The French Laundry

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Finally made my way to French Laundry!  As the mecca of most foodies, I can't believe I've never eaten here (mostly due to a difficulty in getting reservations).  Now I can officially say I've eaten at all of the Thomas Keller establishments!   

As with Per Se, French Laundry starts off the tasting menu with Thomas Keller's ever so famous salmon cornets.  Smoked salmon with creme fraiche inside a crispy cone is the perfect way to start off the meal.  The only downside is they only give you one, so you must savor it!  One is never enough...

Another famous amuse bouche is the bite size Gougères, which is Gruyère cheese puff.  Again, they only give one per person, but its so delicious it will make you yearn for more.

Royal Ossetra Caviar (supplemental course) - buckwheat blini, Scottish Sea trout "tartare", flowering watercress, Kendall Farms Creme Fraiche and Hen Egg emulsion.  Loved the transition from the savory amuse bouche to this first course. 

"Oysters and Pearls" - "sabayon"of pearl tapioca with Island Creek Oysters and WHite Sturgeon Caviar.  As with most tasting menus, French Laundry changes its courses quite frequently.  Fun Fact - this is one of the dishes that is a constant on their tasting menu.  Luscious and luxurious is the only way to describe this course. 

Two butter options for the breads are provided.  This beehive shaped butter was the salted butter option.  Creamy and sinfully salty.

This was the unsalted butter option.  Surprisingly, I preferred this butter.  Even though it wasn't salted, I found the flavor to be richer and creamier.

Many people may put a lot of importance on the courses of tasting menus, but I find the bread selections to be just as important and exciting.  Brioche as always was delicious and fluffy.

"Carnaroli risotto biologico" (supplement) - "Castelmagno" Mousse, "Beurre Noisette"and Shaved White Truffles from AlbaIn all the excitement of eating at French Laundry, I had totally forgotten that it was truffle season.  Only did I realize this double bonus after reading the menu.  This definitely wasn't my first time having a white truffle risotto, but the combination is always heavenly.  Of course, the white truffle is shaved tableside.  I absolutely love the smell of white truffles. 

Salad of compressed Jacobsen Orchard Persimmons - Hearts of Peach Palm, "Bavarvis", Pearson Farms Pecans, and Black Winter Truffles "Coulis". 

Another bread session - pretzel bread and French bread.

Atlantic Cod "Confit a la Minute"- Applewood - Smoked Bacon, David Little Potatoes, Mustard Greens and Preserved Horseradish.  From this picture, the potato looks just like a potato chip, but its actually made up of thin slices of potatoes made into a rosette.

Alaskan King Crab "Piccata" - "Choucroute", Compressed Schmitt Farm Apples and Spanish Caper Cream.

Liberty Farm Pekin Duck - Garden broccoli, Globe Artichoke, Navel Orange Confit and "Sauce Bigarade".  The duck was wonderfully cooked with a thin layer of delicious fat and the skin was crisp and it did remind me a bit of Peking duck.

Charcoal - Grilled Japanese Wagyu (supplement)- Sesame Seed "Pain Perdu", Hearts of Romaine Lettuce, Cipollini Onions, San Marzano Tomato Compote and "Steak Sauce".  I didn't realize this until after eating all the components together, but it tasted like a deconstructed hamburger.

Herb Roasted Elysian Field Farm Lamb - Black Trumpet Mushrooms, Garden Sunchokes, Toasted Sunflower Seeds and "Ancholade".

Andante Dairy "Legato"- Garden Fennel Bulb, Green Grape Relish, Cilantro Shoots and Toasted Oat Granola.

Citrus jam topped with a black pepper cookie.

Salted caramel ice cream and graham cracker crumble.

Chocolate mousse cake.

Ginger cheesecake topped with white chocolate.

Salted caramel and brown sugar chocolates.

Graham cracker and marshmallow, peanut butter and jelly chocolates.

Red velvet and green tea macaroons.

Roasted Macadamia nuts with chocolate rolled in powdered sugar.

"coffee and doughnuts" - Espresso mousse with fluffy, sugar dusted donuts.

The parting gift was a tin box of shortbread cookies.  Shortbread cookies don't usually excite me, but these were buttery and delicious.

Address:                  The French Laundry
                                 6640 Washington St.
                                 Yountville, CA
 

Type:                        French/American

Popular chomps:      tasting menu

Chomp worthy:        tasting menu   

Manresa Restaurant

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Starting the year off a little decadent and possibly setting the tone of enjoying more of life's guilty pleasures in 2013.  Manresa sits in the quiet suburb of Los Gatos, but even though its far away from any big city, it still received a much deserving two Michelin star rating.

Two tasting menus are offered:  chef's tasting and the seasonal.  The seasonal Early Winter Garden tasting was my more obvious and splurgeworthy choice with its freshly seasonal offerings and a larger 13 course tasting menu.

Petit fours of red pepper gelee and olive oil madeleine.  The first bite of the gelee is a ginormous burst of red pepper flavor, but it was followed by a subtle sweetness.  The olive oil madeleines were so adorably sized as if they were made for children's tea parties.  The slightly crunchy crust gave way to a richer, denser flavor and texture.

A single oyster with a touch of lemon and crunchy kohlrabi choucroute was probably the single best dish of the night.  The briny oyster paired beautifully with the crunchy pieces of kohlrabi.

A milk panna cotta gave a smooth jelly texture that was flecked with bits of crunch from the thinly sliced radish and chewy bits of the fresh abalone.  Another favorite dish of mine from this meal.

While its doesn't have Joel Rubuchon's magnificent bread cart (see post HERE), the bread service at Manresa does have some tasty bread choices.  From left; olive oil bread, brioche.  The best of the modest bread service by far was the olive oil bread.  It's small size gave you a bit of crust in every bite.

