the French Laundry’s Culinary Garden

One score and seven minutes ago our partners brought forth on this town, a new restaurant, conceived in finesse, and dedicated to the proposition that all food is served soigné.” —
Thomas Keller’s The French Laundry celebrating its 20th anniversary July 6, 2014.


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When my oldest son Mitch traveled to the Isle of Skye off of Northern Scotland just to eat at The Three Chimneys is probably when I first realized he was getting fairly serious about eating good food. For his photography services, he has been known to accept payment in the form of a meal at a favorite restaurant. That right there is a pretty good illustration of the kind of business sense that runs in my family.

Mitch visited The French Laundry over the weekend, about an hour north out of San Francisco in Napa Valley, in the town of Yountville. Mediterranean winter wet/summer dry, zone 9ish, a climate very much to a grape’s liking. I can’t even imagine the pressures involved in running a working kitchen garden that supports a world-class restaurant. You can read more about the process on their Facebook page. The French Laundry was inducted into The Culinary Hall of Fame in 2012. Jacket required.

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The menu for July 6, 2014.


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9 Responses to the French Laundry’s Culinary Garden

  1. rusty duck says:

    Wow, what a place. The light in those photographs is beautiful.
    Your son has good taste. I’ve eaten at the Three Chimneys too.

  2. Deanne says:

    OMG! that is truly amazing. I’ve never heard of this place but I can’t imagine keeping that garden going along with the restaurant. Fabulous. Great pics too

  3. Denise says:

    RD, and here I went to Scotland just to see the Logan Botanical Garden!
    Deanne, I bet Monique & Les have heard of this restaurant 😉

  4. Wolf says:

    Wow.

    Someday, I hope to aspire to this level of gardening. This is very inspiring.

  5. Denise says:

    Wolf, just getting my tiny community garden plot to produce a few veggies kicks my a**.

  6. Wolf says:

    I hear ya! I got enough heirloom tomatoes this year to make a couple batches of pasta sauce for the freezer, but that’s about it. Heh. Still waiting on the peppers to finish growing, the peas and beans got a late start, so nothing there yet, and still no idea if the cantaloupe will produce.}:P

    But it’s fun and that’s what matters.}:)

  7. ks says:

    Every time I drive by I tell myself I need to come back with my camera. Did Mitch actually eat there ? Getting a res is hell.

  8. Les says:

    Spectacular photos, jaw-dropping price on the prix fixe.

  9. Denise says:

    @Kathy, no, there was no eating involved. But is he ever hellbent on starting a veg garden now.
    @Les, so true. Kind of a moot point for me, as far as how hard it is to get a res.

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