French Laundry – Part 1
The French Laundry is a famous restaurant in the California wine country (Younteville to be exact) headed by Chef Thomas Keller. The Laundry is renowned for servng only a tasting menu, many items of which consist of exactly one bite! In my search for culinary breadth, I decided to make a reservation and give it a try.
The website says the reservation line is staffed starting at 10am. I call at 10; busy signal. Again at 5 after 10; busy. For the next 2 hours, busy, busy busy! Woo-hoo! Finally about 12:30PM I get through! I ask for a reservation. “What day would you like to dine with us?” she asks. I tell her that first available works for me. “I’m sorry, we don’t have any openings.” What?! You just asked me when I wanted to eat knowing there are NO openings?!
Patiently, she explains to me that reservations are taken 2 months in advance, to the day. Call at 10am two months in advance of your desired reservation, and its first-come first-serve. (that explains the busy signals!) Oh, by the way, the price is $240 per person, NOT including wine. And, the reservation must be secured with a credit card. (Does Chef Keller have a formula or what?)
Anyway, I’m checking my calendar two months out. Stay tuned…!
– Chris