La Ferme French Country Restaurant ~ Genoa, NV

A week ago, I had the pleasure of dining with the publishers of the upcoming new Edible Reno/Tahoe Magazine at the wonderful La Ferme Restaurant in Genoa, NV. The French Country restaurant is owned by a close family-friend, Gilles LaGouge who is French-Basque. He and his business partner and chef, Yves Gigot, opened La Ferme in the tiny, quaint and historic town of Genoa in 1998. The pair have roots in Los Angeles, along with pretty famous and interesting careers to back them up that have spanned 25+ years in the restaurant biz - very impressive!


La Ferme is like no other restaurant - its European charm and warmth envelope you as soon as you set foot on Gilles' property and by the time you've completed your dining experience for the evening, you just want to move in and never leave. Not only does their food offer and extraordinary journey for your taste buds, but truly all of your senses will be touched and catered to during a trip to La Ferme.


In addition to the wonderful and rustic house that La Ferme resides in, there is also the experience of stepping inside Gilles Menagerie & Boutique, housed inside one of the oldest bunk houses in Genoa - it's been restored of course, and oozes charm and charisma just like its owner, Gilles. The Boutique is Gilles' "sanctuary" so to speak, and a creative place that grew from his heart, offering clients the chance to purchase unique, one-of-a-kind gifts from all over Europe and the world...my favorite items come from the Basque Country, of course. In addition, Gilles has created a gorgeous line of jewelry that can be custom-ordered. It's an experience that's NOT to be missed when visiting La Ferme. Gilles' clientele come from all over the States and the world, scooping up his treasures, while appreciating his fine taste and eye for beauty.

Now to the food...our meals were incredible, as always. I hadn't been back to La Ferme in a couple of years and I had missed the experience of dining there and the fun and enchanting conversations that are always had with Gilles. This trip was especially enjoyable and fruitful, connecting La Ferme with the great gals Amanda and Jaci, who are starting Edible Reno/Tahoe magazine. Their appreciation for great, organic, farm-fresh food is contagious, and I can say that it was a very enlightened night of conversation and toasts! In addition, we received a tour of Yves' kitchen and met with their darling sous chef, Anne.

They make quite a team!

The other important news to share with fellow Celiacs or the gluten-intolerant is...La Ferme is very aware and able to prepare a variety of meals sans-gluten. That's the benefit of eating food that's incredibly fresh and not too tampered with - so have no reservations about being able to dine fabulously and without fear...but do make reservations.

Our first course was brought to us courtesy of Chef Yves Gigot, and other than the bread, I was able to eat everything.

Cured salmon with toasted almonds, an amazing cherry compote, with crisp, cheesy bread sticks

My next course was incredible - the Mediterranean antipasti. The yogurt cheese just melted in my mouth and Gilles home-grown cherry tomatoes that were marinated in some kind of fresh fruit were out of this world...

Mediterranean antipasti, yogurt cheese, house pickles (including amazing cherry tomatoes), and lemon hummus

The baby green salad was shared by the three of us and it was so fresh and delish-

Baby Mixed Green Salad , Pistachio Vinaigrette, Toasted Pepitas

My entree was so beautiful to the eye, that I really didn't want to disturb its perfection...but alas, my desire and hunger won out...This has always been my favorite dish at La Ferme...and somehow they continue to perfect it!

Coq au Vin "Mere Grand"

And if it's hard to believe there was still room for dessert, think again. This amazing little French creation was like eating sugary, lemony clouds dancing around in the sky...sigh....can it get any better than this? Non!

Floating Island: lemon curd and oeufala neige. A French-Basque treat!

Now that your mouth is watering and your are warming up the car to drive to La Ferme for dinner, make sure you call first for a reservation and note that they are closed on Mondays.

La Ferme is now also offering, in addition to their fabulous daily menu, a three-course meal that includes wine and coffee for only $35 per person - an amazing offer that you can experience Tuesday through Sunday nights.

And finally, Gilles wanted everyone to know that La Ferme is also in the catering business, providing clients with the incredible quality of food served in their restaurant, with very affordable catering/event rates. They are able to cater small gatherings to large events and weddings...and everything in between. Contact them directly for more information.

As we were leaving La Ferme last week after our fantastic dining experience, we had the pleasure of being visited by one of Gilles and Yves' gorgeous Great Pyrenees dogs, Neige. She and her siblings are regulars at La Ferme and they truly add to the unique, family-like atmosphere...don't be mistaken, they ARE part of the La Ferme family. There's a grand portrait of them all above the kitchen door to prove it!

Bon Appetit!!

See you in Genoa~