John Talbott

I hate it, but then I hate it in the US too. Again we should hear from someone like Ptipois but I think the French think brunch is kinda cool, new, exotic, American, etc.There was a place in the 8th called the Apartment I believe that I was assured when I reserved had a regular menu along with brunch on Sunday; we went and it was all brunch all the time and it was full and everyone was having bloody Mary's, eggs, breads, etc., it could have been the Pittsburgh Marriott.

Ohhh, I was always able to argue for an argula salad and pizza at dinner with a bit of wine and a grappa. Maybe things have changed.

Good news indeed Laidback. Thanks.But what's a "two topper?" Wikipedia says it's an "11' sailing dinghy designed by Ian Proctor. Background. The Topper is a very popular one-design boat with a large international....."

Welcome to the France Forum and to Paris. We need more folks on the ground.This from the Digest: “Jan 19 in Liberation Anne Deguy looked at upscale pizzas (eg with caviar or black wheat) and wrote about those at La Pizzetta, Maria Luisa, Amici Miei + San. Feb 21 Figaroscope’s “Dossier” covered and ranked pizzas: 9/10 La Pizzetta + Amici Mei 8.5 Maria Luisa 8 Cantina Clandestina, Pizza Positano + Enzo 7.5 Il Tre, Paparazzi + San 7 Da Pieto 6 l’Etape Also rans: Pizzería Da Carmine, Bartola, Da Mimmo + Le Mercure. Francois Simon in his Haché menu went to another place – the Bistrot Napolitain, 18, avenue Franklin-Roosevelt in the 8th, 01 45 62 08 37, closed weekends where for 100 € he had good pizza, sodas, an “execrable” liqueur of coffee, miserable tiramisu and a ½ bottle of Chianti, saying you should go.” I have two local pizza joints, aside from Speed Rabbit + Pizza Hut, one highly rated (4th if I recall correctly in Figaro a few years ago) no-smoking, sit down place Sale e Pepe but the Neapolitan singing patron seems to have moved back home and its quality and ambiance are diminished so I’ve shifted to a take-out place about 145 Rue Ordener that makes a quite good Reine pizza. I believe the aforementioned Figaro ratings were preceded by an article authored or coauthored by M. Simon who bemoaned the poor quality overall of pizza in Paris compared to any street corner in the US (perhaps he was referring to New Haven or Greenwich Village) or Italy (this was before he published his book "Toscane"). I'd be interested in your take on Sale e Pepe these days. Please keep us updated because after a hard days work (eating of course) there's nothing like a good pizza, even in Paris. Someone told me that the pizza from Picard wasn't half-bad for the price.

I'm embarassed to say that even though I hail from the 18th, I don't know a one (by taste) even though I pass them. But I will change my ways after this. Thanks Dave.

Friday March 9th, Dorothy Gaiter and John Brecher "Tastings" column in the WSJ listed pet peeves about wine service, presumably in the US, but some are unfortunately applicable even to France. They were: Pouring wine into tiny glasses. Overfilling glasses when you've ordered a bottle. Underfilling glasses when you've ordered by the glass. Not letting customers pour themselves. Decanting without permission. Decanting out of sight. Serving reds too warm and whites too cold. Taking glasses away that still have wine in them. Ditto for bottles. Serving wine by the glass without identification. Storing wine over the stove, etc. Agitating the wine before pouring. Dirty glasses.

And today's Figaroscope's “Dossier” this week rated the “new” brunch places as follows: 9/10 Le Kube 8.5/10 Hotel Amour 8/10 Restaurant d’Orsay La Ferme 7.5/10 Kiwi Corner 7/10 Bwyty Carmine 6.5/10 Mosca Libre with Francois Simon, in his Haché menu going to Mariage Freres in the 6th.

I'll let someone who's French-French come up with the real answer but why shouldn't the majority be closed in a formally Catholic country, where there should be a day off except for brasseries, and where Sundays are considered "family" days especially for Mom/Pop restaurants whose owners/chefs have small kids. There is also the "35 hour" work week law which is now more honored in the breach than the observance in restaurants and even questioned by Mme. Royal.Still there are lots of choices for Sundays. I assume you've checked out our compendium as well as the guidebooks for other possibilities. Just last week in the Digest I noted three places open every day: Autour de...., Saut de Loup + Fines Gueules.

