Recognize this? Some of you might know it firsthand, and others of you will be able to figure it out because you are clever.
A few months ago, my brother-in-law called to see if we'd be interested in joining him, his wife, and his wife's parents at a special restaurant in Yountville. They already had the reservations, and were flying to California expressly for this occasion. Oh, and the treat was on the dad; he's well off and generous. Jeez. The correct answer, the only, always, necessary answer was yes. YES.
The restaurant serves a nine-course tasting menu. I don't have that kind of appetite, but I didn't have a choice. Well, I did have a choice, and that was to opt for the vegetarian tasting menu. With the help of a few take-home boxes, I ate, happily.
Naturally, everyone else at our table ordered the meat menu. I got the feeling that a few of them were perhaps a little jealous of my food, beautiful dishes of foams, sauces, sprinklings, impressivements and plants. So good. I heard that the meat in one of the courses the rest of the eaters ate wasn't good. They were a little disappointed. I WIN.
Too full for anything else, I just picked and poked at the desserts. Yes, plural, because the servers kept bringing out sweets. I did enjoy the house-made chocolate candies. I picked one with a passionfruit filling, and it was nearly the high point of the evening, though I admit I was delirious with satiation by that point, and my judgment may have been a little hinky.
Which didn't stop the staff from delivering to each of us our own pretty souvenir: that box, which we were told to take home, there to enjoy the luscious shortbread cookies inside.
And there's your clue. The clothespin. (You already guessed, didn't you?)
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13 comments:
Knee the answer when you said Yountville and nine course tasting menu. I was just whining to my dad the other night that whenever he had been there, he has failed to invite me. Oh and when I went to Commission a couple of years ago, I just didn't eat all day. Only way to get through the menu.
Hi, Kailyn. Yeah, it's sorta obvious where we ate. :) The man who treated us got through on the phone, easy-peasy, so maybe they're not as crowded now as in the past.
As for skipping food before you go, I'm afraid I'd fall into some digestive meltdown and not be able to eat at all. We're all different.
I haven't been to Commision. Must check it out. xx
Damn autocorrect. I meant Commis.
Ha ha. That's what I thought it was, but I didn't look it up. I just went along with your spelling. Auto-wrong.
French Laundry? *wink winhk*
I tried a nine-course tasting menu once (not at the FL), and even I was nearly comatose by the end. Too much. But a memorable ballet of servers and clever plating that I enjoyed very much.
Zoomie: Yeah, nine courses is overwhelming. The first time I ate at FL the server suggested I take a walk in the gardens between courses, but I managed to soldier on.
"Ballet" is the perfect word for it.
I thought it was just a clothes pin box! :)
I am so jealous. Cranky gave me some tid bits about your adventure.
Greg: It would only hold clothespins for a dollhouse. Smallish.
Chilebrown: Have you not been there? It's such an experience. The only drawbacks are the price, and the distance. Why don't you go spend some of your pension money up there? :)
I would if I could. I tried for a couple of months and then gave up. You really have to have a connection or good timing to get in.
Mouse! Your comment was hidden from me. How fabulous that someone halfway around the world knows where we ate! Ding ding ding, Blue Ribbon.
Chilebrown, I asked the guy who treated us how he got his reservation. His answer: "Everybody keeps asking me that! I just called, and they answered."
Cranky and I called every day, first thing in the morning, for a couple of months, but it was years ago. Never got through.
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