregoing a limo and a fancy hotel. But like I always say in my travels, it’s ok to save something for a return visit. I couldn’t pass up the opportunity to take a photo of it though since we had just finished a pleasant lunch at Bouchon and were making our way up and down “Keller Row” in Yountville. OK it’s called Washington Street, but whatever.
This street is lined with Keller restaurants. French Laundry, Bouchon, Bouchon Bakery and most recently Ad Hoc. Ironically, they are lined up in order of the fancy to the down home. We were told the reason Bouchon was opened was because Keller wanted a place to have a steak after work. It’s also where “the leftover” ingredients are sent when they aren’t used up by French Laundry. I’ll take leftovers any day.
The French Laundry episode of Cook’s Tour, the show where Anthony Bourdain eats just about everything in sight on his travels, just aired again and it was like watching the All-star game or whatever the equivalent would be for all the top, elite, best of chefs to come together and enjoy a superb meal. Of course they got the royalest of royal treatments. No two tasting menus were alike and they ate and ate and ate and traded plates for hours. Jerks.
I’m only asking for the 9 course tasting menu, priced at $240. No ingredient is ever repeated in the tasting. They also have a vegetarian tasting option. This price does not include wine pairing, which would be a must, so we are looking at about $450 per person with tax, tip and wine. This will take some careful planning in the future. I could make some small sacrifices and pack my lunch for a month or two and be that much closer. But who would drive the lunch bus at work? Yes, you guessed it, I’m that person that plans my whole day around lunch.
Calling 2 months to the calendar date ahead for a reservation is a must. There are some open tables or hotels that get the nod when there are last minute cancellations. This is when keeping running shoes near your bed is a good idea on a vacation.
One of these hotels that gets the tip off is Auberge du Soleil. I guess if i could afford to stay here, I would just as soon make a ressie and be sure my trip was not in vain.
For now, I have the French Laundry book I received as a birthday gift a few years ago. This kind of cookbook is not something one should attempt at home. It’s purely a feast for the eyes.
And for now, French Laundry shall exist as my holy grail of restaurants. That and El Bulli.
They had me at the food but the french bulldog logo…!!
*********************
French Laundry
6640 Washington Street
Yountville, CA
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