GREAT EATS HAWAII: bouchon

Showing posts with label bouchon. Show all posts

Sunday, August 9, 2015

BOUCHON

6534 WASHINGTON STREET

YOUNTVILLE, CA 94599

707-944-8037

HOURS: Daily 11:30 AM - 12:00 AM

www.bouchonbistro.com

My second visit to Bouchon was nowhere close to the experience the first time. Maybe it was the wine the first time or maybe something really did change since our visit a year ago. I think something changed in the kitchen because the food, presentation and flavors the second time were nowhere near where they were during our first visit. This was disappointing because on this visit I brought my Wife, Daughter and good friends that I had raved about the restaurant to. Service on this trip seemed a bit robotic as the place was very busy and the wait staff seemed just to be trying to get through the evening. We came away from this meal unimpressed with the food and service and what was one of my favorite restaurants became just another place to knock off of the bucket list. I started our meal with Caviar d' Esturgeion ($85 oz). California White Sturgeon Caviar served with Toasted Brioche and Creme Fraiche. I love this Caviar and so did my Daughter. She consumed the little black eggs like M&M's. During my last visit the Pate here rocked my world. I really loved the stuff and was bragging about it for a week. We ordered the Pate de Campagne ($14.50) this visit and boy was I disappointed. It was nothing like the delicious Pate that was served in a jar during the first visit. Nobody at the table seemed to enjoy this Pate. The Oeuf's Mimosa Deviled Eggs ($5) were good but nothing to get excited over. Next up for me was Soupe a' l Oignon ($10.50) or as I call it Onion Soup. The soup was pretty basic and rather bland with not very much onion inside the bowl or in the flavor. I went for a Special which was a Crab Salad. Sounded delicious as described by the waitress. I was surprised when the salad was brought to the table. The thing was so small it could have been placed on a large spoon. The salad was overpowered by a single flavor that I cannot describe. I took two small bites and did not finish it. The Laitue Bibb Lettuce Salad ($11.25) served with garden herbs and house vinaigrette was ok according to my Wife and Daughter. My Daughter hit the jackpot ordering the Special Ravioli of the Day which was Corn. The dish came to the table looking pretty bland and basic. The Waitress then shaved a ton of fresh Truffles over the pasta and boom the flavor went through the roof. This pasta was delicious and perfect! My Wife ordered the Croque Madame Grilled Ham and Cheese Sandwich ($18.95) served on Brioche with a Fried Egg and Mornay Sauce. Served with a huge helping of crispy French Fries. She said it was ok but she was not impressed and would not order it again. My friend ordered the Poulet Roti Roasted Chicken ($29.75) and loved it. He ate every last bite. I looked over the dish and it really did look great.

Click link below to view previous post on Bouchon;

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2014/07/bouchon-yountville-california.html

BOUCHON

ENTRANCE TO BOUCHON IN YOUNTVILLE, CALIFORNIA

OUTDOOR SEATING AREA FOR PRIVATE PARTIES

BOUCHON

BOUCHON BREADS ARE DELICIOUS

PISTACHIOS SERVED ALONG WITH FRESH BREAD

PATE

CAVIAR PLATE

CONDIMENTS FOR CAVIAR

BIBB LETTUCE SALAD

FRENCH ONION SOUP

DEVILED EGGS

CORN RAVIOLI WAS THE STAR OF THE EVENING. THIS IS HOW THE DISH LOOKED AT FIRST
AND THEN......

THE WAITER SHAVED FRESH TRUFFLES OVER THE RAVIOLI AND "BOOM" THE FLAVOR
WENT TO NEW HEIGHTS. THIS PASTA WAS THE BOMB!!!!

THIS IS THE ENTIRE CRAB SALAD FOR SOMETHING LIKE $30. I COULD NO BELIEVE MY
EYES OR TASTE BUDS.

