The French Laundry

The French Laundry, a sixteen hundred square foot structure constructed from river rock and timbers was built in 1900 by a Scottish stonemason as a saloon. The building later served as a residence, and during the 1920s operated as a French steam laundry. In 1978, town mayor Don Schmitt and his wife Sally renovated the structure into a restaurant, which Keller then purchased in 1994. The French Laundry has received numerous honors and accolades. Most recently, the Michelin Guide San Francisco, 2008 gave The French Laundry their highest rating of three stars for the second year in a row, and making Thomas Keller the only American-born chef to have two three-starred Michelin restaurants. In 2006, the James Beard Foundation gave The French Laundry the highly coveted ¢ï¿½?��Outstanding Restaurant Award" and named chef de cuisine Corey Lee the �Rising Star Chef of the Year." The French Laundry is a member of French-based associated Relais & Chateaux, Relais Gourmands and Traditions & Qualite; organizations recognized for their dedication to maintaining the highest international standards for hospitality and culinary excellence. Through The French Laundry's menu, which changes daily, the restaurant commits itself to creating classic French cuisine with the finest quality ingredients, sourced from its own culinary garden in season, along with a similarly intense focus on impeccable guest service.