| The French Laundry
6640 Washington Street at Creek Street
Yountville, CA 94599
(707) 944-2380
Don't let the modest wood clothespin that holds the pleated white napkin fool you. The French Laundry is elegant, haute and rarified. Chef Thomas Keller indulges such culinary fantasies as pearls and oysters, actually oysters and Russian Sevruga caviar, which may be as rare as pearls; little cones filled with smoked salmon, and looking like something from an ice cream parlor; and a pot pie of celery root, glazed chestnuts and chanterelles. But perfect preparation and an almost fanatic attention to detail result in beauty on the plate and fabulous flavor on the palate. Vegetable garnishes in the artichoke barigoule, for example, are diced absolutely evenly, about the size of salmon roe. The flavor levels of lobster bisque take you to unknown dimensions of shellfish essence. Reservations are taken up to two months in advance exactly. People sit with finger poised above the telephone ready to call at 10 a.m.. And should you be lucky enough to seize a table at The French Laundry, you might have trouble finding the restaurant in Yountville. It's located in the stone building, with a small, ever-so-discreet brass nameplate. There's no door on the street side. Just go around the back, into the garden and enter the door that's almost hidden.
|
