John Talbott

FYI my review is here. Three of us had the sardines with crisp bread strips and langoustines wrapped in pastry (wonderful); then I moved on to as-good-as-they-get scallops with roasted veggies but my co-diners had an even better Breton white fish soup; then they both had a tarte tatin.

No, they are quite different. I'll be posting my positive review of Au Gourmand in the 1st, later this month. Add me to those who like Rich. My review is here.

Excuse me if this is gratuitous, but I assume you've consulted our compendium on Cannes, etc. that has lots of info.

And yet another from this week's l'Express Styles: La Plage Au Pere Lapin Table du Lancaster O Restaurant Xylo Mini Palais Cafe Medicis l'Hereux Pere l'Estaminet d'Aromes & cepages Cafe Very Cristal Room Baccarat Le Saut de Loup PAvillion Puebla l'Entrepot Park Hyatt Vendome Grande Cascade Musee Rodin Jardin de Montreuil Jardins de Bagatelle Fauchon

In this week's l'Express Styles Jessica Gourdon suggests: le quai de la Loire, Les Buttes Chaumont, Les Jardins Tino Rossi (access by the Sully bridge), l'Ile des Cygnes + Le Port de l'Arsenal.

And here is lucas' report.

You've posed an impossible choice; both regions are wonderful; I'll support the Piedmont, specifically the area in the center of the triangle formed by Torino, Milano and Genova which is replete with hills covered with charming vineyards, topped by churches, castles and grand homes and is host to more starred restos, many Slow food-influenced, than other regions of the country. But I couldn't fault you for going to either Tuscany or Umbria either, or Sicily for that matter; isn't it wonderful to have such choices?

French Food Guides 2007 - Chapters 8 & 9 - Le Fooding and l'Express Courtesy of Phyllis, I have a copy of Le Fooding's 2007 Vacation Guide that lists 370 places outside Paris. It uses the same goofy ratings/designations as the November 2005 Paris Guide but is published with Nouvel Observateur, 5,95 E. A quick appraisal; it looks promising and we'll roadtest it Sunday and Monday on a quick trip to Crotoy. l'Express has also published a guide of 200 good restos in Paris & environs by arrondissement (an interesting twist, listing say, l'Escarbille under the 16th rather than in Meudon). A look at it shows that it is quite (intelligently) selective, noting some oldies but most that are new, reasonable and popular among the locals. Another feature is their spotlighting one important food person (eg Jean Paul Hevin, Pierre Herme) in each Arr. and listing his or her favorite shops and restos. It's available from your friendly newsagent along with l'Express, l'Express styles and a map of the velo rental stations for 6,90 E (or, if one saved the coupon from A Nous Paris this week, for 4,90E).

I agree, keep it up Nishla, I'm coming down in just a few weeks and really appreciate your research.

Not a bad idea. I too tried the NYT with no results.

I'd suggest you go by and peruse the chalkboard before buying because as I noted - the board from the day before was 180º different from that of the day we ate there. But guys, 2 bad reports are telling. Caution! Caution!

July 13-14th is creeping upon us and A Nous Paris reminded me of the country-wide Picque-nique de la Republique; for info see here.

Please do report back; too many folk stay silent after visits; please let us know your results. Thanks.PS I too love Uzes.

Not all: Emmanuel Rubin only gave it one heart, it was Pierrick Jegu and Jerome Berger and yours truly who blew it up. Also, you may have a point about royalty, I was with a recognizable critic who was known not only to the house but to the vendors who supplied the house and were eating there the day we did. Their presence certainly influenced the patron's offer of wines we were asked to try. After two negative reports tho', from you two, whom I respect, I'll go back with a beard and with no one who could influence the situation.

To continue the mapping idea, Adrian Moore has two nice ideas on gridskipper: 1. Maps of restaurants or food be found in certain areas (eg the Canal St Martin), or of certain types (steak frites, cheese), or in certain venues (museums, dept stores). 2. A map of the city locating restaurants.

Thanks John... I'll keep digging. Big communal table ringing anyone's bell? Maybe I'm crazy... ← There are big communal tables at two places that might qualify: Mon Viel Ami, that is somewhat cave like and was started by a starred chef (Westermann) but I'm not sure about the wife; and Christian and Catherine Constant renovated Le Violin d'Ingres which now has a communal table but it's not cave-like.

