jjread

Thanks a lot nsxtasy, this is more than I had thought was in the Lake in the Hills area. I am looking forward to it. JR

Hey all, While I live in Philadelphia, I find myself in "Lake In The Hills", IL (about 45 min north of Chicago) for the Holiday weekend... I am hoping that means something to some of you. I am wondering if anyone can suggest a place of some culinary significance in the vicinity. I am guessing that the classic Chicago touch stones (pizza, hotdogs, Italian Beef...) may not be in this area, but I would still love to find something that is decidedly Chicago if at all possible. Any insight would be greatly appreciated. Thanks! JR

I am trying to locate Palombini espresso in whole bean or brick form here in the US. I can find it all over Europe but so far I haven't seen it here. I heard that they were developing the USA market (starting with top Restaurants) back in 2003, but that is all that I've got. I would very much appreciate any information or direction. Thanks! JR

Thank you everyone for you time, effort and insights. My trip won't be until November, but I am trying to firm it up mostly beforehand. Most of my accommodations and winery visits are done (though I will always take suggestions). It is just the dinning and shopping/cultural excursions that are in the works. Thanks to you all, I'll be able to hedge my bets for a great trip. Best Regards, JR

I, along with my wife and another couple, are going to Burgundy for a week in November. It is the first time for any of us to go there and we are very excited. The last thing we want to do is tour the region's many "once upon a time" icons that endure for what they were, rather than what they are (a la Paul Bocuse). I see a few older threads speaking on restaurants, shops and wineries but I fear many of them may be out of date. We will be based in Lyon and Chambolle Musigny but hope to be traveling throughout the region. I think we will be good on winery visits... but if there is one that you really recommend please let me know. Any suggestions on new and exciting food destinations (I know Burgundy might not do allot in the way of "New and Exciting"), as well as affirmations of old greats that are still delivering the goods, would be greatly appreciated. While I can't quite say that "money is no object", none of us at all mind paying more if we actually get something in return. Thank you in advance for your time and effort and I look forward to hearing what anyone has to say. -JR

Marco et Al, Thank you for the post, I enjoyed it very much. In speaking on Tra Arte E Querce (Monchiero, near Barolo) a thread on "lodgings around Alba" was mentioned. I have tried to find this, or any information to that effect, but I have not been able to locate anything. I would greatly appreciate any direction on this. Thanks.

Thank you all for the recommendations and insights. I will be honest I was not expecting anyone to reply. I may not become addicted to eating puffin, ram's testicles, and fermented shark (hakarl) washed down with brennevin (the local potato distillate scented with caraway seeds). I am, however, quite looking forward to the great fresh fish, seafood, rich local yogurt (Skyr), and the smoked Lamb that I now know exist in Iceland. Thanks again.

I will be going to Reykjavik, Iceland (the Capital) for the first time in January for four or five days . I had done a search on egullet for Iceland in general but (though not to my surprise) nothing came up. I was wondering if anyone on this board has been there and/or had any insights, recommendations, or words of encouragement regarding things to eat and places to go. Thank you.

The general notion of Piemonte wines in the 2000 vintage being something to celebrate (let alone Perfect) is not just crap, it is a straight out lie. When speaking candidly and off the record, the winemakers of Piemonte refer the 1997 as the "American Vintage" and the 2000 is quite similar to it. That is to say that they are rich, opulent, obvious and much more familiar to a Californian wine drinker than one used to the flavor of Piemonte. Also adding to these wine's lack of typicality is the fact that most of these wines will age quite poorly (much like their Tuscan counterparts in these vintages). The vintages that are truly great, classic, and worthy of praise and aging for Piemonte are 1996, 1999, and (from the looks of it) 2001. While there were some great, classic, and age worthy wines made in these vintages they exist as a result of the winemaker (or a unique micro-climate) and not the vintage. It is wrong to give too much value to a vintage as it is great wine makers, and not vintages, that make great wine. To be sure, Wine Spectator should be ashamed. My only solace is (while double edged as I feel pity for the consumers) that when WS readers open their bottles of 1997 and 2000 Barolos and Barbarescos in ten years with pride and ceremony most of them will taste like hell. Maybe then many of these consumers will learn to think for themselves and see WS for what it is. It is a useful look at popular trends in the wine world but it is often misguiding, unscrupulous, and generally prostitutional with its recommendations.

Please don't take this as a challenge, but I am rather adventurous with food assuming that there is a tradition or a refinement behind it. I lived in Japan for two years where I ate allot of things that most Japanese don't even eat. That being said, I have my limits and I couldn't be dared in to eating that old green sandwich that was found behind the couch (even if some of my dorm-mates at the time could be). No, I am not coming to look and any Indian winery. I have a seminar to go to in Australia and given some of my other stops on the way I thought that I should stop in India while I am passing over it. I have twice had Indian wine and despite their best efforts, I still want to go to India.

Vikram, Thank you very much for your reply and your understanding. Everything that you said makes complete sense. As you describe it, Bombay sound a bit like Osaka, Japan to me. While it is bussiness minded, the hustle and bustle of the of the city raises the bar for it's food... from haute cuisine to street venders. The restaurant list you attached is quite helpfull as well, and yes (if it is easy enough to do) I would love a copy of the article that your freind wrote. Episure, Thank you very much for the invitation and you have got a deal. I tried to email you (and Vikram for that matter) directly but I was unable to do so. I looked quickly at the the personal information that you give on this site and I saw that you you are a Scotch fan as well as a foodie. Well before I got into wine professionally, I was (and still am) into Scotch. I have travelled through much of Scotland on "reaserch" and have been to Islay a few times too. I think we will get along fine. I look forward to hearing from you. Thanks again both of you .

mongo_jones, You are right to correct me and I misspoke. By writting that "Bombay is not exaclty a food mecca", what I meant to say was that the city is, as I am lead to understand, more business minded that food minded. But of course I would expect there to be enourmous variety where food is concerned. I am just trying to find out about some of the better ones.

I am a food and wine consultant in the Philadelphia area and I am excited to be going to Bombay for the first time next January (though only for two or three days days). It will be my first time in India. With only this much time to work with, where should I go to feel like I go (or more specifically eat) so that I can feel that I have been to India. I understand that Bombay is not exaclty a food mecca, but I am looking for some of the most inspired options currenlty available within the city. Thank you for your time.