When we last spoke with Chef Thomas Keller it was at the 20th anniversary of his New York gastronomic staple, Three MICHELIN Star Per Se. However, this past weekend the celebrations migrated west to Chef Keller’s other iconic boîte, The French Laundry. The other Three MICHELIN Star (and Green Star) spot has been a Yountville icon for decades and the celebration brought out mega-watt names from the worlds of art, culture, food, and even politics.
Guests including Nancy and Paul Pelosi, Francis Ford Coppola, and Bon Appetit’s editor-in-chief Jamila Robinson mingled and sipped on Laura Cunningham’s Modicum wines complementing the savory bites (and bread) from Chef Keller’s team. Isaia and APL clad servers ensured revelers like newlyweds Dominique Crenn and Maria Bello, Daniel Boulud, and the Harlan family all savored their Dom Perignon with a healthy helping of Regiis Ova Caviar in the appropriately named Champagne and Caviar Garden.
As the evening progressed partygoers like Mario Cantone joined San Francisco society staples including Alexis Traina and Denise Hale long into the evening for the afterparty where Dallas-based DJ Lucy Wrubel spun tracks getting everyone grooving. However, the evening was a beautiful celebration of the beauty, splendor, and flavors that have made The French Laundry a destination for locals and visitors alike.
Hero image: All images courtesy of Drew Altizer