Since there's no current thread on restaurants in the Emilia-Romagna region I'll take the libery of appending my recent reviews here. Tassi, Viale Repubblica 23, Bondeno, near Ferrara (FE), 0532.893030, closed Sunday and Mondays was a terrific first meal off the plane. They have a Times of London article posted on the wall which is entitled “Dieting Disaster in Northern Italy,” for a good reason. The amuse bouches were wonderful crisp chicharrones and S. Tassi offered, if we so desired, to provide us a sampling of regional dishes and wine (a Cabernet from closer to Bologna, actually, he said, was better than any local red). We did. So we started with five pastas: a pasta in brodo of capon stock with truffles; raviolis stuffed with pumpkin; lasagna al forno (with spinach made pasta and a veal Bolognese sauce); tagliatelle with sausage and beans; and potato gnoccis with ricotta and arugula, each better than the last (at this point, we noted that even the locals, from workmen to business-types, were having the same). Then came some fine mashed potatoes (Colette insists they are a rare treat here) with shredded pork from a roasted pork bladder and a side of smoky pork sausage. At that point, we declined the bolitto misto, although it looked mighty good, served as it was with four condiments. Dessert was their own (Tassi) pudding; ½ mascarpone, ½ chocolate, very good, and the accompanying bubbly, cidery, sweet white wine was perfect. With a touch of grappa (the strong kind), coffees and water the bill was 65 €. As I said, not bad for a first meal off the plane although Michelin had beat us there, awarding it two knifes and forks and a Bib Gourmand. The Osteria de’Poeti, via de’Poeti, 1B Bologna (BO) 051.236.166, is only closed Monday holidays and has been around since 1610. Posted at the entrance is a carved sign quoting the great poet Cardocci saying “I want to buried in a vineyard so I can give back what was given to me.” Our Bolognian hosts knew the management and chefs and we threw ourselves on their mercy. The amuse bouche was the Italian take on quiche that I thought was terrific but no one else tried. Then we had a nouvelle-cuisine-looking presentation of thin slices of capon sausage with gelatin and parmesan sauce and fossa cheese gnoccis with truffle sauce. Then we had a serving of raviolis with mushrooms, cheese and truffles and the main pasta dish looked like it had a plain old ragu but it was made from duck breast. It was then that we Americans noticed that things were heavily salted. The meat course was underdone (correctly) venison with shaved fennel and all of us loved it save one person, who thought its flavor was too intense (and said so to the hosts). And finally, we had a semifreddo of blood-red oranges. The bill was picked up by our non-foodcritic/industry hosts so I have no idea how much this paradise cost. Vasco e Giulia, via L A Muratori, 21, Comacchio (FE), 0533/81252, closed Mondays, is located in the town that is a cross between Venice and San Francisco’s Fisherman’s wharf and on the coast equidistant from Ravenna and Ferrara. Charming canals cut through the place, bordered by a great number of fish restaurants – we chose this one because of the Osterie Guide’s description. It’s newish looking but old in tradition. We started with a shared spaghetti and clams that were so delicious, garlicky and buttery there can be no better. Then Colette had the grilled sole and I the grilled eel (despite the guidebooks wisdom that the season had long since passed) and we each were so envious of the others’ dish we switched midstream. She also had a nice arugula salad and I buttered spinach. The local wine (Bosco) was pallid but that was my fault, I should have recalled that we think the local wines of the Veneto are “thin”; one of the two kinds of bread offered was superb and the coffee as intense as it gets. The bill was 64.30 €; no charge for the delightful setting. Al Cancelletto, via Corsica, 4, 049.8702805 in Camin/Padova, (PD) another Osterie Guide place in an off-beat location with all local customers. This place, while serving specialties of the area and Venice also does a bit of exotica: I had wild boar bresaola with raw asparagus cut in 2 inch strips with orange slices and olive oil followed by horsemeat ragu on tagliatelle – both spectacular. Colette had a filet of veal in an interestingly flavored sauce with undercooked green asparagus and a torte of pear and honey – both terrific. With an amuse bouche of a quiche-sort-of-thing, good flat breadish-sticks, lots of local and Tuscan wine, etc, the bill was 57.50 €.

