Re: [LONG] alt.food.wine FAQ

Here is even more to that story. I carry an American Express Platinum card and one would feel certain that their concierge could get me a table for a night.

I had gone to opentable for two tables two nights apart. One night for party of 4 and another night table of 2. The table of 2 was avaialble.

I challanged Amex Platinum Concierge but as a back up I also did same with my Visa Signature card which happens to be a Nordstrom Card. Amex failed in a 5 day window to get me anything. The visa signature concierge gave me a choice on any of the 5 nights...they told me that they actually manage some tables there. :-)

Amex later came back after I was pissed that when paying $450 a year for their added valu card they could not get me a res but Visa could. They gave me 10000 points in membershit miles. woopee.

Meanwhile I will be in Napa for dinner soon. Never been to french laundry but have enjoyed Kellers other places.

Interesting, thanks for posting, Richard! Your experiences go beyond what's in the Sandersons' site ...

Enjoy the Laundry. (TK's* prototype restaurant, which made him known.) It also tends to have a good wine inventory, and very knowledgeable, full-service sommelier assistance.

Very interesting. Just saw him on Network tv last week...he was showing some cooking techniques and he had no accent.

I have been to Per Se, Bouchon,( vegas and Yountville) Ad hoc and all were outstanding. French Laundry I have never gotten in to---until now. Will keep notes...with all those courses I hope they have 1/2 bottles or wine by the glass. I am only 300 yards away and will walk back to my place.

Thanks to you both, Dick and Max, for a very helpful discussion about the FL. And Dick, sorry about not updating that fact earlier in FAQ after you mentioned it: a senior moment for me, I'm afraid.

Mark Lipton

Mark, you are not old enough for a sr moment.

I am 50 this year and I am.

Dick, I'm close enough to 50 myself now that I can claim it on futures ;-) And good luck to your son. Chemistry is a tough path for a pre-med, mostly because of my subject (organic chemistry). I hope that he enjoys the subject well enough to stick with it... and maybe even discovers that he prefers it to medicine! (Chemists don't even have to pay malpractice insurance :) )

Mark Lipton Chemproselytizer

If it is Mark doing the FAQ's Stoney Hill winery in Napa was a great suggestion. What really nice people great view and a Gewürtztraminer that I could actually drink. Also, Redd should be added to Napa restaurants. Great food, had a 5 course tasting menu that was totally different from my wife so we mixed and matched and got almost everything on their menu. They are not inexpensive but little in Napa is.