The French Laundry: Yountville CA

After more than two decades in business, Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry has lost none of its appeal. The restaurant continues to attract food lovers from around the globe, who travel to Yountville in the heart of California’s Napa Valley to sample the iconic chef’s refined French-American cuisine.

Cult dishes such as salmon tartare cornet, oysters and pearls (a sabayon of pearl tapioca with oysters and white sturgeon caviar) or coffee and doughnuts remain firm favourites, but the daily changing nine-course tasting menus, including a vegetarian version, continue to evolve with ever-new creations. Keller is renowned for sourcing the best-quality produce from around the US as well as vegetables from The French Laundry’s own kitchen garden. With no single ingredient repeated twice on any menu, each dish achieves a perfect harmony and flavour balance.

The brigade at The French Laundry is led by Keller and chef de cuisine David Breeden, while general manager Michael Minnillo ensures the superlative standards of the front of house team are met at each service. Currently operating with a temporary kitchen, The French Laundry is undergoing an extensive refurbishment of the kitchen and courtyard that is scheduled for completion in early 2016.