The Week of March 26th, 2007 Veronique Andre, in Figaro Madame wrote an article on three of her favorite restos for under 30 €, they were: the Villa Periere, M comme Martine + Le Café du Commerce. Lucile Escourrou also wrote about uncommon food experiences, giving as examples a wine tasting with music at Le Vin en Tete, wine and foie gras at Puerto Cacao and eating flowers at the Flower Bar at Lafayette Gourmet. Monday in Le Fooding, Alexandre Cammas reviewed the Cancale offshoot, via Tokyo, the Breizh Café, 109, rue Vieille du Temple, 01 42 72 13 77, open noon-10 PM except Tuesdays, serving what sound like upscale (Valrhona chocolate, sweet-sour caramel, andouille, aged cheese) crepes. Tuesday, l’Express printed its usual three reviews: François-Régis Gaudry ate at the Franco-Irish spot Urbane, coordinates given before, where he rather liked the shrimp tempura with horseradish sauce, scallops with curry, mashed potatoes and prune-frangipane lollipop and one-star Keisuke Matsushima in Nice; while Pierrick Jégu wrote about Les Fines Gueules, 2, rue La Vrillière in the 1st, 01-42-61-35-41, a la carte running one 25-30 €, open everyday 7-2 AM, chef’d by Arnaud Bradol, ex of the Bistral, who constructs his menu around products made by the best, for example Thierry Daniel’s andouillette, Poujauran’s bread, Bordier’s butter, David Hervé’s oysters, Hugo Desnoyers’ meat, ditto for wines. In addition, Guillaume Crouzet wrote that the Pourcels are opening a resto in the Musée Fabre in Montpellier. Tuesday, as well, in GoGoParis, Adrian Moore reviewed l’Arome, 3, rue St-Philippe du Roule in the 8th, 01.42.25.55.98, closed Sundays, calling it a surprisingly good lunch for 33 €. Tuesday also, in A Nous Paris, courtesy of Felice, Philippe Toinard reviewed Pharamond, coordinates in the guides and given before, which he thought merited an almost unprecedented 4/5 blocks, mentioning the os a moelle, cote de veau, baba and calvados flambéed apples; meanwhile Jerome Berger gave 3/5 blocks to Urbane, coordinates given elsewhere on this page, where he mentions the undercooked salmon with pistou and lemon tart with cookies. They also mention in the sidebar Mosca Libre, coordinates give, which serves fair-traded products such as Bolivian quinoa; Allain Milliat’s desserts at the Grande Epicerie; and exotic drinks at the Publicisdrugstore. Wednesday, Richard Hesse in Paris Update reviewed Autour de…, 397,rue de Vaugirard in the 15th right near the Porte de Versailles and Convention Center, 01 45 30 18 47, menu 25 €, a la carte, around 35 € which he said is good Paris bistro food for the price. There were lots of salads and other vegetable dishes, as well as cod, pork and beef and four desserts. Wednesday in Figaroscope, Emmanuel Rubin had a tough week. He awarded two hearts to only one place, the Italianate Serafina in the 17th; the rest meriting only one heart: Le Coup de Feu, 48, rue Leon Frot in the 11th, 01.43.67.23.48, closed Saturday lunch and Sundays, formulas at 12 and 14, a la carte 30 € for avocado & shrimp salad and not bad paella; l’Affriande, 39, rue Truffaut in the 17th, 01.43.87.21.17, closed Sundays and Mondays as well as Tuesday dinner and Saturday lunch, lunch formula at 11, dinner menus at 28 and 32 € for buffet food; 16 Tholozé, coordinates given before, featuring charcuterie, meat and frites; and 182, 182 rue Louis Bleriot in the 16th, 01.42.88.44.63, open every day, lunch formulas at 20, a la carte 35-40 € for eggs mayonnaise, terrine and chicken. Figaroscope’s “Dossier” this week was an inquiry into eclairs by Alexandra Michot, Colette Monsat and Francois Simon that rated the places that serve them: 1 - Carette 2 - Jean-paul Hevin 3 - Stohrer 3 - Ladurée (16 rue Royale VIIIe) 5 - Vandermeersch 6 - La Maison du Chocolat 6 - Lenôtre 8 - Blé Sucré 9 - Rollet-Pradier 9 - Dalloyau 11 - La Gerbe d'Antan 11 - Fauchon 11 - Pascal Pinaud 14 - Gérard Mulot (76 rue de Seine VIe) 15 - Arnaud Lahrer 15 - Arnaud Delmontel 17 - Paul 17 - Kayser 17 - Rousseau et Seurre 17 - Laurent Duchêne And Francois Simon, going against the theme in his Haché menu spent 52.50 € at Fontaine Fiacre eating healthy food that he rated neither bad nor good which is about what I said. Wednesday as well, Jane Sigal wrote an article on Joel Robuchon in the NYT recounting his history, current enterprises and three recipes. Wednesday-Thursday in Le Monde, Jean Claude Ribaut wrote an article on the wines of Languedoc. Friday, Bridget wrote in Parisist that Les Jumeaux, coordinates in the guides, has been taken over by a young Franco-Polish couple (with twins) who serve a three course 34 € menu with things such as loup de mer, foie gras and steak with blue cheese that sounded good although she did not like the other fish dish. Friday in Les Echos, Jean Louis Galesne reviewed three places in Provins Aux Vieux Remparts, Hostillerie de la Croix d’Or + Beau Rivage. THere was also an article about people like Pierre Gagnaire using soy sauce and the appearance of the Michelin Red Guide in Japan. Cynthia Zarin has an article in the April Gourmet on Patricia Well’s new book Vegetable Harvest, William Morrow, $39.95 which she says is a follow-up to The Provence Cookbook April’s Saveur has an article by Nancy Koons on crepes and Brittany and lists the following as places to eat: Buvette de Port Theolen, Creperie du Cap, La Creperie l’Epoke, l’Etrave + la Krampouzerie as well as the grilled sardines at Madeleine Brios’s “snack shack” in Douarenez. Saturday-Sunday in Le Figaro, Francois Simon’s “Croque Notes” discussed was entitled a good man and discussed Alain Dutournier of the Carré des Feuillants. Next door, he interviewed Trish Deseine, the Irish author and lover of French food who mentioned: the Rose Bakery, Chateaubriand, Hôtel Costes + Le Zéphyr. Finally Alexandra Michot had an article on monothematic places, such as Oliviers & Co for olive oil, Cave à bulles + Culture Biere for beer, Cave à jambons for ham, Lavinia for wine, Bonne Maman/Autour de Pot for jam, Pomze for apples, Rouge Tomate {now Rouge St Honore} for tomatoes and Terre des truffes as well as the new crepes place Breiz Café. The weekend FT had an article written by Ann Morrison on Paris supermarkets, foodhalls and street markets. Saturday/Sunday, in the weekend WSJ there was an article entitled "How to Get the Ungettable Table." While it mainly focused on US and NYC restaurants, it did deal with three French ones, passing on the following advice: At Le Comptoir du Relais stay at the hotel or go at 7:30 PM At Mori Venice Bar call Ms Mori at 33.6.22.14.08.02 At l'Astrance call after one of its "numerous vacations" and book three months ahead. Saturday/Sunday, BP published an article by Margaret Kemp on Easter at Pre Catelan and one by John Talbott on “Who Do You Trust II.” Please post comments here and not in the Digest thread.

