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Menton1, could you please provide a link to that? I would like to copy it to take with us on our upcoming trip. Thanks. Answered my own question. For those who would like to arm themselves with the appropriate info, here's the link to the APHIS document, which is also dated January 2003.

It's also worth noting that the fine for a FIRST-TIME offender is $1,000. Boohoo is right, cigalechanta -- no more cassoulet, rillettes, foie gras.......

It's my understanding, and I could easily be wrong, that importation of meat products by returning travelers has been banned for quite a while. This is from the USDA's Travelers Tips dated January 2003: "Meat and Animal Products: Fresh, dried, or canned meats and meat products are prohibited entry into the United States from most foreign countries, because of the continuing threat of foot-and-mouth disease. If meat is used in preparing a product, it is also usually prohibited."

And for those of us who like to make reservations in advance, here's an e-mail address -- mon.vieil.ami@wanadoo.fr. My request was answered in about 3 days. And many thanks, John, for the report.

Miguel, many thanks for your reply. Your reassurance about the itinerary is most welcome -- I put it together after doing a lot of research and it's very personal. I've been told, for example, that 4 days in Sintra and then 4 days in Lisbon is way too much, but I obviously don't think so (although a post about the quality of dining in Sintra has me a bit concerned!). I await your recommendations with eagerness, especially after reading Fresco's descriptions, but there's certainly no rush since we don't leave till late September. Besides, haste is bad for the health, especially that of Southerners!

Well, Seth, the house we rented was indeed Les Rosiers, and my review of it can be found here.. Clearly something funny is going on! We cooked dinner "at home" several times too -- it was such a well-equipped kitchen, and the view across the valley from the deck wasn't too shabby either, was it?

We ate at L'Esplanade when we rented a house in Domme in October 2002. I wonder if it was the same house, Seth. We had a very passable dinner, with perfectly prepared lamb chops, but as Marcus points out, it could have been anywhere in France and it was expensive. Our favorite, to which we returned a couple of times, was la Belle Etoile in la Roque-Gageac. It is a hotel restaurant so it may be the one Marcus has in mind. There were 2 menus, at 20€ and 30€, and the view, along the river, and the food were delightful. BTW, Sarlat is 8 miles from Domme, and with no traffic it takes about 25 minutes. A great site to figure out times and distances is Via Michelin, although I think you have to add about 20% to the time.

Like Menton1, we had the pleasure of dining at la Table Saint-Crescent, thanks to the recommendations I found in Graham Tigg's French Dining web site. I think you'll find a wealth of info about the Languedoc there.

Miguel, we're spending the month of October in Portugal, and have decided on an itinerary I think you might approve: Porto, Viana do Castelo, Pinhao, near Nazare, Evora, Sintra, and Lisbon -- using these as bases to visit the places of interest in each area, and staying mostly in manor houses. We're skipping the Algarve completely, since we have beaches and warm weather aplenty here in Hawaii. I hope when the time comes, you'll be willing to share some of your recommendations in the north -- I've already filed away your suggestions in Estremoz and Lisbon. If you have any advice about our itinerary, please feel free to e-mail me, and maybe you can convince your editor to send you on from Toronto to Hawaii -- we have a large Portuguese community here too!

You might check out the reviews of villas at SlowTrav and post specific questions at SlowTalk -- the knowledge of Italy on that particular forum is really outstanding.

Thanks, John. Le Petit Pontoise and le Pre Verre are also on my list because of the NYT article, and perhaps L'Equitable. The apartment we rent is at 8 rue des Grands Degres, right across from Le Reminet, so we're very familiar with it. It's varied tremendously over the last few years -- have you eaten there lately?

If I can piggyback on Revallo's query, what about restaurants in Paris on May 1 -- will many of them be closed? And what about markets such as the Maubert-Mutualité market in the 5th? We arrive on Friday 30 April and I had looked forward to the market the next morning. Thanks for the help.

Le Petit Lebey 2004 has given special mention to "Mon Vieil Ami" in its modern bistro category and "Le Mesturet" in its traditional bistro category. I've read reviews of Mon Vieil Ami here and elsewhere, and one review of Le Mesturet in TimeOut Paris. Has anyone eaten either place recently?

I agree with Menton1 -- the Bretonnerie is a jewel, with spacious rooms (some with 4 poster beds) and marble baths. Be sure to ask for a superior or "charming" room, since these are far nicer. And reserve now, since it is often difficult to get a room there.

Margaret, is the chambre d'hote in Quezac by any chance "La Maison de Marius"? We're staying in/near the Gorges du Tarn in May and found this place in Sawday's guide but have read nothing about it elsewhere. Thanks for the help.

You're exactly right, Bux -- gite literally means "home, resting place, quarters" and the term implies a rental of at least a week of what the British call a"self-catering" unit, with cooking facilities. A chambre d'hote is a guestroom, pretty much the equivalent of our B&B. Some of the most charming B&Bs in France can be found in western France -- here is a link to the website of Bienvenue au Chateau: http://www.bienvenue-au-chateau.com/. "Agriturismo" in Italy means a farm holiday and can be the equivalent of either a gite or a chambre d'hote/B&B.

We had "brunch" several years ago at the Meridian Hotel and listened to Claude Bolling's jazz band -- arrived about 11am and stayed for at least 4 hours. The food was excellent and the music outstanding, truly a memorable experience. Get your concierge to see if something like that is available during your stay in Paris -- it definitely was on a Sunday.

San Quirico d'Orcia would be a great choice for a couple for nights, and it has a lovely small hotel - Palazzo del Capitano. San Quirico is beautiful in its own right, and is located between Montalcino and Montepulciano so its location is superb.

Here is a review of Palazzina Cesira - http://www.slowtrav.com/italy/hotels/hotel...gion=Montalcino.

Here is a list of restaurants in the area you're interested in by the owner of a very reputable company which handles vacation rentals: http://www.tuscanhouse.com/travelplanner/r...antsinsiena.htm. To it I would add Grappolo Blu, which we enjoyed very much last month. Take a look at Palazzina Cesira for a place to stay - http://www.montalcinoitaly.com/home_cesira.htm - lovely and reasonable.

Fred, this is off the subject, but we're going to be is Lisbon next fall and would love to rent an apartment. If you were satisfied with yours, could you please respond and I'll give you my e-mail address for details. Many thanks.