The night seemed to be a theme of all things jelly.  A generous portion of shredded crab meat mixed into a roast chicken jelly and topped with a dollop of avocado.  Separately each component was nothing to gawk over, but once mixed it gave a nice balance of salty and sweet.

Roasted brussel sprout leaves were lightly sprinkled on top of the braised chestnut and anchovy mixture that hid underneath.  Not a huge fan of anchovies, I was surprised by the subtle creamy taste.

The crispy baguette was the favorite of the two in this second helping of bread.

A supplemental dish that I couldn't pass up, especially when the words black truffle and slow cooked egg were used to describe the dish.  A perfectly slow cooked runny egg sat nestled onto of little parmesan pieces that resembled grains of rice.  I was a little surprised to see the black truffles as julienned pieces than the petal type slices that I love.  Still the earthy smell and taste of the truffles gave a nice touch to each creamy spoonful.

A playful presentation of fresh greens was dropped at the table with nothing more than "into the vegetable garden".  Leafy greens and crunchy root vegetables with a sprinkling of "dirt" made from dehydrated potato, chicory root, and almond mill.

A "winter tidal pool" of Monterrey Bay abalone, seasonal masutake mushrooms, and seaweed served in a dashi broth.  Savory and comforting, its Japanese influence reminded me similar soups I've had at Kaygetsu.

Popped buckwheat that resembles popcorn kernels were mixed with celery root, and apple.  Although it wasn't terrible, it was probably my least favorite dish of the meal.

Perfectly pink and succulent cooked duck with a blood orange sauce.  Juicy with a nice layer of duck fat between the meat and skin.

A bite into the fromage blanc was like you were eating the richest, thickest cheesecake.  Delish.  The toasted pumpkin seeds gave the creamy dessert a nice contrasting texture.

Two is always better than one, especially when it comes to desserts.  The ultra decadent chestnut crepe cake shed the most beautiful layers when eaten.  Between the cake, the cassis and brown butter sauce, and the brown sugar ice cream it was hard to pick which component on this dessert was my favorite.  

Coming around full circle, the dinner was ended on sweet notes from a chocolate madeleine and a cherry gelee.

As with many Michelin starred restaurants, Manresa sends you home with a little treat for breakfast to remind you of the amazing dinner you had the night before.  The cranberry and pistachio brioche was soft and fluffy with big, juicy cranberries that left a sweet, but tart aftertaste.  

Updated #48 of 2012 World's 100 Best Restaurants

Address:                    Manresa Restaurant
                                   320 Village Ln
                                   Los Gatos, CA
    

Type:                         American

Popular chomps:       chef's tasting
                                   seasonal tasting 

Chomp worthy:          seasonal tasting      

Spruce

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It's been a while since I've been out to restaurant where I have to dress up.  Spruce is tucked in a sleepy part of the city, but even on a weekday night this restaurant is bustling.  I hoped to just slip into the bar, where they serve full service, but even at 9p on a weekday there was a wait!  Definitely come a little dressed up here, you will stick out if you are in jeans and t-shirt.  

I love places with bread service!  The last time before this was Joel Robuchon (see post HERE ), where I was in bread heaven.  Two choices of butter at Spruce: maple cinnamon (above) and Regular (below).  Maple cinnamon was my favorite.  A sweet start to the night. 

 Likewise with the bread, there were two bread options:  cranberry sourdough (above) and dinner roll (below).  Both went quite well with both types of butters.  The dinner roll was soft and fluffy.

Hudson Valley Foie Gras with Vadouvan wafffle, strawberry, and pistachio.  A playful twist on a waffle dish.  Also, I had to get my last tidbits of foie in before the ban (insert sad face here).  The foie is served two ways:  as a torchon and the standard seared presentation.  I was pleasantly surprised that the sweetness of the foie went well with the seasonal strawberries and the waffle.  Overall, very impressed with this dish and loved how it wasn't the same ol' foie dish.  Just the perfect balance of sweet and savory without feeling like you are overdoing the richness of the foie.

Burger and Fries at Spruce - #37 on 2012 7x7 SF's Top 100 Eats

The burger and fries are probably the most popular and well known dish at Spruce.  Its actually served on the dinner menu as well as the bar menu.  Rich and flavorful Nieman Ranch beef served between a buttered English muffin.  Not a juicy burger, but the meat is well flavored.  You have the option of 3 cheese:  blue cheese, gruyere, and cheddar.  Served with a side of zucchini pickles, which I loved, and crispy duck fat fries.  Not exactly #1 in my book ( Nopa's burger is still the standard for me see it HERE), but overall an excellent burger and well worth the $16 price tag.

Spruce burger (medium rare) with cheddar cheese.

Frozen Key Lime Pie with Macadamia nuts, strawberry guava puree.  Light and refreshing dessert that wowed me.  Just the perfect touch of tartness in the key lime with a frozen, slushy center. 

 Dark chocolate cake with mint chip ice cream and toasted marshmallow.  Rich and chocolately.

A sweet goodbye treat.  Not sure exactly what it was, but tasted like a bite of almond cookie.  I'd be avoiding upscale American restaurants for a while because the menus were starting to bore me, but I was surpringly impressed by Spruce and a little upset that I hadn't made it out here before, but I will definitely be back. Absolutely deserving of its Michelin star.

updated - Working my way through the 2012 7x7's SF big eat 100 things

updated - Working my way through the 2012 Michelin list (Bay Area)

Address:                       Spruce

                                             3640 Sacramento St.

                                             San Francisco, CA

Type:                               American

Popular chomps:  burger and fries

Chomp worthy:       burger and fries
                                              foie gras and waffles