John Talbott

This may be stretching the topic but the pictures are so great I thought I’d mention that there’s an art show called Picnic that is on this week’s ParisVoice that looks neat. It’s at the Galerie Fraîch'Attitude, 60 rue du Fbg Poissonnière in the 10th until September 30th, open noon to 19H00 except Sundays and Mondays.

Interesting. Today’s Expatica had an article entitled “Picnic Paradise in Paris,” that listed the following: the Parc André-Citroën, Parc des Buttes-Chaumont, Parc de Saint-Cloud, forêt de Meudon, bois de Boulogne, bois de Vincennes, banks of the Canal St.Martin, Jardin des Plantes, Luxembourg Gardens and the Tuileries Gardens – almost all of which were mentioned above, but their descriptions might help in making your decision.

Absolutely - Fables, as you know, has outside tables in that lovely square and kids can take off and play around the fountain, but let me repeat my broken record refrain - long ago we took our then three year old daughter and later our then three year old grand-daughter, everywhere and as long as we had books, crayons, stickers, jump-rope (when older), things were swimming. There wasn't a single place where our younger guests have not been welcomed, treated specially (salami, ice cream, chocolate, etc) and fussed over. Of course they are darling and well-behaved. But again, Fables is good - food plus running room.

Parc de Sceaux, RER line B4; great place to picnic as are the forrests of Compeigne and Fontainebleau and around Chantilly too. As Mel Brooks said "It's good to be the King."

Go to the Website Bux and I gave the link to and "look around".

My list: Le Reminet, 3, rue des Grands-Degres, 5th, 01.44.07.04.24 L'Equitable, 1 rue des Fossés Saint-Marcel, 5th, 01.43.31.69.20 La Mediterranee, 2 pl de l'Odeon, 6th, 01.43.26.02.30 L'Ardoise, 28 rue du Mont Thabor, 1st, 01.42.96.28.18 Cap Vernet, 82, ave Marceau, 8th, 01.47.20.20.40 La Cagouille, 10 Place Constantin Brancusi, 14th, 01.43.22.09.01{mainly for burned finger moules and buttered coques} Le Soleil, 109 av Michelet, in St Ouen (opposite the flea market), 01.40.10.08.08 Mon Viel Ami, 69 St Louis en l'Ile, on the Ile St-Louis, 01.40.46.01.35 {off last time} Brasserie aka La Lorraine, 2, place des Ternes, 8th, 01.56.21.22.00 {off last time}

Last week's Figaroscope's “Dossier” dealt with where to buy picnic type stuff; it is still there at this site: To bicycle: l’Os a Moelle Cyclobrunch For a picnic basket: Les Vivres l’Avant-Gout Earthy (“terroir”): A la ville de Rodez Exotic : Mavrommatis Noura Bucolic : Musee de la vie romantique

Ah, you would have to ask. Well, not so long ago this was posted by Marcus: I have eaten there as recently as 2 years ago and was not impressed either. But hey, I had no fond memories I could call on. And Bux, you're right on.

Sorry, it's been 10 years. I know it was near the Pantheon for sure, confused about Montmarte obviously. ← A couple of thoughts: Do you mean Montparnasse? Do any of these names ring a bell: Les Fontaines, l'Estrapade, Balzar? Finally, have you tried "looking" around the Pantheon via the Pages Jaune site?

This is a wonderful idea and in some ways better than mine (although I'd urge you to stay in both) because it meets the "fantasy" requirement for "sightseeing" too - here you can tour the Suisse Normande, for some reason, relatively un-tourist-saturated versus Caen, Bayeux, tapistry, WWII beaches, Battle Museum(s), le Mont St-Michel, etc.

