Schneier

I agree with this 100%. Investing in a Michelin guide is the best $25 you'll spend. La Derniere Goutte is a great wine store. My favorite bistro is Benoit, in the 4th. Bruce

4% is tumbling???

Okay. I'll try that next time.

Durian is best eaten outside.

Are the classes all in French, or are there English-language classes as well? Bruce

We want to live in a wine region. Cuisine is important. Although honestly, these two criteria don't narrow it down very much. We want a town large enough to have an Internet cafe but not one that is overrun with tourists. We want to live in town, walking distance to markets and restaurants. We want a countryside that is flat enough for easy bicycling. We want interesting things in easy driving distance (although that doesn't narrow it down very much, either). One of my worries is renting a pig in a poke. I've been poking around the various gite sites, and I know that I won't know until I get there--and then it will be too late. Bruce

Hey! You can talk about the wines here. Maybe they had an off night. (And thanks for writing the report.) Bruce

between moving to a differnent place and taking an extended vacation. I don't know, but I think I want to stay in one place. Although moving around is definitely enticing, logistical problems aside. Bruce

I'm a New Yorker, too--Although I don't live there right now--and I am leaning towards Paris for precisely those same reasons. I know it's not the same as living in the countryside, but I don't know if I can live in the countryside for four months. I might need a big city. Where do you go for long-term furnished rentals in Paris? And what kind of arm and a leg is it going to cost? Bruce

That's not always possible - even in Paris! Bonne chance et bon voyage. We'll live with a dial-up a day and an Internet cafe every few days. If one were within walking distance, that would be perfect. Bruce

We're pretty flexible. We need a good working kitchen. We want a bedroom and a sitting room. Outside areas would be great. Other than that, I don't think we have any real requirements. High-speed Internet would be great, but I doubt it would be possible. Bruce

Spending a month in each of four places is enticing, but I think we're looking to settle somewhere for the duration. I need to think about that, though. It's an idea I hadn't really considered. Bruce

Are they all out in the countryside, or are some of them in towns? And all the gites I've looked at rent by the week. I'm looking for a four-month rental, and don't want to pay 16 times the weekly price. Bruce

The town of Sarlat-le-Canéda is a mid-sized gorgeous village with a breathtaking medieval center. Cahors is a little more modern, but has a great historic bridge over the Lot River. Either would suit you well. Both towns have fabulous Saturday Markets. Some very good restaurants, as well as a countryside phenomenon called Ferme Auberge, where all the food is grown and/or raised on the premises. Enjoy!! This is the kind of thing we're looking for. We want to be in town--walking distance from stores and markets. We want an Internet cafe in town. We want restaurants nearby. We'd like not to have to use a car everyday. Bruce

Right now the plans are from August through November, or something like that. And I'm not sure what I'm looking for. I'm sure I want city life more than coutry life. I want interesting makets. I want pretty scenery. I want a good Internet connection. Everything else is negotiable. Bruce

Clean living.

The Southwest is an interesting idea. I visited that area earlier this year. Any ideas as to particular cities to be near?

Your advice about Paris rings true. Where in Provence? Near which city? In which city? In the countryside? Bruce

My wife and I are thinking about going to France for four months in the Fall. The idea would be to rent an apartment/house somewhere and stay there. I'm looking for suggestions on where to go. Paris is the obvious choice. Lyon is an interesting second choice. The Loire? Alcase? Languodoc? Anyone have any opinions? (The next question is: how do I go about getting a long-term rental?) Bruce

Okay; you've convinced me. I have an El Bulli reservation in June. What other restaurants should I eat at while in the area? Bruce

Which is the best thing since...what?

Once you've got the basic recipe down, there are endless variations. I would try a little fruiter sauce next time. Bruce

He's right. Basel is near Alcase. It's also near Schwabia and Lake Neuchatel. There's a lot of pretty in that part of Europe. Bruce

I don't think that Le Gavroche is on par with the best Parasene restaurants. Bruce

Thanks everyone. Last night I cooked two wild pheasants using this recipe. The bird came out perfect: tender and tasty. I have two more in the freezer. Bruce