Category Archives: Michelin

Bouchon – Yountville, California

I have been watching this documentary in Netflix about international foodies. The term foodie has been used so loosely these days, it seems like anyone who dines out once a week calls himself  that. But these people really take the term to heart. There was this guy who was able to dine on ALL three-star Michelin restaurants. There’s a hundred something of those in the world, so that really made a grand adventure! Naturally, I got jealous.

Dining in Michelin starred-restaurants is not cheap. It’s also time-consuming as it entails hopping on planes because as I mentioned, it spans the whole world. This bring up a conundrum because I have to keep a day-job to bankroll this adventure, and said day-job needs my physical self to work well enough to get paid (telemedicine developers!!! you need to chop-chop and get this technology going already). So I will have to make do with dining to as many Michelin starred places when I travel.

Bouchon is a Michelin starred restaurant in Napa Valley (Yountville). I really wanted a to go to French Laundry but the availability was too close to our flight sked, I didn’t want to risk it. Michelin 101: book in advance!!!

I had Elderflower Mimosa and D had Bordeaux–Chateau Margaux, Margaux 1995

My mimosa was absolutely delightful, I had to ask how it was made—it’s a mix of Prosecco and Elderflower liqueur (exact brand is St. Germaine—don’t ask me how i found out, let’s just say it involved some unauthorized snooping around in their bar).

Terrine de Jambon Persille – braised ham hock terrine with parsley, cornichons and celery root salad
D had Soupe à l’Oignon
caramelized sweet onions with beef jus, country bread & Comté cheese
Steak Frites – pan-seared flat iron steak, caramelized shallots & maître d’hôtel butter, served with French fries

Don’t leave this place without trying the Pomme Frites. It is truffled but not from the usual truffle oil. It has actual truffle shavings! The smell is so heavenly. If Jo Malone would create a perfume remotely close this, I will be buying it!

Coq au Vin – chicken leg braised in red wine with potato puree, bacon lardons, button mushrooms and pearl onions

This is actually my second choice. I wanted to try the duck but it wasn’t available this season. Like all good restaurants, they change/rotate their menu entrees from time to time.

Ile Flotante – poached meringue with creme anglaise and hazelnut praline

This is light as air, well balanced by the crispy praline. Its of those dishes that individually, they’re not exceptional, but collectively, it’s a bomb.

This is a chocolate confection made of several layers of cake and chocolate mouse, topped with super smooth ganache. I’m sure it has fancy name, it just escapes me at the moment.
This was definitely a lovely meal. Service was impeccable. And believe it or not, reasonably priced.

Bouchon, 6534 Washington St, Yountville, CA 94599