Several items: Answering Ptipois's point will help us zero-in on the resto. Bux is usually the person to point out that a little searching on the Forum will uncover the new bistrots and help you decide where to go. In addition, tomorrow, Figaroscope, if true to tradition, will publish a list (with numbers) of the best new places of 2005, and since you have time, the first two weeks of September, many other news-sources will write up the places that open over the summer. Finally, I urge you not to be limited by where your hotel is. You're a few blocks from 2 major Metro lines and can be anywhere in a half-hour. Right now the interesting new places are opening in the relatively low-priced areas such as the 11th and 15th, etc. As to sightseeing, invest in the 2005 Paris Green Guide and go dipping - one person's idea of sightseeing is not another's - there are too many museums, monuments and walking tours to choose from - also check prior threads for info on things like the Holocaust Museum, although since we're dedicated to food here you may do better elsewhere - eg Bonjour Paris, ParisParler, Paris Notes and the city's Tourist Office.

Oh boy, it's here. A few short klicks from Calvados, don't be put off by the Marquis stuff, they're neat folks, lots of space, animals, warmth. Renovated two years ago, beautiful rooms, one might say one's fantasy. The night we stayed there, we dined with Aimee Jacquet, the French team's soccer coach in the World Cup 1998.

Sounds like Cremerie Caves Miard; which most folks on the site love. Is it like this description?