THERE IS A HAM AND CHEESE SANDWICH SOMEWHERE UNDER THIS MOUND OF FRIES

Friday, July 4, 2014

BOUCHON - YOUNTVILLE, CALIFORNIA

BOUCHON

YOUNTVILLE, CALIFORNIA

BOUCHON

6534 WASHINGTON STREET

YOUNTVILLE, CA 94599

707-944-8037

HOURS: Daily 11:30 AM - 12:00 AM

www.bouchonbistro.com

Bouchon delivered on every level. Food, service and ambiance all great. Finally a restaurant that actually lives up to the hype. Absolutely loved my visit to Bouchon. It may have been because I had just come off a half day of wine tasting and had a pretty good attitude going in. I was pleasantly surprised to find the place was very casual. Not a dressy, uptight place where diners sit side by side and don't talk. This is a lively little Bistro that is bright and fun. We had a great waitress that always had a smile and was always there to take care of our table. Really felt like we were the only ones in the restaurant because we were in our own little world of food and wine. The first thing I loved about Bouchon was the breads. Oh my goodness. I would go back just for the bread. Could be the best bread I have had in my life. I thought the bread in Germany and France were good, but the bread at Bouchon is World Class. I ordered the Terrine de Foie de Volaille ($15.50). Chicken Liver Mousse served with a Toasted Baquette, Salt and Jelly. This my friends is heavenly. One of the best dishes of this blog. When you spread the Mousse on the bread and top with jelly you have what I think is one of the best dishes ever. I could eat the entire jar. Just thinking about having a jar of this stuff and bottle of wine makes me smile. I would pay double the price to enjoy this again. Hey maybe I can have it mail ordered! Next up was the Escargots a' la Bourguignonne ($16.50). Burgundy Snails, Parsley-Garlic Butter and Bouchon Bakery Puff Pastry. The texture of the Puff Pastry with the garlicky snails was excellent. Again another big hit. The Beignets de Brandade de Morue ($14) were perfectly fried balls of Cod Brandade with a Tomato Confit. The lightness of the batter amazed me. The dish was good but could not compare to the Chicken Liver Mousse. We splurged at ordered the Caviar d' Esturgeon ($85). California Sterling White Sturgeon Caviar with Toasted Brioche and Creme Fraiche. Again the darn bread. This Brioche was the best I had ever tasted. Top it with some fish eggs, onion, egg and capers and you have heaven on a plate again. Holy crap this was good. I remember having a bite of Caviar and then going back to the Chicken Liver Mousse while enjoying a bottle of Aonair wine that we had brought from the vineyard. Oh my goodness this was good. Maybe one of the best dining experiences of my life and we had not even started our entrees. I think a bottle of champagne may have shown up too. Wow.....Bouche is delivering I thought. We moved on to our entrees but really were satisfied with the appetizers. We could have stopped here but I moved on to the Espadon Poele' Provencal ($34). Pan Seared Swordfish with Pepper Stew, Fennel Bulb, Summer Squash and Nicoise Olive Tepenade. The fish rocked but I thought the Olive Tepenade did not belong on the fish. I scraped it all off and did not eat it. Another Superstar dish here was unexpectedly the Croque Madame ($18.95). This glorified Ham and Cheese Sandwich on Brioche with a Fried Egg and Sauce Mornay was THE BOMB! Who would have thought to order a Ham and Cheese Sandwich at Bouchon? Let me tell you, I want one now! Again it was the Brioche, but the egg, ham and cheese rocked. Even the French Fries rocked. Wow...I am having dreams of the taste now. Last up for my friend was the Moelle Rotie ($17.50). Roasted Bone Marrow with Garlic, Parsley, Shallots and Sherry Vinegar. Again the bomb. So rich and flavorful. This meal, the service and evening is a TASTE OF HAWAII FAVORITE!

Click link below to view updated post on Bouchon;

http://greateatshawaii.blogspot.com/2015/08/bouchon.html