So, my 40th Birthday is approaching...

[jbsegal]

and I seek an opinion:

[Poll #925843]

[Poll #926023]

Comments

[plymouth.livejournal.com]

so apparently one is not allowed to have heard of the french laundry but not be particularly interested in going? or is it just that that makes me such an uncultured fool that you don't care about my opinion on party size? ;)

[deguspice.livejournal.com]

You didn't say who's paying and if that includes air fare.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

I thought about that. If you don't think much about the place, you probably haven't spent a lot of time thinking about best party sizes to enjoy it. Or have you? What're your conclusions? And why are you thinking about things you don't want to do? :)

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

There. How's that? :)

[lillibet.livejournal.com]

From what I recall, if you are a party of eight or more, you can book up to a year in advance, whereas smaller parties have to do the two-months-to-the-day-good-luck-getting-through reservation roulette. That alone would make me want to go in a larger party.

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I know. I'm trying to weigh whether the challenge of arranging a transcontinental party of 8-10 is worth it.

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

As you may recall, this is how my party did it, and it was entirely worthwhile. We were raucus and had a blast, and though I think I'd like to go sometime as a couple, it's hard for me to imagine it being better that way, just different.

[(Anonymous)]

I have heard of the French Laundry and I think you should GO! That's the main thing!

With whatever size party pleases you most. Turning 40 was fun, and you should have fun with it.
Lauren

[jered]

Oh, my.

I'd very much like to go to The French Laundry, but they've raised their prices to astronomical levels. When in Napa we usually go to La Toque, where the food is every bit as good. (I'm sure the service doesn't compare, of course.)

Hmm. Well, keep me in the loop....

[coraline]

when i click on the second poll, it keeps tell me i do'nt have permission to see that poll, even though it says "open to all, results open to all" at the top. weird.

anways: french laundry. i want to go there someday, a lot. i've never yet been able to get a resrvation (and i haven't had flexible enough travel times where i can get a reservation, and THEN make travel plans).
but everything i've heard about it is great.

if you're in that part of the country anyways, my uncle, who has been to both more than once, actually liked restaurant gary danko better, and i certainly had a fantastic meal when i was there.

personally, when going to restaurants like that, i like to go in a small group -- too many people is now fun, but 4-6 is about right, since you get to try more things that way (if you are the type of people to share among plates...)

a party of me!

[cthulhia]

if you need to get it to 8-10 people in order to get the reservation, I'd save up for the airfare.

[sauergeek.livejournal.com]

It wasn't until the very last question that I had any inkling that The French Laundry was anything other than a froofy laundromat. Meanwhile, I was puzzled about why you'd take a group of people to such a place.

Now I'm puzzled about why someone would name a restaurant after a place where you'd wash dirty clothes.

[aroraborealis.livejournal.com]

4-6 is about right, since you get to try more things that way

Of course, at the FL, it's a tasting menu, so everyone gets the same thing, anyway, unless you have vegetarians. (And, frankly, it's hard for me to imagine the vegetarian menu being worth the money, a difficulty that has been supported by my two vegetarian friends who ate there.)

[jim-p.livejournal.com]

Part of me says I'd be happy to join your party... but another part wonders how the FL compares with his newer NYC restaurant Per Se. Take the money I'd spend on airfare and get a really good bottle of wine instead :)

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Because that's what the building used to be.
http://www.frenchlaundry.com/tfl/tfloverview.htm

[jbsegal.livejournal.com]

Oh, I intend to find out how FL compares to PS. And how Bouchon (Yountville?) compares with Bouchon Las Vegas.

Thomas Kellar Is My Master Now.

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

I hope you're thinking of ways to celebrate your next birthday too - I'm happy to help make things happen!

Kimberly

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

Thanks for the tip on La Toque.

[kimberlogic.livejournal.com]

heh :)

[jim-p.livejournal.com]

BTW - did I tell you that Tam's dad knew Thomas Keller? Back in the 80s we had dinner at his first restaurant in NYC, RaKel. This was after his apprenticeships at Taillevent in Paris, but before he opened the FL...

That dinner was one of the best I'd ever had... it would be great to see where he's gone from there.

[coraline]

ohhh... i had vague recollections of that, but never having gotten to eat there, i couldn't remember.