The Week of June 20th, 2005 Monday-Tuesday’s A Nous Paris featured two places: the first, which got 3/5 blocks, a{nother} wine bar-grocery-resto Le Casier a vin, 51-53, rue Olivier-de-Serres in the 15th, 01.45.33.36.80, closed Sundays, a la carte runs 23.50-38.50 E for wines, charcuterie/cheese platters but also regular dishes; the second, which rated 2/5 blocks, The Place, 11, rue Jean-Mermoz in the 8th, 01.43.59.21.47, formulas 25 & 30, a la carte = 45E, meriting comments such as “fashionistas,” “hype et cool,” and “so what.” {For my strikingly similar take see here.} Wednesday, Emmanuel Rubin in “C’est nouveau” in Figaroscope rates 4 places as two-heartworthy: the first an African-North African-Asian place Bouillion des Colonies, 3, rue Racine in the 6th (co-located with the Belgian brasserie Bouillion Racine), 01.44.32.15.64, open everyday; an ex-couscous, now-Thai place Mme Shawn, 34, rue Yves-Toudic in the 10th, 01.42.08.05.07, open everyday but Sunday; a Korean place Samiin, 74, av de Breteuil in the 7th, 01.47.34.58.96, open everyday; and the renovated resto of the celebrated Lebanese pastry/etc place Noura Pavillion, 21, av Marceau in the 16th, 01.47.20.33.30, open everyday. The only French-French place got only one heart – l’Absinthe Café, 54, rue Turbigo in the 3rd, 01.48.87.79.30, open everyday, running one about 25 E for a spotty meal of chicken liver salad, hamburger and crème brulee. Their “Dossier” this week featured places to go to when feeling “nomadic” {all translations mine and loose}: To bicycle: l’Os a Moelle Cyclobrunch For a picnic basket: Les Vivres l’Avant-Gout Earthy (“terroir”): A la ville de Rodez Exotic : Mavrommatis Noura Bucolic : Musee de la vie romantique Summer Grand Fooding of 2005 For his picnic, written up in “Hache Menu,” Francois Simon picked up 43 Euros worth of stuff from Chez Michel, 10, rue de Belzunce in the 10th, 01.44.53.06.20, which he encourages readers to do quickly. Also Wednesday, in Zurban, Sebastien Demorand reviewed two French places in his “Casseroles” section: a neo-bistro with a good wine list – l’Express Bar, 31, rue Saint-Maur in the 11th, 01.47.00.66.18, closed Saturday lunch, with a menu-carte at 23 E, serving spinach salad with goat cheese and calf’s liver English-style {Ed Note: the chef is English, ex- apparently Chateaubriand} - Demorand says to go quickly because in mid-August, the 1950’s décor will be updated; and the meat-focused bistrot Boucherie Rouliere, 24, rue des Cannettes in the 6th, 01.43.26.25.70, closed Mondays with prices from 30-35 E a la carte, serving marinated sardines, a great cote de boeuf (for two, of course) with fries along with a fine Morgon. He devoted his primary space to what he termed a fine but “improbable trattoria” {with the cutsey name of} Pasta et Basta, which is at 103-105, rue de Tolbiac, in the 13th; and an inexpensive sushi place catering to “salarymen” – Hyotan, 3, rue d’Artois in the 8th. Thursday, Gilles Pudlowski’s contributions to Le Point this week included: Le Galvacher, 64, av. des Ternes in the 17th, 01.45.74.16.66, menu = 24 E, a la carte 45 E, which started with refrigerated fish tartare but followed with good beef, monk’s head cheese salad, baba and wine; l’Actuel, 29, rue Surcouf in the 7th, 01.45.50.36.20, menu - 29 E, with a chef ex-Senderens serving raviolis, place fish with chorizo and crème brulee; Goumard, 9, rue Duphot in the 1st, 01.42.60.36.07, menu = 40, a la carte 120 E, serving risotto with crayfish, squid with sweet peppers and a cinnamon macaron; and Michel Troisgros’ Le Lancaster, 7, rue de Berri in the 8th, 01.40.76.40.18, a la carte = 90 E with veal with truffles, cod with Japanese rice and risotto of sweet beets. Thursday-Friday’s Le Monde’s Jean-Claude Ribaut’s “Toques en Pointe” featured three places of which only one is French-French: Le Jardin, 37, av Hoche in the 8th, 01.42.99.98.50, in the Hotel Royal-Monceau, closed Saturdays, Sundays and Monday lunch, where Christophe Pele has taken over fully and Ribaut feels the price is worth it for such a palace – market menu = 60E, a la carte about 100E. The other two places are one for Thai brunch - Silk & Spice, 46, rue Mandar in the 2nd, 01.44.88.21.91, and Atrio Restauran in Caceres, Spain. In the June 20th New York Observer, Bryan Miller wrote ”The Michelin Invasion,” about the Red Guide’s publication in November covering 500 New York restaurants. For French readers, two things were of interest: first, that as opposed to their method elsewhere, in NYC places will not have to wait months or years for 2 or even 3 stars, and second, that some Americans are afraid of its publication, because, among other reasons, they’ll be rated by French inspectors. Margaret Kemp, writing in last week’s Bonjour Paris, provides her answer to a friend who wants to go to places like Taillevent, L’Arpége, Grand Vefour, but is aghast at the $/€ ratio and requests her list of “secret addresses to blow” his mind. I suspect they are not so secret to eGullet members and thus will provide coordinates only for those lesser known. The list includes: Auguste, Le Comptoir du Relais, Flora, Les Olivades, La Cuisine, La Cabane, Le Pavillon des Princes, + Les Fables de la Fontaine. Those less well-known are a canteen, Saveurs et Salon, 3, rue Castellane in the 8th, 01.40.06.97.97, lunch 20 plus wine, dinner 36E plus wine; Chez Flottes, 2, rue Cambon in the 1st, 01.42, 60.80.89 from 21 E, open everyday ; Café Minotti, 33, rue de Verneuil in the 7th, 01.42.60.04.04, lunch formulas 26 and 32 E, a la carte 50 E plus wine; and a Thai place, the Restaurant Cathay Maillot, 141, av de Malakoff in the 16th, 01,40.67.18.90, open everyday with menus from 12 E (plus wine). In addition, she wrote an article later in the week about Yves Camdeborde, mentioning Le Comptoir, Regalade + Les Papilles. Adrian Leeds, writing in her ParlerParis wrote about her visit to one of the classic guinguettes, Chez Gégène in Joinville-le-Pont. The article has information about several others as well. Jean-Luc Petitrenaud, in this week’s L’Express reviewed the Café Barge, 5, port de la Rapée in the 12th {between the Pont d’Austerlitz and Pont de Bercy}, 01.40.02.09.09, where one dines under parasols on an old barge – lots of seafood, rosé and at times a gypsy band. The menu-carte is 35 E; but on Sundays is 25 for adults and 15 for kids. Heather Stimmler-Hall’s Secrets of Paris this week, mentions two places : Naked, 40, rue du Colisée serving fusion-influenced healthy wraps, salads, juice etc., and Chez Haynes Soul Food, 3, rue Clauzel in the 9th, 01.48.78.40.63 – where the name says it all; live jazz Friday and Saturday nights. An article by Julie Baker in ParisVoice suggested several places on the left bank to go for an intimate meal, including: Le Quinzieme: cuisine attitude, Alcazar, Restaurant Les Ministeres, La Villa Corse, + Chez Francoise. Please post comments here and not in the Digest thread.

