That's What Jenni Said

  I had the opportunity to dine at Guy Savoy in Vegas during the early weeks of April when I was attending a work conference. I returned home with a souvenir menu and lengthy notes on the experience which I’ve now laid down in print for my readers. I ordered the Menu Prestige ($298 per person before tax, tip, or beverages) which was a culinary journey through the following starters and courses that I’ve detailed below. Overall it was a pleasant experience but given the menu pricing versus the technical execution of the dishes I don’t believe the value is there for the customer as compared to The French Laundry, Per Se, Citronelle or Le Cinq (my favorite fine dining experiences to date). I did like the creative touch of pairing each course with a signature bread the way other restaurants pair with wine but that is not enough to justify the pricing. Also the silverware was scratched up and the service was nowhere near as smooth and beautifully choreographed as at Le Cinq in Paris...

In late February, five members of NoVA Travelers (including myself) dashed off to Napa Valley for dinner at T he French Laundry .  At the helm as owner and head chef is the famed Thomas Keller. Our travel group has previously dined at Per Se (another Keller restaurant in NYC) and we had been trying to get a reservation in Napa for months without success. Because of its reputation, reservations are terribly difficult to come by: The French Laundry was named best restaurant in the Americas in 2009; Best Restaurant in the World in 2003 and 2004 and has been awarded 3 Michelin stars. Compounding the reservation difficulties, the restaurant only opens reservations two months in advance, has just one seating an evening, and a very limited number of tables. Coordinating several member’s schedules, airfare sales and the limited reservation opportunities led me to weaken my hope in ever obtaining a table in the next few years. However, we got a lucky break – The French Laundry is closed...