French Laundry | 3 Michelin ***

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The French Laundry is an American restaurant located in Yountville, California, in the Napa Valley. The chef and owner of the French Laundry is Thomas Keller.
The restaurant is a perennial top five finisher in the annual Restaurant Magazine list of the Top 50 Restaurants of the World, and in 2006, it was awarded three stars in the inaugural Michelin Guide to the Bay Area and has been reviewed by the New York Times.[1]
Contents [hide]
1 History of the building
2 Food
3 Staff
4 Awards and accolades
5 References
6 External links
[edit]History of the building

The building was built as a saloon in the 1900s by a Scottish stonesman for Pierre Guillaume, but when a law was passed in 1906 prohibiting sale of alcohol within a mile of a veteran's home Guillaume sold the building.[citation needed]
In the 1920s the building was owned by John Lande who used it as a French steam laundry, which is the origin of the restaurant's name.
In 1978 the mayor of Yountville renovated the building into a restaurant. Don and Sally Schmidt owned the French Laundry for much of the 1980s, and the early 1990s. Celebrities and at least one President dined there,[citation needed] and reservations were difficult to get. In 1994 Keller bought the restaurant.

This vegetable tasting menu was one of three menus available for Sunday December 42005
There are two nine course prix fixe menus daily as well as several tasting menus. During the holiday season, the restaurant may offer special dishes.
The food is mainly contemporary American with French influences.
Staff

Notable alumni of the French Laundry's kitchen staff include Grant Achatz of Alinea (restaurant), Ron Siegel of The Dining Room at the Ritz Carlton, and Duff Goldman of Food Network fame. Current sous-chef Timothy Hollingsworth won the Bocuse d'Or USA semi-finals in 2008, and represented the U.S. in the world finals in January 2009, placing sixth.

Awards and accolades

2008, Michelin Guide, Three Stars
2007, Michelin Guide, Three Stars
2006, Michelin Guide, Three Stars in the first-ever ranking of the SF Bay Area
2004-2006, 2008 Top 40 Restaurants in the US Andre Gayot Guide.
2005-2008, "Best Restaurant in the Americas," Restaurant magazine Top 50.
2009-1999, Five-Star Award, Mobil Travel Guide
2004-2003, "Best Restaurant in the World,"Restaurant magazine Top 50.
2003, "Outstanding Service Award," James Beard Foundation
2003-1998, Voted #1 - Top Food, Zagat Guide to the Bay Area
2002 Awarded the top honor of World Master of Culinary Arts 2001, a 1st annual award given by Wedgwood
2001, "America's Best Chef," Time
2001, Outstanding Wine Service Award, James Beard Foundation
2000, "Favorite Restaurant in the U.S.," Food & Wine Restaurant Experts' Poll
2000, Inducted into "Who's Who in Food & Beverage," James Beard Foundation