hshirl posted this on the map thread, but responses should be posted here. Thanks. John

Let's keep this thread focused on the map. Regarding Lyon, let's respond here.

Interesting you should mention Le Bistral because in last week's l’Express Pierrick Jégu wrote about Les Fines Gueules, 2, rue La Vrillière in the 1st, 01-42-61-35-41, a la carte running one 25-30 €, open everyday 7-2 AM, chef’d by Arnaud Bradol, ex of the Bistral, who constructs his menu around products made by the best, for example Thierry Daniel’s andouillette, Poujauran’s bread, Bordier’s butter, David Hervé’s oysters, Hugo Desnoyers’ meat, ditto for wines.

In the weekend WSJ there was an article entitled "How to Get the Ungettable Table." While it mainly focused on US and NYC restaurants, it did deal with three French ones, passing on the following advice: At Le Comptoir du Relais stay at the hotel or go at 7:30 PM At Mori Venice Bar call Ms Mori at 33.6.22.14.08.02 At l'Astrance call after one of its "numerous vacations" and book three months ahead. We've had several threads about snaggin a rez, for instance here, here and here and the compendium but I thought a new thread might help further the discussion on how to get into hard to reserve at places.

Reservations A compendium of existing threads This is one of a series of compendia that seeks to provide information available in prior threads on eGullet. Please feel free to add links to additional threads or posts or to add suggestions. On line How far in advance No reservation places l’Ambrosie Brasseries? Having trouble Booking online At short notice How far in advance? Help Tips at l’Astrance

I probably should not encourage unfood-related items but I'm delighted this worked.And like Chufi I want to thank you for the report. It's very valuable.

