Dec 2015

Thanksgiving at Bouchon – Los Angeles (Beverly Hills)

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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!

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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. 

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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. 

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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…

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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.

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills 

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.  

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

Served on the side was a fancy green bean casserole…

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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

Thanksgiving 2015 at Bouchon - Beverly Hills

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

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

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

One year ago: Alimento – Los Angeles (Silver Lake)
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
Seven years ago: Café Beaujolais – Los Angeles (Eagle Rock)
Eight years ago: Eating in Phú Quốc
Nine years ago: Fellini Cafe Trattoria – Philadelphia

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2 thoughts on “Thanksgiving at Bouchon – Los Angeles (Beverly Hills)

  1. Aww, raising a future food connoisseur I see! ^_^ Maybe one day June can meet my Derek. Derek is 19 months now and I am proud to say he will try to down almost anything at least once. (Durian – yum, sam bo luong – delicious, bittermelon – not so good, nem nuong cuon – total fan) Just this morning he was trying to get at my vietnamese coffee but was denied.

    NICU stays are hard. Thank the gods those days are behind us. We were in the NICU for 21 days last year. Longest month EVER…

  2. Anh – So happy to hear that Derek is an eating champion! Nem nuong was little too “rubbery” for June the first time we gave it to her, but I think she’d be down now with more teeth in her mouth 🙂

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