Remember our road trip to Napa in May? I forgot to share one of our favorite parts, dinner at Bouchon. We had attempted a reservation at French Laundry, but it was not possible (two months out, and even then you need luck on your side!). We will keep trying, and in the meantime, we enjoyed wonderful meals at both Ad Hoc and again at Bouchon on this trip…
Bread, butter, and a delicious bean spread.
and wine.
Salt cod fritters with tomato confit and fried sage
These were amazing. Absolutely delicious.
I chose the daily special – soft shell crab. This was great, just… high maintenance.
Jason also chose a daily special, the brisket.
He loved it. I loved the presentation.
The dessert I ordered was fantastic – a trio of fudgy brownies, pistachio ice cream, candied ginger.
Jason had his favorite, the ice cream and sorbet.
Once again, a lovely experience. We sat next to a fun couple and had great conversation with them! They live near Napa and gave us many insider tips – their favorite wineries and restaurants – like well-kept secrets. We made a list and plan to return to Napa, hopefully soon.
For us, Bouchon will always be on that list.
{ 64 comments… read them below or add one }
You guys are such foodies!! This meal (as always) looks incredible!!
oh, it was incredible. as much as I LOVE cooking and creating, we also LOVE to experience great restaurants!
I would LOVE to go to any of T.K.’s restaurants as I’ve mentioned to you before.
I love your review post….a little vicarious action
Jason and I both love Thomas Keller… we’re slowly working our way through all of them, and hopefully one day will secure a coveted spot at TFL !
ugh, so jealous
Eating there is one of my life food goals!
same here… next up? French Laundry!!
Awesome. Your restaurant review pics put mine to shame LOL. I am so bad with my point and shoot. Must figure that sucker out.
your photos looked great, Heather!! made ME want to eat there…
I have some serious meal envy right now. Everything looks so good, particularly the fritters and the soft shell crab.
the salt cod – OH MY – one of the BEST things I’ve eaten this year, truly. I could have ordered another plate of those and a salad and been just as happy!
That’s some nice lookin’ photography, there, Kristina. The food looks good, too…
thanks, Stephanie! it’s more difficult in restaurants, because I want to take it and eat… I only get a couple at most and don’t pay too much attention… I want to put my huge camera back down before I cause a scene
the food was GREAT – I am still thinking about those salt cod fritters…
oh bouchon! i fell in love in vegas, and lucky for me one opened in beverly hills!
our first Bouchon experience was in Vegas too… STILL our favorite one – every aspect of that visit – the food – amazing, our server – friendly, attentive, fun! the sommelier was awesome too. this visit in Napa was good, we liked our server but didn’t get to the “fun” level we usually do
we’ll have to get to the BH location one of these days…
Um. I need to add this place to my list – we’re hoping to get to Napa on one of the days we’re in wine country this fall (staying in Sonoma mainly). Looks delicious!!
YES – either here or Ad Hoc, his other one… they were both excellent. even if it’s for lunch! I cannot wait to get back to Napa.
Those dishes look amazing! I am especially intrigued with the cod fritters!
the fritters were by far the best part of this visit. SO good.
i love how intricate his flavors are. amazing! I adore sage as well.
I do too – you know I love to play with flavor, and it’s great to experience someone who actually knows what they’re doing with them!
and sage – I love it! some day I’ll have to tell you about the spa I built – it was called Sage Springs! I created a product line and among the products – a sage body wash and a sage scrub! Mmm.
I think I may have just drooled on my keyboard as I looked at these photos!
Have a great Friday, thanks for sharing the lovely pictures!
I know, Roz, I was doing the same last night while going through these photos – revisiting a fantastic meal! happy weekend to you!
Everything looks SO delicious! You had me at the bread + bean spread, but I drooled a little as I kept scrolling down. Dustin LOVES soft shell crab, so I think he’d be more than happy to try that. And those cod fritters… that and the bread, I’d be in carby heaven.
that bean spread is SO good, and I love their little bread loaves they just set on the table. the soft shell crab was DELICIOUS, just a bit difficult to eat.
the cod fritters were one of the best things I’ve ever eaten. if we are lucky enough to return and those are on the menu? they WILL be on my table!
Wow! Beautiful and delicious. How could you ask for more really?
ahh, I cannot. it really was amazing.
Aww, this looks totally wonderful again! Love the pics!
Are those tiny tiny potatoes on Jason’s plate?
yes, tiny and tasty potatoes!
the pistachio ice cream has a little edible hat hehe <3
wasn’t that cute?
