There was a time when the French Laundry actually washed shirts. Now, that is just a bad joke (as in “They were a bit heavy on the starch; I don’t think I’ll be going back”). There are those who say Thomas Keller’s famous flagship restaurant that has spawned an empire (multiple Bouchons, Per Se, Ad Hoc) and earned Yountville the nickname “Kellerville” is merely a shell of what it once was—with all the pomp and circumstance of a triple Michelin, but without the substance. Nevertheless, it is still one of the most coveted reservations in Napa Valley and considered a standard of fine dining around the world. Keller was a pioneer of the extensive tasting menu, even though they are now a dime a dozen (okay, a lot of dimes).
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Tiny House, Big Reputation
There was a time when the French Laundry actually washed shirts. Now, that is just a bad joke (as in “They were a bit heavy on the starch; I don’t think I’ll be going back”). There are those who say Thomas Keller’s famous flagship restaurant that has spawned an empire (multiple Bouchons, Per Se, Ad Hoc) and earned Yountville the nickname “Kellerville” is merely a shell of what it once was—with all the pomp and circumstance of a triple Michelin, but without the substance. Nevertheless, it is still one of the most coveted reservations in Napa Valley and considered a standard of fine dining around the world. Keller was a pioneer of the extensive tasting menu, even though they are now a dime a dozen (okay, a lot of dimes).
Tour the French Laundry Garden
You may never have the opportunity to eat at Thomas Keller’s triple-Michelin-starred flagship restaurant Yountville, but you can see where some of the world’s most famous produce grows. Just across the street from the tiny house with a big reputation, the two-acre garden is open for self-guided tours. Planted by culinary gardener Tucker Taylor in 2005, it includes unusual varieties of vegetables and flowers from around the world and is sure to inspire even the most novice gardener.
