How To Get a Table at French Laundry
The French Laundry
Located in Yountville, California, in the Napa Valley, The French Laundry is run by its owner Thomas Keller. The restaurant building dates back to 1900. It has been frequently honoured with inclusion in the annual Restaurant Magazine list of the “Top 50 Restaurants in the World” and was named “Best Restaurant in the World” in 2003 and 2004. Since 2006, it has been awarded three stars in the Michelin Guide to San Francisco.
For three week straight I would ring trying to get a table at the elusive French Laundry. The conversation would usually go as follows…
“Hi I am looking for a reservation for when you have next available.”
“Yes sir ,and for how many?”
“Just two please.”
“OK. Just one moment while I look and see if anything is available.”
Long pause………
“Yes, sadly we have nothing available.”
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oYVl6mOhLJQ
Yes, I was on the verge of Patrick Baitman outbreak after hanging up the phone. My anger was about to explode like a cork from a champagne bottle, however my competitive mindset was not going to give in for one minute.
Where there is a will,there is a way.
53 calls later I broke them down and they gave in.The relief washes over me in an awesome wave.
Before I start, I am far from a high-fly food critique . However, I wont eat in McDonald’s as I think is cancerous, sorry Ray Kroc. I take care of what I eat and it can be as normal as a $7 burrito from Whole Foods about five times a week. I dig them!
I too fall asleep when someone gets all snobby on me about food, or any subject, give it that. I don’t think there is any need for it. However, what I do have admiration for is the pain, time and sacrifice it takes for someone to dedicate their life to perusing their purpose and perfecting their craft.
So what does it take to get a booking?
The real secret is to know when to call. Like any top 100 restaurant, you are going to be looking at a 2–3 month wait list. Again you may be thinking that this is completely insane, but bare with me. The French Laundry takes booking two months to the calender date, and the phone lines open at 10 am, ☺ so calling any time past 10:30 am it is already too late.
The big question: why?
First we would have to start with some more information about the artist behind it.
Thomas Keller, The French Laundry founder, had a few interesting and unique insights that helped to set him apart. He claimed that
- His most important years were washing dishes.
- Repetition, doing the same rituals over and over again meant that you knew when it was time to wash the floors.
- If you see a great chef slicing an onion quickly it is because he has done it 10,000 times.
- If someone had asked him if he was capable of doing what he did, he would have said no.
These are just a few highlights. From a young age, he was thrown into the kitchen, learning all of his early skills from his mum. “She was a work alcoholic. My work ethic and attention to detail all came from her.”
“I had to be organised and effective.” Keller believed that being a dishwasher was the most important part of the kitchen. You could say this is where his learning and discipline lessons came from.
After dedicating 19 months to making phone calls and begging family members, friends and investors to raise money for The French laundry, his persistence finally paid off. He was 39 when he finally saw the financial reward.
There seems to be a common theme with the world’s best in any category. They all do what they love.
If you woke up and went to work just to make money, you will only end up quitting your job at some point. Once your money is gone you are back to square one. Even if you fail doing what you love everyday you are always better off as you will always have your desire for what you do. Desire is your safety blanket, it will always be there when you do what you love. There is no exception to the rule, as exampled by Thomas Keller.
“Passion is not good enough.” If one wants to work at the French laundry the only answer Keller is looking for is desire.”Desire, desire, desire, not passion. Passion come and goes.”
Conclusion
Take the world’s best in anything. Art — Monet? Wine -Rothschild? Property — The Hamptons? Cars — Ferrari?
Like in any category in life, once you would like a piece or experience of the the items listed here, it may seem somewhat unobtainable. However to have the worlds best food? For a special occasion it seem slightly more reachable to experience. Whether it be with a stranger, a friend, family member or a loved one. There is nothing like the art of conversation and spending time with someone over a dinner table. To me these are some of the most precious moments which life can offer. And perhaps phoning 53 times to experience something a man has sacrificed his entire life to pursue is not too crazy after all.
Some other great restaurants around the world:
The Fat Duck, Oxford, England.
Alinea, Chicago, USA.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qofsdSMuGbg
Per Se, New York. USA.
El Celerde Can Roca, Spain.
Chateau Eza, France.
Jiro, Japan
