Hey! We were on vacation last week in California. And, no, no, we didn’t go to The French Laundry (although, I am starting a campaign to do so on our 5th wedding anniversary) but we did go to Ad Hoc, one of Thomas Keller‘s other restaurants. Mmm!
Menu from April 29, 2010:
* TFL Garden Carrot & Butter Lettuce Salad – sugar snap peas, blonde frisee, crisp chickpeas, white cabbage, chive oil, diced jicama, ginger dressing
* Angus Beef New York Strip Steak – grilled scallions, fingerling potatoes, cilantro, fried hen egg, fresno chilies, sauteed baby rainbow chard
* Fresh Leaf-Wrapped Goat Cheese with assorted pickles and olives, maldon flatbread
* Banana Spring Rolls – valhrona chocolate sauce, coconut ice cream
Yeah, it was quite good. See the pictures below. Plus a few assorted images from wandering around Yountville, CA.
The menu and wine list comes in a folder.
Mmm, sourdough bread with big holes.
The first course.
The wine course.
Iconic cookbook cover and pig illustration.
The second course.
Supplemental beef marrow, toast & orange marmalade.
The third course.
It was too dark by this time to get a good picture of the fourth course. Instead enjoy this shot of the reflection off the table.
The next AM, we hit Bouchon Bakery (next door to Bouchon) for breakfast-appropriate snacks.
We found some.
And some more.
Walked by The French Laundry.
Pretty! I wanted to pet and nuzzle the building.
They had a HUGE garden across the street.
We stayed at the Yountville Inn. I liked the room and its tall ceilings.
More vacation pictures are here.
Sounds like you did the Napa Valley in style!
Christine: We did! Only there for one of the days, (the rest on the Northern CA coast), but luckily, the town of Yountville is small 😉
Didn’t hit actual Napa, this trip…
Wow, what a wonderful trip! I have Ad Hoc, made only two recipes from it so far (Roast Chicken and Cauliflower soup with beet chips) – both amazingly delicious!
Maybe one day I can get to Ad Hoc and experience it like you did…