MMerrill

How about a run-down of the "major" markets too? I've read Rick Steve's description of the rue Cler and seen mentions of Mouffetard (sp?). Are they open every day? Unfortunately my only chance to visit markets will be on a Tuesday.

We have an eveing meeting with a friend whose apartment's in the 18th, and want to wander out for drinks and perhaps a light meal (mid-week, October). Any suggestions?

Where is the "Best of Arlington" post?

I'd love to hear what you think of Le Dix Vins after your dinner.

Thank you, John Talbott, for updating your list and for putting it out there in the first place. When we find ourselves "tourists," we're lucky that egullett provides a forum for us to benefit from the knowledge and candor of you all who do the research and share your opinions with us. Of course I still can't decide where to have dinner. Now there are even more interesting choices!

Looking for pleasant and reasonable places to eat in Paris for a few days mid-October. I've been perusing the bistro threads and reviews of new and changed restaurants and inevitably following links to other web sites and other reviews. Came across several mentions of Le Poch'tron in the 7th, and it sounds intriguing. Any opinions? I also have John Talbott's list: "If I only had 10 eating opportunities in Paris on a limited budget it would go something like this: L’Ourcine, 92 rue Broca 13th, 01.47.07.13.65 La Beurre Noisette, 68 rue Vasco de Gama 15th 01.48.56.82.49 Le Pre Verre, 8 Thenard, 5th (Maubert/St. Michel) Dix Vins, 57 Falguiere, 15th 01.43.20.91 L'Epi Dupin, 11 rue Dupin, 6th, 584/2, 42.22.64.56 Le Troquet, 21, rue Francois Bonvin, 15th, 01.45.66.89.00 La Grande Rue, 117 rue de Vaugirard, 15th 01.47.34.96.12. Le Repaire de Cartouche, 8 blvd des Filles-du-Calvaire in the 11th, 01.47.00.25.86 Au Pays de Cocogne, 111 rue Reamur, 2nd, 01.40.13.81.81 L'Ebauchoir, 43-5 Rue de Citeaux, 12th 01.43.42.49.31 " Any raves about, additions to, or deletions from these suggestions?

We always make reservations for lunch or dinner when able to. We usually eat out at lunch because we stay with our daughter who lives in Lisbon and has small children. I think 8:30 is probably an acceptable dinner hour in Lisbon. The fun of cooking at home there is getting to shop in the markets and butcher shops and the wonderful food market in El Corte Ingles department store. The hams and cheeses will blow you away!

Two participants interested depending on date. Out of town Oct. 17th-28th. If this doesn't work, I'll just take my husband for his birthday next week.

Again re Gambero Rosso - The Italy forum has a digest of articles from recent issues - in English.

Thanks for the great replies. Can't wait for our visit to Uzes and do plan to try Les Trois Salons, and will post a report - sometime at the end of October. Re Gambero Rosso site, they never do seem to have anything in English so you must register on the Italian site, then go into "Girone dei Golosi" from where you can explore around. There is a lot of good information if you can manage in Italian. Looking up hotels and restaurants is fairly easy. I subscribe to their English-language magazine (GAMBERO ROSSO WINE TRAVEL FOOD, To order the quarterly American magazine, copies or subscription USA and other countries, SPEEDIMPEX USA, tel. 1-800-969-1258, fax. 718-361-0815, e-mail: mmorreale@speedimpex.com.), which is interesting and useful if you're a fan of Italian wine, food and travel.

"Peter Millson's Les Trois Salons, Uzes. Hailed as one of the most interesting young chefs in France, the Swede comes from three years working under Michael Portos. In this little town south of Avignon Millson prepares dishes which look at Provence through Scandinavian eyes." This comes from the August "Gambero Rosso" magazine. Has anyone been there? We'll be in Uzes in late October and thought we'd give it a try.

Another thankyou for the wonderful overview of guides. We rely on Gambero Rosso (especially their "red" restaurants) and the Slow Food web site. These have led us to many memorable meals in Italy. The Veronelli site looks like a great addition to our reference library. A really helpful post!

Okay, I have a question. Why does wine have to be so expensive in most DC restaurants? We love to eat out and enjoy having wine with our meal but the prices seem astronomical to me. When we travel to Europe (usually Italy and Portugal) there are always reasonably priced, good wines available in restaurants, as well as super star expensive ones. I wish DC restaurants would offer some less expensive alternatives. Why not even a house wine by carafe? Seems to me there are quite a number of 1.5 liter bottle wines that could be acceptable. The restaurant could still make a tidy profit and sell a carafe wine for $10 or $12. We would eat out more often if we didn't have to spend so much for wine!

Thanks John Talbott for the helpful suggestions!

Do you have a list? We'll be there for a few days in October. We travel regularly to Italy and love the Gambero Rosso "red" restaurants - the ones that earn their "Oscar for quality and price." Are there Paris/French equivalents?

Yikes! We were planning to go on Thursday night. Now I'm leery. Any great suggestions, anyone? Went to Yanyu last night and enjoyed it. Had the second set menu, not RW, same price, shown in an earlier post. The crispy garlic shrimp were especially wonderful. We sat upstairs and the service was cordial and efficient. My husband even asked for "the rest of the duck," and was brought a plate with legs and bones which he and our companions ate on happily.

