I like Fr. Tom, but...

Sometimes it is just hard to take him serious. Take this snippet from his website today in which he notes today is Thomas Keller's birthday.

Thomas Keller, the owner of The French Laundry in the Napa Valley, was born today in 1955. During the past decade, no other American restaurant has garnered the acclaim that the Laundry has. It routinely appears at or near the top of all Best Restaurants/Chefs In The Country/World lists. Lately, Keller's New York eatery, per se (they spell it in lowercase like that) has also been up there. Both the French Laundry and per se have three stars from Michelin; Keller is one of only two chefs in the world who have two such constellations. Dinner in either place involves committing an entire evening to a set tasting menu, and spending in excess of $200 per person (at least). I haven't been to either; I figure they're getting plenty enough coverage from other media. I'll go after they're no longer the hottest restaurant on earth, at which time Keller will still be at least as good, and probably better. I can't seem to detect the flavor of fame.

Using the classification "hottest" makes it seem like per se and The French Laundry opened last month. Unfortunately, I think the French Laundry can no longer be classified as the hottest restaurant on Earth. The French Laundry has been open since the mid 90's. It may still be a restaurant people are dying to get into but not because it is faddish. Christ, it can't be that exclusive, they let the Pope and Peter get a reservation. As someone so committed to good food and great wine would it have behooved Tom to make a "Tomment" about how the French Laundry is committed to his goals as well? Or maybe just dig a little deeper next time.

Sometimes the stubbornness and blinder driven persona of Tom really comes through.