Welcome and this is a great way to jump in. I look forward to "Further Adventures in......"

Boy - I'm in the middle of Bill Bryson's Appalachian Trail saga, A Walk in the Woods - what a difference. Noddle soup vs. sausages - no contest. I recall hiking up in Megeve/Courcheval/etc a couple of years ago and stumbling on a pizza hut (a real one), try to find that in the Rockies.

Being a fish bistrot it's bright and blue, not red/brown and dingy; but I agree it serves great product for reasonable prices.

That's my understanding too but if I recall correctly at lunch there was nothing posted (but in truth I wasn't truly searching) and at dinner only the little chalkboard on the northwest outside wall. ← That's odd, invariably the French adhere to the letter of the law, unless of course, they decide not to do so at all. ← At the risk of getting way, way off topic, good point Bux. Example: French driving. Folks slowed down when strict alcohol levels were enforced and automatic photo highway radar machines put up. However, last night's TF1 said more machines would not be installed next year. To see; go to site click 20 Juin 2005, click 20H, click afficher le video, et voila. On topic, this is one reason Francois Simon noted that doggy bags were now in vogue for leftover wine en route.

For decor and food - Bruno Doucet's Regalade For decor and clientele - Chez Georges For refurbished decor and menu - Le Duc de Richelieu For a throwback to ancient days but so-so food - l’Auberge Bressane

That's my understanding too but if I recall correctly at lunch there was nothing posted (but in truth I wasn't truly searching) and at dinner only the little chalkboard on the northwest outside wall.

Great review. Thanks. You and Zurban both imply there are lots of food choices as opposed to limited charcuterie/cheese platters at some wine bars. Correct? FrenchEntree translates echine as "shoulder" encompassing "the blade bone and spare ribs."

Tony - I think there lots of folks who would respond to your second question if you could flesh out your query with some details; what exactly about Benoit are you seeking to duplicate/parallel? Size, decor, menu, price, ambiance, location, bistro-resto-luxe spectrum spot, etc.?

