Comments on: The French Laundry http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry New York Perspective on International Cuisine Thu, 09 Feb 2012 03:23:30 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.1 By: Adam http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-18096 Adam Fri, 30 Dec 2011 07:18:56 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-18096 @Rodney: Thanks. I shot these with a Canon 5d mark II, 35mm lens, mostly in f/4 at 1600ISO. They didn't seem to mind the photography, but I didn't use flash and didn't point the camera at other diners. I think they're used to it. @Linda: Thanks for sharing that link -- nice pictures! @Rodney: Thanks. I shot these with a Canon 5d mark II, 35mm lens, mostly in f/4 at 1600ISO. They didn’t seem to mind the photography, but I didn’t use flash and didn’t point the camera at other diners. I think they’re used to it.

@Linda: Thanks for sharing that link — nice pictures!

]]> By: Linda Monique http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-17746 Linda Monique Tue, 20 Dec 2011 07:37:41 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-17746 Amazing pics. Interesting to see the differences between the actual restaurant and the pop-up Keller did at Harrods in London- http://thefooddesigner.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/french-laundry-pop-up/ Still, I don't think you can replicate the original version of French Laundry anywhere else in the world! Amazing pics. Interesting to see the differences between the actual restaurant and the pop-up Keller did at Harrods in London- http://thefooddesigner.wordpress.com/2011/11/22/french-laundry-pop-up/
Still, I don’t think you can replicate the original version of French Laundry anywhere else in the world!

]]> By: Rodney http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-15222 Rodney Tue, 08 Nov 2011 18:11:58 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-15222 Hey Adam, those photos are ridiculous! So amazing. Can I ask: 1) what settings you shot at? 2) Did you tell them that you were going to be doing photography during the meal...did they discourage it at all? I did some food photography at the restaurant at Meadowood this summer and it just felt awkward for such a nice place. But I really wanted to capture the beautiful dishes! Hey Adam, those photos are ridiculous! So amazing. Can I ask: 1) what settings you shot at? 2) Did you tell them that you were going to be doing photography during the meal…did they discourage it at all? I did some food photography at the restaurant at Meadowood this summer and it just felt awkward for such a nice place. But I really wanted to capture the beautiful dishes!

]]> By: Cohen http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-12182 Cohen Sat, 15 Oct 2011 10:33:34 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-12182 My take on your thoughts 2 and 3: 2. I would think very important. The overall experience would include the ambience, service, lighting (it must upset especially food photographers like you to no end if the restaurant makes you eat in the dark), table and glassware and wine list. Any of the above missing significantly and you'd be better off eating at home 3. I believe that fine dining is a unique communication between the chef and his diner, and that any meal which doesn't bring out the personality of the chef and/or his philosophy of life/food would be, as you described it, a sterile experience no matter how technically brilliant the food is. It's the difference between listening to music performed live and from a CD. My take on your thoughts 2 and 3:
2. I would think very important. The overall experience would include the ambience, service, lighting (it must upset especially food photographers like you to no end if the restaurant makes you eat in the dark), table and glassware and wine list. Any of the above missing significantly and you’d be better off eating at home
3. I believe that fine dining is a unique communication between the chef and his diner, and that any meal which doesn’t bring out the personality of the chef and/or his philosophy of life/food would be, as you described it, a sterile experience no matter how technically brilliant the food is. It’s the difference between listening to music performed live and from a CD.

]]> By: Kung Food Panda http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-12174 Kung Food Panda Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:17:24 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-12174 Hmm, been having trouble with the comments earlier, so I hope I'm not sending in duplicates. I meant I tend to order a few glasses of wine or cocktails throughout the meal. One of the best wine pairings I've had was at Alinea. I guess I prefer food over wine. Hmm, been having trouble with the comments earlier, so I hope I’m not sending in duplicates.

I meant I tend to order a few glasses of wine or cocktails throughout the meal. One of the best wine pairings I’ve had was at Alinea. I guess I prefer food over wine.

]]> By: Kung Food Panda http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-12172 Kung Food Panda Sat, 15 Oct 2011 08:13:56 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-12172 Oh, I meant getting a few glasses of wine/cocktail throughout the meal. With Per Se I just had some cocktails with the tasting. I agree, when you can get 5-6 people, sharing a bottle is the optimal option. Oh, I meant getting a few glasses of wine/cocktail throughout the meal. With Per Se I just had some cocktails with the tasting. I agree, when you can get 5-6 people, sharing a bottle is the optimal option.

]]> By: Adam http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-12146 Adam Sat, 15 Oct 2011 00:59:39 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-12146 You mean add a bottle of wine? Or have a 25-course tasting with a different wine pairing for each course? Both Per Se and French Laundry don't do wine pairings. If you go with a group of 5 or more, you can basically split a bottle for each course which is the equivalent, though significantly more expensive. Agreed -- Oysters and Pearls and the tagliatelle were two of the highlights for me. You mean add a bottle of wine? Or have a 25-course tasting with a different wine pairing for each course? Both Per Se and French Laundry don’t do wine pairings. If you go with a group of 5 or more, you can basically split a bottle for each course which is the equivalent, though significantly more expensive.

Agreed — Oysters and Pearls and the tagliatelle were two of the highlights for me.

]]> By: Kung Food Panda http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-12137 Kung Food Panda Fri, 14 Oct 2011 22:14:17 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-12137 For me, I'd rather have a 25 course tasting and add wine during the course of the meal. Even though the meal as a whole, Per Se wasn't my favorite, if we're only focusing on the food, it was top notch. The hand cut tagliatelle looks fantastic and the oyster and pearls was such a fantastic dish when I tried it. For me, I’d rather have a 25 course tasting and add wine during the course of the meal. Even though the meal as a whole, Per Se wasn’t my favorite, if we’re only focusing on the food, it was top notch. The hand cut tagliatelle looks fantastic and the oyster and pearls was such a fantastic dish when I tried it.

]]> By: Adam http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-12130 Adam Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:04:52 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-12130 The meal was about $500 per person, including wines. We'd requested the extended tasting but they really only added 2-3 extra courses. On the other hand, I've had the extended tasting at Per Se which is $450 without wine, and that's a 25-course marathon. The meal was about $500 per person, including wines. We’d requested the extended tasting but they really only added 2-3 extra courses. On the other hand, I’ve had the extended tasting at Per Se which is $450 without wine, and that’s a 25-course marathon.

]]> By: Kung Food Panda http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry#comment-12129 Kung Food Panda Fri, 14 Oct 2011 17:02:22 +0000 http://www.alifewortheating.com/california/the-french-laundry/#comment-12129 Hey Adam, was the extended tasting menu only 2-3 more courses compared to the regular tasting? If you don't mind me asking, how much more was the price? Thanks! Hey Adam, was the extended tasting menu only 2-3 more courses compared to the regular tasting? If you don’t mind me asking, how much more was the price? Thanks!

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