Doin' It Up, Laundry Style

At long last, FRENCH LAUNDRY was last weekend! We have been waiting (as you blog readers know), since last SPRING to get a reservation at this Yountville establishment. Let me start by saying, it did not disappoint!!!

We headed up to Napa on Saturday afternoon, checked into our hotel (Silverado), then hung out until about 4:30 when it was cocktail hour (for us at least) in the main bar of the hotel. We enjoyed a glass of bubbly before our fancy "taxi" (black sedan - I felt very celeb-like) arrived.


Dave's adorable bowtie Dad picked out from Ben Silver in Charleston


Chris, Valerie & Us Outside the Restaurant

Our reservation was at 5:30pm and it was perfect (especially for my self-diagnosed narcolepsy at all the wrong times). The servers were extremely knowledgable without being snooty. In fact, I think they were all around our age, which made it easier to relax!

The sommelier was very helpful in helping us select each wine. We each started with a glass of "something" (all over the board). We brought a very special bottle of red with us that a dear friend gave us and we enjoyed every last drop! We then ordered two more bottles that the sommelier picked out for us (we had to give a price range as the CHEAPEST bottle on the menu was about $110 - somehow, my "frugal" self played it cool, though!). He did not disappoint and we absolutely enjoyed ourselves without getting crazy tipsy (remember, we were at this meal for 3 HOURS!).

The food, the food, the food. This ain't your mama's mac'n'cheese, y'all! Here is the menu from that night (changes daily):



After two delicious "Amuse Bouche" tasty creations, we started with the 1st course - "Oysters and Pearls". They were delicious and the perfect taster to lead us into the second course - choice of salad or Foie Gras. I had the salad, while the three of them upgraded to the Foie Gras and it was DIVINE! One of my favorite courses, for sure. The only comparison is like the richest peanut butter you can imagine (minus the peanut flavor) that just melts in your mouth, on a warm brioche...YUM! 3rd course I had Tuna Tartare which was done to perfection, then for the 4th course - wait for it - Maine Lobster "mitts" that, as I understand it, are the tiniest part of the inside of the claw. Each piece was about the size of a half-dollar and was heaven in the mouth. I agree with Valerie - I could eat an entire vat of just that! 5th course was a delicious Quail and we had to take a break after that! We went outside into the garden area and even though it was chilly, it was a perfect intermission to get some fresh air, let our delicious wine and food settle, and get right back in to enjoy the remaining courses. For the 6th course, I had the Lamb Ribeye which was coated in some type of bread crumbs and when you put your fork down on the meat, it just sinks in from the tenderness. Ahhhhh. The 7th course brought a perfectly paired cheese selection, followed by a sorbet for the 8th course, and then we finished our 9th and final course with dessert. Oh, dessert. I had the chocolate mousse with banana ice cream that was out of this world, Chris had the pineapple, and Dave & Valerie ordered "off the menu", requesting some folkloric "doughnut holes & coffee" that Valerie had heard about. Wow. Their choice was amazing - a fresh-fresh-fresh gourmet doughnut hole accompanied by a semifreddo coffee of sorts...it was divine! After all 9+ courses were over, they then brought additional sweets (an entire tower of them, actually) and we devoured those as well!

We finished the night with a kitchen tour. It was a symphony of activity in there. I recalled my days waitressing at The Ground Round while at BC and - well - let's just say it was nothing like that!


Taking our Kitchen Tour


Quick Kitchen Tour...Serenity!


The four of us - good times!


Until Next Time...or I should say, "Until We Hit the Lotto", French Laundry!

Thank you, Bryand-Clark Family, for making this all possible! More photos from the adventure can be found here.

We stayed the day in Napa on Sunday, having a glass of sparkling at Mumm, then meandering back to San Fran. After having "the meal of our lives", what kind of dinner could we possibly follow that up with? Oh yeah...we are klassy-with-a-k. We had Lucky Charms & Soy Milk at home. BALLERS!