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Post by Happygoin on Jul 23, 2007 11:42:13 GMT -5
So as not to hijack the post, can you tell us, Truffaut, what the appetizer was?
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Post by Truffaut on Jul 23, 2007 13:01:49 GMT -5
I'm sorry, I don't understand your question.
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jul 23, 2007 13:06:45 GMT -5
I think Happy is wondering what on earth the very pricey starter was, mentioned in response to Holger's post in a different thread . . . and I'm curious also!
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Post by Truffaut on Jul 23, 2007 20:05:53 GMT -5
Oh, yes! Roasted Breton lobster with garlic peas and lobster gelee with caviar (and not the expensive Iranian caviar, either). The appetizer G chose was crab stuffed back into its own shell, dressed with its roe and a bit of caviar, and served alongside a fennel broth. Quite the bargain at only $104
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grunblack
Full Member
Can't wait to get back...
Posts: 132
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Post by grunblack on Jul 24, 2007 4:40:10 GMT -5
I am so glad our dollar is getting stronger against the euro!
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Post by Happygoin on Jul 24, 2007 6:22:26 GMT -5
Yikes! I wonder if it was a lot better than the Breton lobster in butter foam that I had at Au Petit Marguery for 62 euros last fall. Sorry...
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Post by iank9 on Jul 25, 2007 2:11:11 GMT -5
Truffaut, Thanks for the info re LPC. I might just develop a peanut allergy at the point of ordering. I remember those deserts when our youngest was at school. Having to say that they were excellent is one thing, but in a 3*........... Le Pamphlet is looking good for our Thursday evening , but then for the next few days we intend going where our instinct and senses tells us!- Merci bien!
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Post by Truffaut on Jul 25, 2007 10:19:22 GMT -5
Ian, you might try Le Rouge Gorge on rue St Paul in the 4th. It's a wine bar and the menu changes every two weeks to reflect the cuisine of a different region of France. We were there in February. The region at that time was the Jura, so they didn't necessarily have a lot to work with, but it was promising. It was very pleasant and I'd certainly try it again. I can't recall exactly what I had, but I remember it was a large salad (probably a chevre chaud or something of that sort), and a roasted fish. The servings were quite large. The wine selection was quite good, and you can go down into the cave to choose your own bottle, if you like. Reservations are essential.
8, Rue St Paul (4th) 01 48 04 75 89
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Post by iank9 on Jul 26, 2007 4:20:29 GMT -5
Truffaut, An analogy. Several years ago we rescued a German Shepherd Dog that had been tied up in a back garden on a length of chain that measured 12 feet. He knew in that 12 feet area he could get water and food and sleep. We took him on and for the first two months of his life when we took him out for a walk he stayed on the lead very close to us. It came to the time to let him off the lead (a difficult decision for most owners of a rescue dog, will he come back/won't he). When the lead was off he ran a distance of 12 feet and then circled us. He did this for 5 weeks never moving out of the circle. One day he took a step over his "mental" 12 feet barrier, and suddenly a whole new world opened for him. I remember to this day his facial expression.He blossomed and became a marvellous, working dog. I use this story when I do talks for local rescue organisations. On reading your last post regarding Le Rouge Gorge, and several other recent posts on the forum, I realised that I had become that dog. We have got so conditioned to the 5th and 6th I honestly believe that I thought they were Paris. So this trip, out of the conditioned zone and into the rest of Paris. Our to do list gets longer- thank you
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jpcat
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by jpcat on Jul 26, 2007 6:19:19 GMT -5
Ian - what a lovely story! And a good life lesson taught by a beloved pet. Reading this was a nice way to start my day.
Have fun in the 4th and beyond!
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Post by Truffaut on Jul 26, 2007 7:17:46 GMT -5
Ian, that's a great analogy. There truly is SO much to discover in Paris. The vast majority of visitors never step outside their comfort zone. Just this last trip, we tried to do at least one thing every day that we've never done before and we managed to fill up 14 days!
Since we're on the subject of restaurants, and I know you're an adventurous eater, I'll recommend another bistro in our neighborhood. The chef, Alex Mathieu was trained by Alain Passard at L'Arpège. "Le Bistral" was featured in "Gourmet Magazine" about two years ago as a restaurant to watch. The chef wasn't aware of the article until I called for reservations and then we brought him a copy.
Le Bistral is tiny and there are only about three items on the menu each day. Reservations are essential (ask for the front of the restaurant near the bar--that's where the chef stations himself and you'll get the most interesting experience), and one must be an open-minded diner because of the small menu. Some of the combinations can be rather unusual, but except for one dessert, I've never heard of anybody not enjoying what they ordered.