Aaahh! Napa, a foodies galore. Tarun and I can’t wait to get an opportunity some day, to explore Napa. Gorgeous photos dear
thank you, Kiran! I hope you and Tarun can go, and soon!
we loved every bit of that trip, and cannot wait to return!
we were just in napa over 4th of july weekend…we are lucky we live close by…we’ve been to french laundry once before….bouchon several times and bistro jeanty–which is down the street (not a thomas keller)….i used to love these restaurants when i was a meat eater–having steak tatare was something i looked forward to…but now i avoid….
next time to get to napa go to ubunto vegetarian restaurant–fabulous…we also ate at morimotos–they make tofu tableside, quite the experience….i still eat fish…i loved the rest. Go Fish which is the same owner as Mustards…ps this is all fresh in y mind…3 nights in napa…will be going every 4th of july from now on…plus our weekend in the fall…btw, food at bouchon & french laundry is still wonderful, just a challenge to find a veggie dish there for me….oh yeah, and bottega was solid too!…geeze, i can go on and on and on!….
ooh, thank you!! the couple we talked to during this meal, the one giving us all the “insider” places? they told us to go to Bistro Jeanty. we were going to have lunch there the next day (on our way out of town) but we had a late breakfast – it’s now on the list for next trip! thanks for the other recommendations – I will definitely visit ubunto!
Oh wow, so jealous! I have a few TK books and I would LOVE to go to one of his restaurants someday! What a dream! I dated a fine dining executive chef for several years and all he ever talked about was Thomas Keller. hehe. That man has mad such a name for himself.
TK’s books are all awesome too! we are so excited each time we go to one of his restaurants – TFL is my BIG dream!
LMAO! Melville is one of our members from Santa Barbara county – ha! Sooooooo – I think that means you must travel further south
**I’m an unapologetic vixen**
What do you mean “members”? I’m a huge Melville fan and we have bought cases of the stuff from the winery. We’re LONG overdue for a SB wine tasting trip!!
okay, let’s all go! we LOVED that wine and would LOVE a wine tasting with BOTH of you!!
yes, Yes, YES I need to travel south and drink wine with you!!
YUM! Gorgeous food, beautiful photos.
I”m going to The French Laundry in 3 weeks for my brother’s graduation dinner and am prepared for it to be the pinnacle of my foodie life!
ooh, I am SO excited for you!! I hope you will be recapping each and every detail??
have a great time, and congrats to your brother and his graduation!
I haven’t been to the one in Napa, but Bouchon is our favorite restaurant in Las Vegas. The quality is always spot on.
the Vegas Bouchon was our first Thomas Keller restaurant experience – we got hooked!
oh my gosh JEALOUS!
hi Dana! just going through these photos and reliving it, I was jealous of whoever is enjoying dinner there right now!
Tell me you went next door to the Bouchon bakery and ate macarons?!
Love Bouchon! I don’t get over the hills enough to visit, but I really want to soon!
oh, no, we DIDN’T!
both times we went by the bakery, there was a line down the street! I would have definitely gotten in the line and waited, BUT the Inn where we were staying delivered FRESH Bouchon Bakery breads and pastries to our door each morning!! 
we enjoyed them anyway! When we stayed at the Venetian in Vegas last year, we went to the Bouchon Bakery there. Mmm!
Everything looked so good! What great presentation!
we loved it – I hope we can return!
French laundry de-virginized me to foie gras. Oh good lord I never looked back. I’ve been to ad hoc and enjoyed it, but FL was amazing.
Another funny aside: I also buy wine from a fabulous wine maker in Novato california called Brian Heslip. YOu’ve never heard of him, but he’s a pot-smoking/growing hippie chiropractor who was best friends with Thomas Keller- I think they may still be tight. But I always thought it was funny b/c I don’t think of TK like that!
my second foie was at bouchon (not this visit) and it was… WOW.
I wonder if your friend Brian could help us get reservations for TFL when we return to Napa?? We really want to go… 
I like the connection – doesn’t REALLY surprise me, though I’m from Oregon. 
I should be more precise: We used to buy wine from Brian- haven’t in about three years. We bought so much that we are still working through the cases (tough job but someone’s gotta do it?!) He couldn’t help us when we went before unfortunately. I know though how you feel though- it’s like the holy grail of cuisine. I’ll be honest. The part I remember most was the foie.
*dang*
just thought I’d ask. completely understandable, it must be exhausting to say you are a friend of someone like TK – that would be all you hear!! 
we WILL get there some day. I have found websites dedicated to tips and tricks to getting TFL reservations!!
PS PHotos are stunning!
thank you
OMG. How could you have forgotten Bouchon?!!! It’s a place I can only dream of visiting! Why, I wouldn’t even mind working as a bus(girl) in here.
you mean the bakery? we didn’t forget, but we were getting Bouchon Bakery delivered each morning to our cottage!
haha crab is indeed high maint… but man is it worth it! =)
oh, YES it was!! Mmm…
Um…
I think I just died and went to FOOD heaven.
Pass the soft shell crab, please!
I know – it is always so amazing. I want this all again, Right Now!!
This meal looks AMAZING, everything about it! This is on my list of restaurants to “try before I die,” for sure
hi Lenore! it was on my “big list” too… now that we’ve experienced this one (and hope to return!) the one that has taken it’s place is The French Laundry…