You may remember that I had a goal to dine at The French Laundry during my 31st year of existence. I’ve been there twice before at different points in my life but I’ve been aching to try it again. Some people save money to buy a car, others save for expensive handbags or electronics. I save money for food. It’s always been this way, I swear. Before you say, “Tracy! You could have bought groceries for a few weeks with that meal from The French Laundry,” let me tell you the experience this past weekend was…EPIC. Epic in flashing lights, EPIC.
#3. Go to the French Laundry (again!) = DONE. But I couldn’t have done it without some help!
Thank you Joy & Wilson for helping us complete our party of 4! Thank you Joy for making the meal absolutely memorable. I can’t believe you were willing to drive SEVEN hours to have dinner with us. I know The French Laundry might have had something to do with it. But seriously. You are a true friend. Also, I totally ate more than you. Not that we were in competition or anything… Thank you also for the Lemon Almond Meringues you made me! They were excellent & beautifully wrapped. I’m glad that I can finally say that I ate your food.
Wilson, nice try ordering off the menu! Thanks for driving up and staying up in Yountville. That was cool and I’m glad you let me use the bathroom in your hotel room. I can’t wait to try the makeup remover sample that I *borrowed* from your bathroom. I knew you weren’t going to need it.
Thank you Casey for bringing awesome wine for us! I know how hard you worked to figure out the wine for the evening. Don’t think I didn’t notice you toiling over your spreadsheets! Thank you also for driving us home safely that night through those crazy/windy roads. You’re my favorite eating partner/designated driver.
Thanks Rebecca for getting us a reservation less than a month before my birthday. You rock! I was nervous that I wasn’t going to be able to go but you totally pulled through!
And a big THANK YOU to all of the people who cared for us so dearly that night!
Aubrey– I loved your tie and so did my husband! The service was impeccable and your enthusiasm showed. You also made me miss having long hair with your pretty braid. Seeing you bring out a black truffle in a humidor was the highlight of the evening.
Sophie– that bread box you put in front of me! Wow. Thank you for diligently wiping up my bread crumbs. I tend to make a mess, don’t I? P.S- You have a wonderful smile.
Mimi– Thank you for listening to the Joy The Baker Podcast! Hearing that you’re a fan made my YEAR! Wow!
Wine Guy– Thank you for the Grand Cru Champagne, sorry we did not catch your name nor the name of the Champagne producer but it set the tone for an amazing meal.
And thank you, Thomas Keller for being most excellent and hiring nothing but the best people to represent your restaurants. I’m going on a juice cleanse this week and was smart enough to spend the last few days before my cleanse inhaling your food at both The French Laundry & Ad Hoc. You are legit. P.S- I love your Creamed Summer Corn!
Here’s a peak of the menu!
It’s still going….
OK. We’re done! And they bring out a few add-ons too! Insane, right?
Unfortunately the light was low in the restaurant and both my camera phone & my DSLR had to work super hard! Perhaps next visit I’ll have lunch there and exploit natural sunlight? Good idea!
Here’s how we started…
We were given a delicious tuna tartare cone & some cheesy gougères and an INCREDIBLE cold corn soup. Joy cried. Fact.
(not pictured)
Then we ate the “Oysters & Pearls” with a pretty caviar spoon! Fancy!
There was a gazpacho…a foie gras crepe stack with sea urchin and here’s a delicious striped bass with baby corn!
In the background is a bottle of 2006 Rivers Marie Occidental Ridge Vineyard Pinot Noir; one of two Pinots Casey brought to dinner. This was followed by the 2008 Williams Selyem Sonoma Coast Pinot.
Casey ordered the tartare of ear shell clam. It looks pretty, right?
The butter for the bread was AMAZING. They gave us salted & unsalted butters from Vermont & Petaluma.
Lobster mitts. Makes me think of a lobster pulling cupcakes out of the oven…
Ummm. UMMMM. GET A LOAD OF THIS TRUFFLE PARTY! There’s a C on my plate for CRAZY.
I think I shed a tear at this point. Wait no. I did. I really did.
There was a chicken dish in between these two and here’s this tasty little lamb number. Amazing.
We had a cheese dish & a sweet tea sorbet palate cleanser & here’s my “Peach Melba” in quotes.
Joy & Casey ordered this dish. I had a bite…or three. Unearthly. Seriously.
Coffee & Doughnuts! But the coffee wasn’t coffee! It was a chilled coffee mousse!! WHAT?!
We also were given a plate of scrumptious chocolates, fancy macadamia nut candies & shortbread cookies TO-GO (see first pic).
We were the last people in The French Laundry that night. Clearly, we shut it down!
Now it’s time to start my cleanse…sigh.
