French Laundry

We went with friends to celebrate a milestone birthday (mine)…stayed at the Napa Valley Lodge and had dinner at the French Laundry. One of my best birthday dinners ever. Late fall…I’d love to go back there during the spring for lunch.

Use speed dial to get a reservation two months (to the calendar day) in advance, and persevere. It’s outrageously expensive but the food is fabulous and the service impeccable. It’s rightly considered one of the best restaurants in the world.

I was just in Yountville a couple of days ago and did walk by it a few times. I was not able to score reservations earlier and there were no cancellations. Oh, well, maybe someday.

They have a little herb and vegetable garden across the street.

I saw a chef run out; I had thought he was going to pick some salad greens in the garden, but we ended up walking with him down the street for a while. Apparently he had to go to the bakery/bistro down the way to pick up a few flats of eggs and some sour cream. Crisis averted!