We spent Thanksgiving out on the town for the second year running. Last year, The Astronomer and I slummed it at House of Pies in Los Feliz because June was stuck in the NICU. This year, we wined and dined at Bouchon in Beverly Hills. What a difference a year makes!

I’ve wanted to experience Thanksgiving at Bouchon ever since reading about Thomas Keller’s Thanksgiving Feast in Saveur last year. I made sure to make reservations early, because even at $80 a head and with a limited menu, the holiday gets booked up quickly. 

Everyone at the table, especially June, loved the fantastic pain d’epi to start. The perfectly spreadable butter made every bite even better.

Even though there were three hefty courses coming my way, I couldn’t resist adding on an order of the oeufs mimosa ($5). Not that I needed an excuse to overindulge, but it was Thanksgiving after all. These little morsels were as tasty as they were dainty. 

For his first official course, The Astronomer selected the gravlax—house-cured Scottish salmon with a salad of winter citrus, pickled sunchokes, and pumpernickel croûtons.

I went with the pâté en croûte—ham hock and foie gras terrine with brioche, violet mustard, and forest mushrooms à la Grecque. Neither appetizer was traditional Thanksgiving fare, but we didn’t mind at all. Mmm…

For his main course, The Astronomer selected the steak frites—pan-seared prime flat iron with caramelized shallots and maître d’hôtel butter. While The Astronomer was initially hesitant to order beef instead of turkey, one bite of the beautifully cooked medium-rare steak and all his regrets were gone. The French fries and that butter (!) were both equally fetching.

 

I went the classic route and ordered the organically raised Diestel Family turkey (dark and white meat) with stuffing and roasted sweet potatoes. The preparation and flavors were very much traditional, which was certainly comforting but possibly a little dull.  

Served on the side was a fancy green bean casserole…

…and a boat of cranberry relish, my favorite part of a Thanksgiving feast.

For dessert: two slices of pie. Roasted pecan and maple pie with whipped cream for me…

…and Braeburn apple pie with Tahitian vanilla ice cream for The Astronomer.

We departed into the late afternoon feeling pleasantly pampered and stuffed.

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Bouchon
235 North Canon Drive
Beverly Hills, CA 90210
Phone: 310-271-9910

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Two years ago: chi SPACCA – Los Angeles
Three years ago: {swoon} Binagoongang Baboy at Magic Wok
Four years ago: Hủ Tiếu Cá – Vietnamese Fish Noodle Soup
Five years ago:Ludo Bites 6.0 at MAX – Los Angeles (Sherman Oaks)
Six years ago: Eat My Blog Winter 2009: Doing Good Never Tasted So Delicious
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Eight years ago: Eating in Phú Quốc
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