A Taste Of France In The Middle Of Yountville
You may have read the title of this blog post and immediately assumed that I was going to share my experience at The French Laundry. While that is not completely farfetched, I thought I would share another French treasure that can be found in Yountville, Bistro Jeanty.
Bistro Jeanty has been recommended on numerous occasions by individuals throughout wine country. But you know how it is, so many places, such little time. During my last visit, we made a point to pay a visit to this little eatery for lunch after ballooning. After all, nerves can work up quite the appetite.
As soon as you step inside Bistro Jeanty, it’s as if you have left California and wandered into a cafe on Rue Montorgueil. The walls are a vibrant shade of yellow and adorned with French posters and various novelties. There is a reason that Bistro Jeanty feels so authentic. Chef and Owner Philippe Jeanty wanted to recreate the things he missed from his home in France.
Jeanty moved to California from Epernay, France in the late 1970s to open the Chandon Restaurant. His cooking style and technique transformed Chandon Restaurant into a destination for food connoisseurs as they no longer had to travel to experience French Haute cuisine. Over the next twenty years, Chef received numerous accolades and praise from critics and customers alike. However, he wanted something more, a new challenge. It was at that time Jeanty decided to open Bistro Jeanty in 1998 where he began serving people from across the world his favorite foods from his childhood.
While we didn’t have a reservation, we arrived shortly after Bistro Jeanty opened and had the opportunity to grab a table on the covered patio. It was the perfect day in wine country, so we couldn’t say no.
As we settled into our table and our cocktails, we relied upon our server for some guidance. Given the popularity of this restaurant, I had heard rumblings about a tomato soup dish but then our server brought over the board featuring the specials of the day and I got completely distracted. If you’ve followed Blonde Voyage Nashville for any amount of time, you can quickly take a look at this board and know exactly what I was drawn to, Deviled Eggs with Black Truffle, and Mache. Luckily, my friends are truffle fiends as well, so it didn’t take much convincing to get this dish for the table. In addition to the eggs, we had to order the Crême de Tomate en Croute. Curiosity got the best of me and I asked our server if it lived up to its reputation. He emphatically responded yes. We agreed that we would start with these before we pushed forward with our eating endeavor.
Aside from these dishes, the Foie Gras Au Torchon and Lobster Spaghetti came highly recommended but unfortunately, we didn’t have a chance to experience them.
I realize that the photo below does not do the Crême de Tomate en Croute justice. My hope was to illustrate how beautiful the dish was and just how much puff pastry is on top. It took a few good stabs with my spoon before I was able to reach the creamy tomato inside, but it was by far some of the best tomato soup I’ve ever had (Sorry, Mama).
You’ll notice that I ordered a cocktail with my lunch rather than pairing a featured wine. To be completely honest, I knew what was ahead and I simply need a bit of variation, hence the cocktail. To be honest, the wine seemed to be rather pricey, but when you are located in the midst of Ad Hoc, Bouchon and other world renown restaurants, I suppose you must keep up, even with the price point.
I’m sure it comes to no surprise that the tomato soup was rather filling and we didn’t feel the need to order additional dishes. While I regret that I didn’t have a chance to experience the Foie Gras Torchon, I can only hope that it will reappear on the list of specials during my next visit.
Bistro Jeanty is one of many beloved restaurants in Yountville. With its charming decor and authentic ambiance along with the friendly and knowledgeable staff, Bistro Jeanty provides patrons with a lovely French dining experience. I’d certainly recommend stopping by for lunch or perhaps a hearty afternoon snack while sipping your way through wine country.
Tariff: Appetizers beginning at $12.00 while entrees and specials can range upwards of $45.00.
Can’t-Miss: If I could only choose one of the two dishes again, without a doubt I’d order Crême de Tomate en Croute.
Potential Pass: To be honest, I wasn’t keen on any of the cocktails I ordered. Perhaps my palate was off or I just wasn’t feeling it. Spare your liver as I’m sure you will consume plenty of wine and other adult beverages during your trip.
Until Next Time!