On a whim, I called the French Laundry for a reservation a few months ago. The reason? Getting my first full-time job in 3 years, the fact that we've been married for exactly 6 months, and well, cuz I've been eying it lustfully for years. No luck getting in, but would I want to be placed on the wait list? But of course.
Didn't think much of it until this past Thursday, when the reservationist called and said they had an opening for Sunday at lunch. Did I still want to go? YES!
I'm actually glad to be going for lunch rather than dinner. Our last big blowout meal with this many courses was 3 years ago at Guy Savoy in Paris. We ate there for lunch and then proceeded to waddle around for the next 10 hours not wanting to see another morsel of food. I can't imagine eating that much food for dinner and then trying to go to bed. Plus, I always love a dining room filled with natural light, and the opportunity to get up between courses and enjoy the gardens is something you just can't do in the evening.
Tomorrow we'll be making the short drive up to Napa, having what I hope will be a revelationary meal, and then wandering around the little towns before trying to muster up the energy to make the drive back.
For some reason we've made this a celebratory weekend - we've decided to open up a Châteauneuf-du-Pape we picked up while we were students in France to have with dinner, then we'll follow up with Paulette macarons (passion fruit) that we had on our wedding cake. We've officially started SIT (stomach-in-training), intending to fully line and stretch our stomachs in anticipation of the big meal tomorrow. This is the best kind of training, no?
Bon Appétit!
well? We're waiting for an opinion of your dining experience at the French Laundry!
Posted by: Mark | November 08, 2009 at 05:49 AM
Mark - Sorry for the delay! Hopefully I will have the energy to post sometime this week if work isn't too crazy...
Posted by: Chez Christine | November 09, 2009 at 08:27 AM
You should open up a place called Chinese Laundry. Then serve French and Mexican food. Oh, and open it in Hong Kong.
Posted by: chris | November 20, 2009 at 07:55 PM