The Week of June 13th, 2005 Monday-Tuesday, in A Nous Paris, Jerome Berger gave 4/5 blocks to Le Comptoir, Yves Camdeborde’s new place, whose coordinates have already been provided and on which a thread is running. In addition, Philippe Toinard gave 3/5 blocks to l’Azalee, 78 av. des Ternes in the 17th, 01.40.58.01.01, where the menu is 37 E and it costs about 40-54 E a la carte for fare such as crusty sweetbreads with beans; they have lots of wines by the glass. Also, in the sidebar, they announce that the dessert champion of France is Jonathan Wahid of l’Espadon du Ritz and the best croissants made with butter from Charentes-Poitou were from Au Petrin d’Antan, 174, rue Ordener in the 18th in the artisanal category and Aux Peches Normands, 9, rue du Faubourg-du-Temple in the 10th in the “Ouvrier” category. Wednesday, in Figaroscope’s “C’est nouveau,” Emmanuel Rubin gave three hearts and two hearts respectively to two Lebanese places Liza in the 2nd and Beyrouth vins et mets in the 11th. The French places fared less well: one heart went to the “retro bistro” Autour de…, 397, rue de Vaugirard in the 15th, 01.45.30.18.47, open everyday, serving such fare as tartare of beef for about 35 E as well as a chic sandwich shop - 46 Avenue, 46, ave Marceau in the 8th, no phone, open everyday, costing 10-20 E depending on your appetite. Finally a busted plate went to Le Passage in the 15th. The Dossier covered musical places: Opera Bel Canto Mandala Ray Lyrical Music Hall Jazz Le Bilboquet Le Petit Journal Montparnasse l’Arbuci Salsa-Funk-Soul Canal Opus Rock Le Reservoir Mariachi El Chihuahua Karaoke China Town Belleville As is his want, Francois Simon went to one of these that was full of testosterone - Favela Chic, 18, rue du Faubourg-du-Temple in the 11th, 01.43.57.15.47, which cost 88 E with 5 glasses of wine, had a good price quality ratio, nice ambiance and Brazilian music and served marinated fish and shrimp with yucca root. In Zurban, meanwhile, Sebastien Demorand reviewed the Rez de Chaussée, 65, rue Letort in the 18th, 01.42.64.64.39, closed Sundays, with formulas at 12.30 and 17.20 E; a la carte about 25, where he saw lots of heart-clogging charcuteries and had a well-cooked cod with curry and white lentils that were a bit too creamy as well as a mousse of ricotta with hibiscus - for my take on it see here. In his “Casseroles” he also noted: that the well-reviewed and “hot” place in the 18th – La Famille, 41, rue des Trois-Frères, 01.42.52.11.12, open only for dinner but closed Sundays and Mondays, formula is 27 and a la carte about 33E, has a new and successful chef; that there is a new wine-bar called l’Amuse Gueule, 10, bvd Morland in the 4th, 01.49.54.85.51 costing about 20 E for merely OK charcuteries and wines; and that there’s a new Italian resto-pizzeria Amici Miei in the 11th. In Wednesday’s Dining Section of the New York Times, there were three articles which to avoid double-posting, I’ve commented on in their respective threads but for the record, they were: “The Anti-Michelin: Caution and Anonymity Not Required”? about Gilles Pudlowski; “At Last France Embraces the Vegetable about veggie places in Paris, and "Whose Stars are they anyway” about the Senderens/Gaertner/Maxim’s/Michelin story. Saturday, in his “Croque Notes,” Francois Simon noted the opening of a new, nicely-priced and tasty Italian place Soprano as well as a Taiwanese tea house Zenzoo , both in the 2nd. He said he’s often asked for a wonderful new place and wonders what’s wrong with going back to: le Comptoir du Carrefour de l'Odéon, la cour jardin du Plaza Athénée, le bistrot Paul Bert, le Baratin, les Enfants Rouges, + I Golosi . Through the good offices of Felice, I learned that last week’s Le Point had a overview of several (generally) new places, most of which have been covered already but some of our members may wish to read their comments. They were: Le Comptoir, Apicius, Fin’s Herb, Amici Miei, Dominique Bouchet, Le Goupil, Le Refectoire, Bar a Manger, Un Jour a Peyrassol, Bertie, Mu, Le Square. In addition, this week, Gilles Pudlowski did brief reviews of several more, more established places– Mon Viel Ami, La Marlotte, La Terrasse, Les Ambassadeurs. Jean-Luc Petitrenaud in L’Express reviewed Midi Vins, 83, rue du Cherche Midi in the 6th, 01.45.48.33.71 and found it a good price for the food (menu 20 E). Time Out, which has seriously reduced its food advice, has in this week’s section a squib about Le Cour Jardin at the Plaza Athenee, now featuring Ducasse protégé Cedric Bechade serving French/Mediterranean/North African food under parasols averaging 80 E each. June’s Food & Wine magazine had two notes of interest; first that in the US, Alain Ducasse is the most “idolized” French chef and second, that Jacques Pepin likes Le Café in St-Malo. June’s Omnivore has a front page article titled “Where are the Chefs?” which essentially follows the publication’s hopes of a revolutionary new French chef of the 21st century - a clever picture shows a bunch of chefs’ backs as they get up on risers for a group photo. Inside are articles on Cambdeborde and Choukroun and of course Senderens. Please post comments here and not in the Digest thread.

This was infelicitiously worded; I've been, I know; what I was trying to say is Passard sought and got a lot of press for devoting energy and emphasis on vegetables. The "it" refers to reputation, buzz, splash - wrong word, I take it back. Sorry.

The three bore different bylines.