As a large melting pot of all different cultures, America is home to fine foods of all ethnicities. For those who love French cuisine, America does not disappoint. There are French bistros, cafés, bakeries and restaurants scattered throughout the major metropolitan areas, including dozens of world-class eateries. There are several five-star-rated French restaurants, according to the prestigious Forbes Travel Guide.
In the heart of the Big Apple lies one of America's finest French restaurants, Jean-Georges. With simple, minimalist décor and classy, delicate stemware, your focus is on the world-class food, exactly where it should be. Having received the AAA Five Diamond Award, the Three-Star Michelin Guide Award, four stars from the New York Times, in addition to the five-star Forbes Travel Guide Award, Jean-Georges has been praised by critics and foodies from all over the world. Open Monday through Saturday for lunch and dinner, Jean-Georges is popular, so reservations are urged. The menu varies, so be sure to check their online menu. Lunchtime delicacies include items such as sea trout sashimi draped in trout eggs, lemon, dill and horseradish; warm green asparagus salad; sweet pea soup with croutons and parmesan; and, caramelized veal with silky cauliflower and kumquats with chartreuse. Desserts include warm, honey-rhubarb tart with crystallized rose petals; Meyer lemon sorbet; and, Jean-Georges chocolate cake topped with vanilla bean ice cream. Jean-Georges offers a dinner tasting menu as well as a regular dinner menu. Selections include egg caviar; crispy soft shell crab with Shiso-Yuzu mayo and Boston lettuce; foie gras brulee with rhubarb juice, pineapple, raisins and Sichuan peppercorn; roasted halibut with aromatic spice broth and spring vegetables; and, duck breast topped with cracked Jordan almonds and amaretto jus. Do not leave without trying the chocolate cremeux with mocha, blackberries and hazelnut, or the bittersweet chocolate sorbet with olive oil and sea salt.
Jean-Georges
1 Central Park West
New York, N.Y. 10023
212-299-3900
jean-georges.com
Located north of San Francisco in California's famed Napa Valley, The French Laundry is right at home amongst the endless vineyards, making it France-like in nature. The restaurant is located in a small cottage, a former French steam laundry that was converted into a restaurant in 1974. The chefs believe that a great meal is an emotional experience, according to their website, and they strive to create a beautiful place with an attentive staff that cares about it as much as they do their home. Each day, the chefs create two different nine-course tasting menus, a chef's tasting and a tasting of vegetables. Foods on The French Laundry's chef's tasting menu include Maine lobster tail with golden corn, raviolini, chanterelle mushrooms, celery and Béarnaise butter; duck confit with sour apple relish, cornichons, frisee and white honey mustard; and, risotto Milanese with violet artichokes, jingle bell peppers and parsley. Samples of the tasting of vegetables include sweet onion flan with mission fig Sicilian pistachio "Nuage" and rosemary essence; marinated Matsutake mushrooms with red radish, Hawaiian hearts of palm and Mizuna; and, quiche blue del Moncenisio cheese, honeysuckle pear, pickled cauliflower and red wine reduction. Sweet endings include the peanut butter and chocolate, which is toffee, chocolate ganache and Gros Michel banana sorbet and the peaches and cream, with Santa Rosa plums, pine nut Nougatine and Tahitian vanilla bean-basil ice cream. You will never taste the same ingredient twice during your culinary experience, as no single ingredient is ever repeated throughout the meal. Each meal is truly one-of-a-kind.
The French Laundry
6630 Washington Ave.
Yountville, Calif. 94599
707-944-2380
frenchlaundry.com
Sin City is filled with dozens of world-class, fine dining establishments; head to the Wynn Las Vegas for one of the highest-rated restaurants in the city. Alex is a French Riviera-inspired restaurant that has earned the AAA Five Diamond Award, the Wine Spectator's Grand Award, the Michelin Las Vegas Guide two stars rating in addition to the coveted Forbes Travel Five Star Award. Open for dinner from Wednesday through Saturday, there is a limited amount of time you can experience this fine cuisine each week, so reservations are strongly encouraged. Alex offers a prix fixe menu, a tasting menu as well as a farmer's market menu. As with many fine restaurants, the menu does change, so check ahead if you want to know what they are serving. Sample appetizers include the sauté of frog legs with sweet corn and pepper relish, Vadouvan curry and heirloom tomatoes and the king crab with pickled jicama and cucumber salad with seasonal melons and fresh sudachi. Main course entrees include delicacies such as Atlantic turbot with sea urchin arancini, bouchot mussels, mandarinquat and citrus beurre blanc, the Snake River Farms Wagyu beef with Peruvian vegetable salad, chimichurri and red sauce and the spiced duck breast "Apicius" with black mission figs, foie gras torchon and rosemary. Desserts include choices such as warm brown butter peaches with almond and sour cream ice cream and hazelnut crisp with Frangelico caramel and cajeta ice cream. Vegetarian and vegan options are available as well, so be sure to ask your server.
Alex
3131 Las Vegas Blvd. South
Las Vegas, Nev. 89109
702-248-3436
wynnlasvegas.com/#dining/alex