When I was there last, I had an amuse bouche of a chilled beet soup topped with chevre foam, an entree of crevettes roses with diced green apple gelée and shredded lettuce, a plat of veal-stuffed cabbage roll heavily spiced with coriander, and a dessert of that was sort of a marquise enclosing a chocolate-covered brandied cherry and topped with a cherry mousse all inside a bittersweet chocolate shell.
Le Bistral 80, rue Lemercier (17th; Metro La Fourche or Brochant) 01 44 85 91 99
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jpcat
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by jpcat on Jul 26, 2007 7:39:31 GMT -5
Truffaut - your recall of food amazes me. Do you take notes or just have an extraordinary foodie memory? Whichever, your reviews are delightful to read.
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Post by geordy on Jul 26, 2007 9:39:14 GMT -5
JP, You should meet my sister, she can recall just about every meal she ever had(probably recalls whether the first was Gerber or Beech Nut! ) After our trip to Paris back in 1987 she went on and on about a cheese sandwich we had at the Cafe de la Paix(she went on about other meals as well to the point that our Aunts would joke about how good could a cheese sandwich be??!!! They should only know!! And....I adore peanut butter in many forms..I am one of the World's biggest peanut butter fans!! But..everyting in its place..even I would be not happy with the dessert Truffaut described at such an elegant restaurant!
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jpcat
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by jpcat on Jul 26, 2007 10:06:02 GMT -5
geordy - that's so funny about your sister remembering her first taste of solid food! I love reading about food - subscribe to food magazines, devour reviews, etc. Even though I am a vegetarian, I love reading about all sorts of dishes. Just finished reading Bill Bufurd's 'Heat' which has a large section on the art of butchering. Go figure...
Ooh, I also LOVE peanut butter. Couldn't live without it on hot toast or smeared on bananas.
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Post by Happygoin on Jul 26, 2007 10:23:00 GMT -5
I'm with you, jpcat. I subscribe to every food magazine on the planet, although I draw the line at the Kraft "quickie" pamphlets at the supermarket checkout line . I devour restaurant and meal reviews of all sorts, even by Anthony Bourdain, who, I think, is repulsive. He is so derisive toward French cuisine. Can you imagine!!?? It is so enjoyable to read Truffaut's, Gitte's and Luc's reviews. They have a way of making it seem like the food is sitting in front of you. Very fun.
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jpcat
Junior Member
Posts: 72
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Post by jpcat on Jul 26, 2007 10:30:21 GMT -5
Happy - did you read Bourdain's Kitchen Confidential? Hilarious. To this day, none of my friends will order restaurant fish on a Monday.
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Post by iank9 on Jul 26, 2007 11:04:42 GMT -5
Hi Happy,
Re Bourdain: In his book "A Cook's Tour" he returns to his roots in the village of La Teste-de-Buch, nr Arcachon. He seemed to speak quite fondly of French Cuisine. Recently there was a rerun on cable of a TV programme where he has Steak Frites at Chez Denise, and really enjoyed them. I have his book "Les Halles" which are recipes from his NY French Bistro. Therefore when you say he is "derisive" of French Cuisine I was a little bemused. In the US does he come across as intolerant and dismisive, or do we have an edited version of his books and television in the UK!!!
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Post by Happygoin on Jul 26, 2007 13:17:08 GMT -5
While I realize that Bourdain has credentials and has certainly logged in his time in the kitchen, what I detest is that he makes the average person feel as though he is on another plane, far above their culinary accomplishments and skills. Ian, I don't know if the UK versions are edited or not, but he had a program on here in the US (I think it was his first one) in which he was dismissive of French cooking as namby-pamby. That was when I decided he and I would never be friends. And then he wrote that silly book, Kitchen Confidential. It was like JAWS for the kitchen crowd. Now, as jpcat says, people won't eat fish on Mondays or brunch on Sunday. And why on earth he would think that anyone is interested in the kitchen staff's sex life is beyond me. Sorry..I know I go on...he's just an idiot.
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Post by iank9 on Jul 26, 2007 13:29:15 GMT -5
Happy, One of the reviews in the Sunday Times (A.A. Gill) of "Kitchen Confidential" said "Elizabeth David written by Quentin Tarantino"! Then again we have just been exposed to a drama on the life of Elizabeth David......... now there was a fiesty woman I'm not sure even Tarantino would have approved! OK Bourdain to the back of the shelf (although his moules dishes are good)
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Post by Becky (Berkeleytravelers) on Jul 26, 2007 13:38:08 GMT -5
Ian - maybe it's like eating a lobster, take what's good and discard the rest? ;D
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