Any one have any idea what I'm talking about? Any suggestions would be appreciated. ← It's not that we're not listening, twhalliii, we just haven't clicked into it yet. A lot of small restos are started by a husband and wife; but the "cave-like pub" doesn't ring a bell; chefs who worked in starred places who've moved to smaller spaces could include Dominique Bouchet, Christian Constant or Yves Camdeborde - you might try to Google/NYT them and see what pops up.

First off thanks to Braden and Laura for hosting this and other tastings; you've enriched Paris: My tasting notes are as follows: (1) Chateau de Montfrin: light, Provence-like. (2) Moulin a Huile Paradis: Most like Greek/Spanish olive oils that I love with rough dishes. (3) Moulin de L'Olivette: So light I cannot taste it. (4) Domaine de Marquiliani: cannot tell, but I'm a geezer. (5) Huile d'olive de Nyons: light. (6) Moulin Jean Marie Cornille: like #1. (7) Chateau Virant: Lighter, but aftertaste of pepper kicks in. (8) J. Leblanc: very light. My top pick was (7) the Chateau Virant, that my wonderful wife bought but I tasted blind so I cannot even claim familial influence.

Sunday's JDD had an article by Aurelie Chaigneau about a new Seine cruise utilizing 8 Riva high speed boats that from 5-8 July will take one on a 3-4-hour trip from the quai de Javel to the Bastille with lots of Mumm champagne and finger food from Inaki Aizpitarte (Chateaubriand) and Laurent Chareau (Transversal.) Cost, a mere 1000 euros for four persons.

This week's Figaroscope supplement has a lotta new stuff from Emmanuel Rubin; for instance, that an: - ex-Dutournier is opening a bistrot Clocher Pereire, 42 blvd Pereire in the 17th - a new team is in control of Victor aka Victor & Capucine, 101 bis, rue Lauriston in the 16th - the Rival Cafe des Costes in the 8th has been renovated beautifully - the Cafe Jenny in the 3rd will/has become a tapas bar - C Constant has indeed opened his new place (see elsewhere) - the Brasserie Les Princes in the 16th is "batting their eyelids" at their South Terrace (got me, well nobody reads this stuff anyway) - after the rentree, Alain Dutournier of Le Carre des Feuillants + Pinxo will be opening a cider-ie where sat Vivendi in the 17th and a two-fer, a table d'hote in Port Marly in the 78th - the ex-Bastide Odeon guy, Gilles Ajuelos will revive La Marlotte {point of personal privilege - they loved my 3-yo grand-daughter} in the 6th - Sole in the 9th will become the biggest trattoria in the city there and in the 18th on the Rue Myrha {where?} - a year after its last move, Fauchon in the 8th will open a new restaurant - at La Villette in the 19th, several food endeavors are underway and finally, - Oth Sombath ex-Blue Elephant { A great place in its day} is opening a chic Siam in the 8th. And they speak of ten books which I won't bore you with.

OK, please report back and report on all the places you're trying; it's good to have a chef's opinion to balance the reports of we civilians.Also I'll merge everything into the Motherthread on Montmartre.

I suspect it's too late but two other funky places in the 18th that are open Sunday nights are Au Pied de Sacre Coeur + La Cave Cafe as well as a fondue/raclette joint called Les Fondus de la Raclette.

Could you pin down where on Montmartre a bit? The top is a disaster for food, the Northern part where I live is untouristy but not chock-a-block full of opportunities, off the top of my head I'd suggest Le Winch, Truc + 2 Pieces Cuisine and on the Southern side Dan Bau but NOT l'Oriental since their disastrous move, none of which hold a candle to Cerisaie though or Spring which technically isn't on the Mont unless you figure on rolling a ball or St Denis' head down from the top in which case it's still on the slope.

Whole other list: ParuVendu of 28 June: Il Cortile Le Saint James & Albany Henkel Cafe Cafe Medicis l'Entrepot Cafe du Musee d'Art Moderne Le Roland Garros Le Pere Lapin Le Xylo in the Saint Cloud Park Sens/Evergreen Laurel Hotel La Terrasse Fleurie/Westin Hotel Le Jardin des Cygnes/Prince des Galles Hotel

I suspect many of us wish we had have been invited; however Braden's biweekly tastings permit us a little window on the experience.