Manda Bear B.
Yelp
********************* 1226 **********************
Love everything about this store, "It's all about FINESSE." As chef Thomas Keller always says and signs his cookbooks.
The store is extremely organized. Every little thing is precise, orderly, and facing exactly the same direction. It has the blue signature color door as The French Laundry down the street and Per Se in NYC. It's meticulously beautiful and it makes me want to touch everything and disorganize it :-)
From chef Thomas Keller cookbooks to hot sauce at Ad Hoc, from powder of Bouchon Bakery to the apron, from salt and pepper shakers to Equator coffee, you will find it here.
I came here to get the French Laundry cookbook to sign be chef Thomas Keller last Friday DEC 13th, 2014 from 3:30-5:30 PM. I drove 2 hours in the rain from that "storm of the decade" #Stormagadon, to be there at noon. Yup, 3.5 hours before the signing because I want to be the first 1 in line. Haha!
Laura, the wonderful salesperson at the Finesse The Store told me that I was too early, no kidding. So I went to lunch and brought some pastries to go for my parents and nieces, as well as a cup of coffee at Bouchon Bakery.
I came back to the store by 1:45 PM, no one there but me in line. I got to chat with a few folks just finished their lunch at the French Laundry, it was fun we got to share our experience.
Then I decided to sit on the floor, while sipping my coffee and look through the cookbook. Then the door opened. It was chef Keller asked if I was alright. I was so embarrassed to be seen on the floor (ghetto me). Chef helped me to get up and asked what I was doing there. I said I came for the book signing. It was 2:05 PM by then. The book signing is at 3:30 PM.
Chef asked where my books and then signed it right away. he didn't want me to wait till 3:30 PM. He signed my friends book too. I got to chat with chef for a bit about my experiences at The French Laundry when I came with a first date in July 2014 and it went down hill after that. Chef was genuinely listened to me. And the 2 books I asked chefs to sign for my friends, they both came to TFL with me in June and July 2014, I told chef.
Then I reminded chef that I saw him at Vegas Uncork'd in May 2014. I'm sure he was overwhelmed with me stalking him and his restaurants ;-) I'm truly a fan, what can I say.
He was so kind, genuine, gracious and warm, and this is the many times I have met chef Keller. Each time it gets better then the last. He took another picture with me, signed all my books. I'm so touched and humbled by the experience! It was truly 1 of the best day of my life.
And I can't wait to come back to The French Laundry for 1 last time in DEC 2014 before they close down for 6 months renovation their kitchen.
P.S. I also find out that you can buy the cookbooks here where chef Keller had already signed all the books. So check out the Finesse The Store in downtown Yountville, behind the Bouchon restaurant, whenever you visit Napa.
Laura, thank you for talking to me during that time I was so early. I really appreciate it. Happy holidays to you and yours.