The French Laundry - More Than Just Good Food

During our last trip to Napa, we had the pleasure of dining at The French Laundry, and for those who aren’t familiar, here’s a brief overview:

The French Laundry, located in Yountville, Napa Valley, is a highly regarded fine dining establishment created by the talented chef Thomas Keller back in 1994. This culinary gem boasts three Michelin stars, a testament to its exceptional quality and artistry. It’s all about incredible French cuisine here, with a menu that changes seasonally and emphasizes fresh, local ingredients sourced from nearby farms.

The restaurant is famous for its tasting menu, which typically includes multiple courses that showcase a variety of flavors and textures. If you're a wine lover, you're in for a treat with their fantastic wine pairings.

The atmosphere is cozy and charming, featuring a quaint cottage adorned with lovely blue and white décor that makes you feel right at home. Just a heads-up—getting a reservation can be quite challenging since it's such a popular spot! Dining at The French Laundry is often described as a culinary journey, making it a must-visit for food enthusiasts and those seeking a memorable gastronomic adventure in Napa Valley.

Keep reading for a closer look at our dining experience!

After we booked our trip, we entered our usual planning mode, where Alex handles logistics and I take care of restaurant bookings. We are fortunate to be members of Velocity Black, an online concierge service that proves invaluable, especially when securing reservations at 'hard-to-get-into' restaurants. They reached out at my request, and we were offered a 4:30 PM reservation, which I highly recommend, as you will be nicely digested by the time you're ready for bed.

Upon arrival, we were greeted by the incredibly friendly staff, who showed us to our table and served us glasses of champagne—Dom Pérignon 2015, to be exact.

You can choose between two menu options: the original menu, which includes all the classics, and the evolution menu, a delightful mix of classics and new dishes. We selected the evolution menu and opted for the wine pairing. Being wine lovers, we were not disappointed.

Take a look at our full menu below, highlighting all the dishes we tried along with the wines we enjoyed. Pro tip: don’t feel pressured to polish off every drink or bite. I did not listen to my own advice and decided to go all out, and let me tell you, I was toasted!

TFL Tasting Menu.pdf

Download PDF • 249KB

After dinner, you are served an apéritif of your choosing—ports, cigars, coffee, and teas, to name a few. I opted for mint tea and some divine handmade chocolates. They also provide a charming goodie bag filled with more chocolates (yay!) and a copy of the menu, as you’re likely to forget all the remarkable dishes you tried, especially after enjoying multiple generous pours of wine, since you are in wine country, after all.

But wait, there’s more! You get to stretch your legs a bit with a quick tour of the property, starting in the kitchen. As you enter, you’re greeted by a clean, bright white kitchen, buzzing with activity. Multiple stations are each manned by a small team focused on their craft. After this interesting glimpse, you step outside and walk down a lovely pathway to the courtyard, where others are dining. Along the way, you’ll see the TFL Walk of Fame, featuring named stars embedded in the cement walkway, along with mats labeling the various rooms. We crossed one that said “Wine Cellar,” which, to our delight, was our next stop.

Alex is an avid wine collector and was like a kid in a candy store. As you walk through the doors, you are surrounded floor to ceiling by an impressive array of wine; the collection is truly vast. Gazing at the dates on the bottles was mind-blowing, especially one in particular that caught our attention: a 1928 Château Lafite-Rothschild. At the back, the cigars were beautifully displayed, adding to the allure of the space. It was definitely a highlight of the evening.

All in all, it was an unforgettable dining experience. Not only was the food nothing short of spectacular, but the enchanting ambiance and the attentive staff elevated it far beyond your average fine dining affair. Alex and I had the pleasure of hosting my mother on this trip, as she had never visited Napa and was already in the area for a family gathering. It was incredibly special to share this memorable experience with her, as well as with my husband. Sharing good food with family truly is one of life's simplest pleasures.