Critics say world's best restaurant is French - but in California - Two month waiting list

The Daily Telegraph ^ | April 29, 2003 | Michael Paterson

[Cincinatus' Wife]

A British-dominated panel of food critics has decreed that the best place to eat in the world is the French Laundry, a French restaurant run by Americans in California.

Eleven of the top 50 restaurants are in Britain, up from five last year, according to the Restaurant magazine poll of 300 chefs and restaurant reviewers.

The French Laundry opened in 1994 in a two-storey 1890s steam laundry in Yountville, Napa Valley. Thom Hetherington, of Restaurant, said: "The stunning location in the hills of the Napa Valley was a big plus factor. But their cuisine was deemed better than any restaurant in France because, while they had a French-trained chef, they were not restricted by the more conservative tastes of many French clientele." There is a two-month waiting list for customers to pay around £80 a head plus wine.

Britain's highest-rated restaurant, at five, was Gordon Ramsay's establishment bearing his name in Chelsea, west London. According to the magazine, it only slipped from second in last year's inaugural list because of the exceptional standard of those above it. Mr Hetherington said the poll was dominated by British tastes, although voters were based around the world.

The top 10 were: 1 French Laundry, California; 2 El Bulli (last year's No 1), north of Barcelona; 3 Le Louis XV, Monaco; 4 Jean Georges, New York; 5 Restaurant Gordon Ramsay, London; 6 L'Arpege, Paris; 7 Comme chez Soi, Brussels; 8 Rockpool, Sydney; 9 L'Ambroisie, Paris; 10 Gramercy Tavern, New York.

The Merchant House, in Ludlow, Shrops, was 14th and was awarded the prize for Outstanding Value restaurant.

[bluewater bird]

Thanks for posting this. My boss & his wife and friends just had dinner there last month, so I will give him the article.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

I'll give you my own personal evaluation when I get back. ;o)

Bump!

[FeliciaCat]

Gramercy Tavern is very good. For more casual dinning, the bistro in the front of the restaurant/bar area is also good.

[Servant of the Nine]

I have reservations there next week.
I so deserve this.

If you get The French Laundry Cookbook, you will see why it is rated #1.

So9

[Labyrinthos]

Believe it or not, the BEST food to be had is at Epcot Center's "World Showcase" in Orlando.

You are entitled to your opinion.

[liberallarry]

Did you ever have the "pleasure" of eating a warm salad (retch)?

[Mamzelle]

(g) Well, my enjoyment of food is much diminished when the price tag is phenomenal and the presentation effete. (Like those cutsie-pie compositions with all the pureed finger-paints and bristling sprigs of chives, like a chia-pet wallowing in Jackson Pollock). I love the food from "The Barefoot Contessa" and my favorite TV show is "Good Eats" with Alton Brown. The past year I've been shifting to low-carb, and my tastes have changed along with that.

[eddiespaghetti]

Thomas Keller is a reowned chef.

He recently opened a "bistro" style restaurant in Yountville (southern part of Napa Valley). Its decor was very French, down to the snarling and contemptuous waiter (who was American, but was certainly "in character").

es

[Mamzelle]

Red-beet ice cream. Yum.

[liberallarry]

Questionable taste

Good for a laugh.

[KeyWest]

Fat Boy's is a drive in (with car hops) and usually you have about a half hour wait, since it is usually always packed. Great food and cheap. Their philosophy is to keep costs down, serve good food and you will have a lot of customers.

Driving by it clogs your arteries. Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

[LisaAnne]

I have reservations there next week.

Oh, what a coincidence! ;o) hee hee

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Just thinking about it makes my mouth water.

LOL

[BADROTOFINGER]

La Fuente, Wenatchee, Washington. Has a smoking section even. The best, according to the JFK Resturant Association. Me, basically...JFK

[Shermy]

Ping.

[Grampa Dave]

Our favorite restaurant in California and the US is Saint Orres, in Gualala, Ca..

You can stay in their B&B and have an incredible dinner for about the price of just a dinner at the French Laundry. Also, you will not feel like you need to stop at a fast food an hour later to fill yourself up.

Here is the link to this incredible place.

http://www.saintorres.com/

When you get to this link, click on the dining room icon to see the menus which are incredible.

http://www.saintorres.com/diningroom.html

[AGreatPer]

Give me a good Greek local restaurant any day over the high priced stuff. And what is nice, we all have them.

[Grampa Dave]

They left out this unique French restaurant which has a very unique way of serving baby ducks.

http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/902737/posts

At six weeks, they are strangled rather than decapitated in order to retain all of their blood.

They are then plucked and eaten within 24 hours, as bacteria proliferate in a dead, blood-filled duck.

Once it reaches La Tour d'Argent, the duck is lightly roasted and its breast, leg and liver removed. The carcass is then put in a press to extract its blood and juice, which diners can watch trickle into a chafing dish.

This juice is then added to a sauce consisting of the chopped liver, Cognac and butter, which is poured over slices of breast.

This is then presented with "soufflees" potatoes. The legs are grilled and served separately with a salad.


http://www.freerepublic.com/focus/f-news/902737/posts