The Week of March 19th, 2007 Friday, February 27th, I completely missed Patricia Wells' article on Taillevent's demotion in the IHT. She says while she never considered it the best resto in the world, it is the best run and she applauds the other Michelin decisions. Monday in Le Fooding, Emmanuel Rubin reviewed the funKy tapas place Les Akolytes in Marseille. Monday, l’Express had its usual three reviews: François-Régis Gaudry had lunch at Rech, coordinates given before, with “le mangeur masqué du Figaro, la Marie Zotto de Elle et Monsieur Goûts du Monde,” translation: Simon, Zotto and Ribaut. Impressive in this Ducasse seafood restoration were the wine prices: not a glass under 14 € and a bottle of Château Simone costing 67 € at the Dôme was 90 here, thus he had a 40 € Vouvray, but the food was good. Meanwhile Pierrick Jégu went to Au Petit Thaï in the 4th and Marie-Amal Bizalion to Le Ventre de l'architecte in Marseille. Monday as well Paris to the Spoon ate at the Korean place Nam San in the 19th. Christopher Dickey, Newsweek’s Paris bureau chief wrote an article dated March 26th but posted March 17th, entitled “ Where would I send my friends in which he cites Benoit, Allard + Chez Eux although he also like the brasseries Balzar, La Coupole, Boeuf sur le Toit + Wepler and the Costes places Georges, l’Avenue + Costes Hotel. Tuesday, Adrian Leeds in her ParisParler wrote a perfectly lovely review of Drouant. Tuesday in Le Figaro Cécile Alizon wrote a piece on l’Atelier LZC’s wonderfully colored dishtowels. Tuesday also, in A Nous Paris, courtesy of Felice, there were two reviews, both of which merited 3/5 blocks; Philippe Toinard reviewed Le Bistrot des Faubourgs in a piece entitled “Girly Food,” coordinates above, with a short menu due to their commitment to serve only what’s in the market, such as a carrot and ginger soup, osso bucco and moelleux of chocolate (the Corbieres is 4 € a glass); and Jerome Berger reviewed the pricey (30 € for 2 dishes) Le Saut de Loup, coordinates also given before, where he had a hamburger of today and tomorrow and entremets from Laduree. Wednesday, Richard Hesse published a review in Paris Update of the Bistro des Faubourgs, 55, rue des Vinaigriers in the 10th, 01 42 05 19 05, Open Monday-Friday for lunch and Friday and Saturday for dinner, lunch menu 14 and a la carte around 30 € where he was upset by the repetition of the use of mache as a garniture and the cold camembert and not impressed by the innovativeness of the carte (you could make this food at home) or by Irish chef Carolyn Buckley’s steak or over-cooked sea bream but did like the oxtail and leek terrine and apple crumble. In a final blow he suggests its OK to go there with an old friend or ex-lover where you want to talk not eat impressive food. Wednesday in Figaroscope, Emmanuel Rubin awarded two hearts each to the newly moved and expanded l’Oriental, coordinates given last week, open everyday, lunch menu 14.50, dinner 30 €, the classic couscous place and Le Bistrot des Faubourgs, coordinates given above, where he liked the Lyon sausage, boudin and beef. One heart each went to Le S, 34, rue des Plantes in the 14th, 01.45.40.43.36, closed Sundays, running one about 35-40 € for country pate, andouillette and cote de boeuf; the Tel Avivian falafel-shwarma place Mi Va Mi, 27, rue des Ecouffes in the 4th, 01.42.71.53.72, closed Friday night and Saturdays running one 15-20 €and Bert’s au BHV Homme, 14 rue du Temple in the 4th, costing one about 15 € for not very sexy snack and fastfood. Figaroscope’s “Dossier” this week explored bars from Abesses to the Champs-Elysees: Le Passage l’Eclareur Le Lucien Paris Bodega Rich Cave Café Marlusse et Lapin Cesar Playoff Club House Rosso La Caravane L’Etage Tournesol Café. And Francois Simon, going along with the theme in his Haché menu spent 12 € at Showcase. This week Adrian Moore reviewed Meiji in the 8th for GoGo Paris. Wednesday-Thursday in Le Monde, Jean Claude Ribaut wrote an article on the best boudin of the year competition held March 16-17. The winner was Sébastien Besnard, an artisinal coldcut maker from Alençon. The Paris runners-up included: Classe de BP 10-Ceproc CFA Metiers, 19, Rue Goubert in the 19th and Christian Durand, 30, Rue des Abbesses in the 18th. Thursday, Gilles Pudlowski in Le Point says he is following Tse Yang + Le Café des Faussaires, 28, rue Croix-des-Petits-Champs in the 1st, 06.26.75.10.21, a la carte : 35 € for good wines