Freckles

Bonjour, bonjour. I'm spending 3 days attending the Bordeaux Wine School. Could any of you please tell me where I should eat my dinners in Bordeaux? Nothing trop cher -- just a woman on her own looking for a relaxed atmosphere and good cooking (say, main courses about 20 Euros or less) and somewhere I won't feel like a freak eating on my own. Anything else I should be sure to check out whilst there? Thank you. - Freckles

This thread was last add-to almost a year ago. Would anyone like to make any additions? I'm eager to hear more on this subject...

The Muse Vin was great! I enjoyed it enormously. The food was good but not exceptional: I had a salad with some small squid to start, followed by a langoustine and potato dish for the main course. No dessert. We followed the server's suggestions for wine -- what a selection this place has! We started with a wine on tap (!) which was lightly carbonated. Didn't love it. Followed by a scrumptious Anjou. The atmosphere was the best -- fairly small and busy and fun. Service was a bit slow but eh... when you're having such a good time, who cares?

Okay. Have the reservation for La Muse Vin at 8PM tonight. Will let you know how it goes... Thanks for all your suggestions and help.

Bummer. Le Temps au Temps doesn't open 'til the 5th of September, so it's a no-go there.

Any other updates? Any new restaurants that I should note? I'm going to Bruges the 25th - 28th of August by myself and would love some fun, low key places to eat on my own. Thanks

Oh. I should add that we'll be dining on the 30th of August, so quite a few restaurants might still be closed...

Hey, everyone. As part of my "eat our way through every arr. of Paris" girls' group, I'm supposed to organize dinner for 4 women in the 11th next week. Can you suggest any place that's not too expensive (say, main courses at 25 Euros or less) and not at all touristy? Warm and friendly atmosphere? Pudlo raved about l'Ecailler du Bistrot in 2004; is it still wonderful? thanks

I find this all utterly depressing. What is wrong with Ontarians?

Sadly, since I was there only Sunday and Monday nights, most restaurants were closed. We did dine at a casual Italian place called Palao, recommended by our hotel. The food was simple but very tasty. The service, on the other hand, was appalling. It took them more than an hour to take our order! And the restaurant wasn't even full. When we tried to order risotto, which we had heard was the house speciality, the waitress pointed to the half-empty restaurant and said, "let me be frank. We're too busy with the full restaurant, so we really don't have time to cook this for you." Whatever...

Picked up some Cuvee des Generations 2000 at Chateau de la Gardine. It cost 58Euros/ bottle and shouldn't be drunk any time soon. But the most rich and delicious nectar I've tasted in a loooong time.

Going to Arles. What should I see? Where shall I eat, please?

Id love to go to Beaucastel but, alas, it's closed on weekends.

Okay. We are currently booked into the following for degustations: - Chateau la Nerthe - Chateau Mont-Redon - Bosquet des Papes - Chateau de la Gardine - Domaine de Beaurenard I also plan, if I can, to try some Mont Ventoux, if I have time. My question is this. Are there any wines that I should be sure to try/buy? Any particular knock-my-socks off that I should definitely stock up on? What would you be guzzling if you went to these places? Thanks. - Freckles

Husband and friends and I are off to Chateauneuf du Pape for a little swimming, drinking and sunning next weekend. Which vinyards should we visit, svp? Thanks

Okay. Thus far I've got us degustations at: Village Bosquet de Papes, Chateau de la Gardine, Bearenard and Chateau de Nerthe.

And any sights/ vinyards that are nearby (I 've already seen many Chateauneuf du Pape!) and you'd recommend?

Great, thanks! For you readers who don't know what I'm talking about... here is the site for the hotel: http://www.crillonlebrave.com/

SO excited! Got a reservation at Crillon-le-Brave Hotel late in July. Supposed to be fabulous. Any thoughts on what Mr. and I should see, eat, do or drink whilst there? Merci!

Hi, all. Friends and I are spending the weekend of the 9th-10th at CDP. Visits are pretty much out of the question on weekends, but most vinyards do offer degustations/ tastings. Where shall I book???? Any thoughts? Thanks.

Well, sadly didn't get this email in time. I hated Caves St. Gilles. I had called and asked what time to arrive so we could get an outside table. "We don't open til 8 in the evenings, but if you come at 7:45 and wait 15 minutes, we can be sure to give you an seat outside." We dutifully turned up at a quarter to 8. It was the heat wave. at least 85 degrees and high humidity. My friends and I were literally DRIPPINg. They wouldn't let us have any of the outside seats. Pointed to the interior. All windows sealed shut, no air conditioners, 3 out of the 4 people inside (= everyone except the bartender) was chain smoking. We left and went to a restaurant down the street. Got tipsy on rose. Never going there again! Rude, rude, rude.

I think that Les Enfants rouge is closed every night but Thursday and Friday, even for drinks. So... I guess that leaves us with Caves Saint Gilles.

Hey, Felice. Thanks for this. As you know, I'm always hunting for great new places to check out. I'll put this one on the list!

Well, I was supposed to email everyone last week about where we'll be going this Wednesday night (the 22nd) . But, I got caught up in meetings and never got around to it. So, now I've got to send a belated email with the Wheres and Whens. Who knows if anyone will attend in this heatwave and at this late notice. Les Enfants Rouges: Would love to go there, but I can't tell if it's even open on Wednesday nights, if we have to eat there or not, if they will let us reserve tables. I called a few times to ask but no one answered. I seem to recall that it has an outdoor patio, which would be great in these temperatures. I looked online and found Les Caves St. Gilles. Don't know what it's like, other than its a wine bar in the 3rd, which is the only stipulation for this month's meeting. Ooof. Let me know your thoughts, if you have any you'd like to share. Freckles

Have any of you been to Caves saint-Gilles, near Chemin Vert metro??? I'm getting desperate...