Teich.Net :: All In

The UK’s Observer is running a piece on Top 50 things every foodie should do.. I’ve managed 9 or 10 of the 50 so far, not too bad considering many of these are UK-focused.

OK, not for sale, but just for free adoption to a loving home!

This is a wonderful dog in need of a good home if you or anyone you know if looking for a sweet and loving companion.
Read the rest of this entry »

I love American Apparel t-shirts. They make the canvases for art-house t-shirt designers like Threadless.com and some of the best casual basics and layering pieces in my wardrobe - good cuts, great colors, very reasonable prices, and all produced “sweatshop free” in the USA.

American Apparel’s most recent e-newsletter included this photo of the company’s founder and CEO:

The story includes some interesting snippets about the business, but I’m still stuck on this “advanced” facial hair fashion statement from a guy making such stylie basics.

After the food at French Laundry, it’s hard to figure out what to eat anymore. We don’t want to cook, or go out, or do anything but go back.

But, you have to eat, and on Sunday we ordered from our favorite local Italian: Gambardella’s in Menlo Park. The food isn’t gourmet fancy, some items on the menu are occassionaly dissapointing, but they have a few things going for them that make them one of my favorite local restaurants.
Read the rest of this entry »

We weren’t sure how to approach our dinner at the French Laundry after all these years. I feared that my preference for la cucina povera and food that grabs my taste buds more than my mind would make even this untarnished institution — consistently ranked one of the best, if not the best restaurant in the world — a disappointment. I had been warned prior to this trip that my entire world view, at least with respect to food, was about to change. I hoped and feared that might be so.

We went in knowing it would be an amazing experience, even if the food didn’t move us. We needn’t have worried: I would trade every prestigious restaurant meal I have ever had for another meal at the French Laundry. It really is that good. Start saving your dollars, or twenties, do whatever it takes to get a reservation, and get yourself to Yountville before anything changes.
Read the rest of this entry »

Saturday was cool but pleasantly sunny. We started the day with a walk around Yountville and environs, then had a leisurely brunch at the Vintage Inn before driving up to St. Helena to stroll around downtown and visit some of my favorite clothing and shoes stores.

We met up with our friends Joe and Kelley at Gordon’s and stopped at Pine Ridge for a tasting before heading to Spring Mountain Vineyard for our scheduled tour and tasting. We aren’t closet Falcon Crest fanatics, but I can see why they would have chosen this spot for filming – it really was a spectacular setting. We especially liked the 2001 Elivette Reserve, though the small production Pinot was quite nice and the Wine Spectator’s raves about the 2003 Sauvignon Blanc (May ‘05 issue) are well-deserved.

And finally, on to our 5:30 dinner at French Laundry…

Friday night’s dinner in Yountville was at an old favorite - Bistro Jeanty. It was only a few blocks from our hotel and I had been deliberating for days over the difficult choice between Crème de Tomate en Croute (a rich tomato soup with a puff pastry top) or Quenelles de Brochet in lobster sauce to start. In the end I was swayed by the more seasonal asparagus soup special, which was quite hot when it reached the table, with a little pool of melted butter and a drizzling of crème fraiche. Though pretty and tasty, it was not exceptional. A nod goes to Peder for his delicious asparagus soup last New Year’s. Oren had a beet and mâche salad with feta that was good, but also missing something. However, in an interesting twist, the beets tasted lightly pickled.
Read the rest of this entry »

While in Napa Valley for our birthdays this weekend, we spent two nights at the intimate and charming Vintage Inn, which had the distinct advantage of being just a short block away from the French Laundry. Read the rest of this entry »

After years of trying to get a reservation, Oren and I finally got a table at the French Laundry for our birthdays this weekend. (For how we finally got in, see the tips at the end of this excellent Vinography review of the French Laundry.) The weather didn’t quite cooperate with our top-down motoring plans, but we had a fantastic time nonetheless.

Details to follow…