and products such as rillettes, lentil salad, eggs with foie gras and pepper-steak; and thinks Tante Marguerite + Point Bar are in good shape; and in the provinces he likes Chez Tanésy in Nancy, the Chalet de la Marine {joke-joke}, on the Dalles ski-slope in the Val Thorens and the Hostellerie du Chapeau Rouge in Dijon.. His products of the week are confitures etc from Au Coin des producteurs in Saint-Martin-de-Belleville and lamb from Quercy for which he gives a recipe with junipers. Thursday, Sandie Meusnier in Le Figaro reports that the cool soups, such as gazpacho, petits pois and mint, tomato and espelette pimento, lentil with curry, etc., made by Giraudet {that I think I bought at the Galeries} are now available at supermarkets. Friday in Liberation Vincent Noce wrote a more or less (he takes a swipe at the Michelin) straight news piece on Marc Meneau continuing to cook at l’Esperance while awaiting his refinancing/restructurization plan’s approval in Paris. Friday in Les Echos, Jean Louis Galesne reviewed the two all soufflé places in Paris: Le Souffle + Cigale Recamier as well as l’Amuse Bouche, 186, rue du Château in the 14th, 01.43.35.31.61, taken over in October by Philippe Dubois, ex-chef of Soufflé, that serves three soufflés. In addition, Philippe Chevilley reviewed a bar La Fourmi, 74, rue des Martyrs in the 18th, 01.42.64.70.35, open 7/7 except 4-8 AM, serving simple plates at lunch and burgers, salads and tartines for dinner; and Jean Claude Hazera wrote an article on real vs false shallots. Saturday-Sunday in Le Figaro, Francois Simon’s “Croque Notes” discussed Rech where he was asked three times if his tuna was raw enough (it was but was too cold) and four times if he was enjoying his meal (he wasn’t, the scallops were over-the-hill, his apple was too hot outside too cold inside). In the same edition, Alexandra Michot reported on the trendy-ness of “easy-cook books” where one can make simple dishes. And, in a third article, a Swiss psychoanalyst “analyzes” Guy Savoy saying he sublimates his anxiety into food creations, masters his Oedipal wishes and retains his “bad boy” adolescent rebellious side. {As a psychiatrist/psychoanalyst, I found what he said to be on the border between the ridiculous and the hilarious.} The weekend FT had an article written by Nick Landers of the MOF competition (see above), which members whose French is challenged, may prefer to Alexandra Miochot’s article on the process. Saturday/Sunday, BP published an article by Margaret Kemp on Pierre Gagnaire and one by John Talbott on “Why it’s easier to review bad places.” Sunday in the JDD, there was the usual response of the famous chef about his favorite inexpensive places in Paris, this week it was Christophe Cussac of Joel Robuchon’s Metropole Hotel/restaurant who picked the Cave a l’Os a Moelle + Les Papilles. And, in their Version Femina, Astrid T’Serclaes reviewed the Bis de Severo, Le Parti de The + Le Bonheur de Patisserie. Please post comments here and not in the Digest thread.

Not cheap specifically, but the pinned thread above has info and Via Michelin lists two Bibs gourmands.

Welcome Howard and thanks for the correction which I've reflected in changing the title. I'm afraid spelling it Bruges reflects the preponderance of Francophile/Francophone members.

Please do. We need to know what worked and what didn't.

Let's continue this part of the discussion on the Bordeaux thread.

From tinyhandfull’s comment on the Map thread You should consider La Cape, see upthread, which now has a star.

I'm "pinning" this up top now so it doesn't get lost over time.

I completely missed "digesting" Patricia Wells article on Taillevent's demotion in the February 27th IHT. Apologies. She says while she never considered it the best resto in the world, it is the best run and she applauds the other Michelin decisions.

A note for folks headed for Southern Austria (from the Baltimore press): The American chef and owner, along with his Austrian-born wife Melanie, of the well-respected Abacrombie restaurant in Baltimore, Sonny Sweetman, has sold it and is going to work for his old boss, Horst Schultze, who is involved in a new upscale hotel chain, Capella Hotels. Sweetman will be chef de cuisine for the Schloss Velden, opening in June, a spectacularly sited, lakeside hotel in the Austrian Alps, smack up against Slovenia, not too far from Klagenfurt. I’d be interested in how his cuisine is received there.