May I recommend Trattoria di Cafragna near Cafragna di Talignano, some 40 kms. south of Parma. We had lunch there in September several years ago when it was one of Gambero Rosso's "Red" restaurants (Oscar for quality & price). It is in the countryside, near a river and we ate on their delightful terrace. The food was delicious; I particularly remember the prosciutto and Parmesano Reggiano and a main course my husband had of lamb with apricots. The service was outstanding, wines wonderful and setting truly special.

On two trips to Puglia we particularly enjoyed meals at Gia Sotto l'Arco in Carovigno - delicious food, friendly and attentive service by the chef's husband! Also liked Osteria del Tempo Perso in Ostuni, a charming spot at the top of the town. Started with our table covered with small dishes of mostly vegetable-based antipasti (fava beans to mini artichoke souffles), good main dishes and nice wine list.

I don't know which forum Idaho falls into, but am looking for suggestions of where to eat in Boise, Ketchum/Sun Valley, Hailey and McCall for visit in July. Does anyone have any ideas?

Do you all remember Fio's on 16th Street in the Woodner? It was a great authentic, Italian, neighborhood place, with the best calimari fritti anywhere. It has closed darn it, but I wonder if the chef has resurfaced somewhere. Anyone know anything?

After following various threads on eGullet about Firefly, my husband & I decided to try it out for an anniversary dinner. The restaurant was crowded with graduation celebrants when we arrived, so we had to wait some time for our reserved table. However the staff was so pleasant and accommodating and handled this situation so nicely that we were not at all unhappy. To top it off, our meal was lovely. My husband loved his succulent fried oyster appetizer and our main courses: scallops sauted with a light sauce, root vegetables, spinach and puff pastry, and a steak cooked absolutely perfectly, were truly delicious. And nice Loire Valley wines to accompany it all. Thanks, Firefly, for a delightful dining experience!

We just returned from our 4th trip to Sicily at the end of March. For this trip I used the new Blue Guide by Ellen Grady (who lives in Sicily) and found it excellent for both tourist information and food /restaurant recommendations. The standout meals we had were in Trapani - at Cantina Siciliana, via Giudecca 32, tel:092328673, and in San Leone near Agrigento - at Leon d'Oro, viale Emporium 102, tel:0922414400. We also had a delightful set menu 25 Euro (with wine and water) lunch at the Murgo winery (www.murgo.it). It's on the slopes of Etna, just above the town of Santa Venerina. Food, wine and setting were all great. Contact them in advance if you want to go. We ate a dinner at Don Camillo in Siracusa and were not particularly impressed, but had a wonderful lunch at Il Cenacolo in a little open square on Ortygia. There's also a nice, very unpretentious wine bar on via Roma a couple blocks past via Minerva towards the end of the island on the right. Can't remember the name. Finally, we had another excellent lunch in Palermo at Focacceria Basile, 76 via Bara dell'Olivella, just opposite the Teatro Massimo. It has the traditional Palermo snacks and lots of antipasto dishes you can choose from. Good when you don't want a full restaurant meal. From past trips (4 to 8 yrs ago), I'd recommend: in Palermo, Capricci di Sicilia and Osteria dei Vesperi. Near Selinunte in/near Menfi, il Vigneto. Had fabulous lunches there twice. It's in the middle of a field of artichokes so they brought us a surprise appetizer of crispy artichoke hearts. They have great fresh fish and wonderful pastas too. Below Taormina, on the waterfront opposite Isola Bella, there's a restaurant called il Pescatore that was recommended by our hotel owners and proved to be excellent for fish -of course- and is in a lovely setting. When you go to Noto, don't miss the gelato and sorbetto at Corrado Costanzo. They are sublime. Have a wonderful trip! Wish we were going back too.

So glad you found your way there. I probably won't be back in Portugal until Oct. or Nov. but your description of dinner makes me want to go right away!

Jellybean, how do we find this store please?

Definitely take your parents to the Clube da Pesca (which is actually called the Clube da Pescadores Desportive, or something close to that). They had a large selection of beautiful fresh fish that they will grill, bake, whatever. It is not a fancy place but comfortable and full of families enjoying the good food. Our fish was served with plenty of delicious bread, fresh salad and wonderful potatoes and lots of olive oil and the little girls had some of everything as well as great soups - carrot, and chick pea. My companions drank beer and I had my own little pitcher of fresh and delightful vinho verde. If you are driving west from the outskirts of Albufeira, following the signs for Sao Rafael, you will enter a valley with a new development of very brightly multi-colored town houses on your left. Not much farther is the left turn to the Clube which sits on the hillside and has a sort of dome with Oceanarium written on it. We missed the prawns at Rui because I usually find them disappointing in Europe. Will have to try them next visit. But the clams, the seafood rice dish and the cataplana were magnificent. We also had the best waiter ever - doing special things for the children, keeping beer glasses filled, zipping in with finger bowls and clean plates. It is a wonderful restaurant! Wish I were going back next week too.