lambretta76

A culinary trip to France has taken a turn to the worse (culinarily speaking) due to finding an amazing apartment rental that we couldn't pass up on. Anyways, our food budget is now being spent on lodging, and most of the meals will be made at the chef's kitchen in our apartment (to be stocked with the best foods from the surrounding markets). But we'd like to do at least one meal a day out and about, and one of those I would like to be at a Michelin-starred restaurant, as I have yet to go to one. Can anyone recommend any inexpensive, or great value, Michelin-starred restaurants in the Paris area? It can be either within the city or a short train ride out to the countryside. (We will be there from October 2-10, so I imagine most places will be open...)

I seem to remember seeing these at Economy Candy down on Rivington in the LES - these are available at EconomyCandy.com for $1.79... Flying Saucers at EconomyCandy.com

The cocktail list there did look amazing, but we had such a hard time deciding on food that I simply ordered the Gruner. In fairness, I think this wine held its own with the heavy spices of the green curry and, surprisingly, the chocolate ribs. However, it was just an OK wine to begin with, that happened to stay OK with the food. A "Jack of all trades, master of none" wine. And to break down the price for our meal mentioned earlier, we had: 2 tapas 2 appetizers 3 entrees 3 sides (2 orders of jasmine rice at $3 a pop, long beans were $5) 3 desserts 3 bottles of water 2 glasses of wine 1 Thai iced coffee This came to $193 including tax, but not tip. Cutting the desserts (which were a bit of an overkill as were already pleasantly stuffed) and opting for Bloomberg's finest you could easily cut the tab to the neighborhood of $60 per person, including tip. The amount of food was ordered for three fairly starved persons, so it is conceivable that you could get away with only two entrees for three people as well...

Found a place called la di da in West Hollywood - supposed to be Hawaiian fusion food. Well, ain't no Hawaiian restaurants in NYC - save for Roy's - is this place any good? If not, any other Hawaiian eateries worth checking out?

Thanks for all of these interesting recommendations. The 140 W. Valley Complex sounds a lot like the two Chinese food courts in Flushing, Queens, which feature an array of different styles of regional Chinese cuisine. As for uigher food, it is essentially Muslim-Russian food coming from a section of China - popular both with Russians and with, from what I've heard, the college students in major Chinese cities. Think lots of kabobs, savoury pastries, and the such. A far cry from traditional Chinese cooking, but nonetheless a unique flavor and culture that is indeed Chinese, if only by national boundaries. I've yet to encounter a Beijing-style Muslim Chinese restaurant in NYC - the closest is a run-of-the-mill CHinese restaurant in my neighborhood that happen to be halal. And keeping with the Moroccan nature of the area, you can get everything on cous cous. (Surprisingly, sesame chicken tastes really good on vegetable cous cous.) Korean food in NY/NJ is good. Had I not spent a lot of time in Korea, or had a Korean aunt, I would probably really like it. But it just lacks a quality that I've had elsewhere. I feel that the majority of Koreans in NYCs K-Towns were born here and the restaurants may cater to an Americanized Korean palate. I think that places like LA, and to a lesser part Denver and Atlanta, have a much more recent wave of Korean immigrants bringing more authentic food with them. And as for a Thai town - please let me know what is best in there. While the state of NYC Thai food is quite poor, Sripriphai, in Woodside, Queens, has been touted as the best Thai restaurant in the country. (Or "Thaied" with one in Las Vegas whose name I forget.) Plus, my boss is half Thai and would perhaps appreciate some decent food. I don't know if there are any upscale Thai restos in the area - my boss and I just recently ate at Kittichai in NY - run by the former chef of Spice Market at the Four Seasons in Bangkok - and the food was absolutely fantastic. (If interested, a link to my review of this restaurant can be found here.

Thanks for this recommendation. Did a google search and it looks like the real deal. Tuesday nights for roast pig sound tasty I'm jealous of LA's K-Town. There are several here in NYC, but none compare to those in LA/SF. If this is the best of the best, then we'll end up there! I'll try my darnedest! Any other recommendations? If anyone knows NYC food - any Thai on the order of Sripriphai? Or how about decent Venezuelan? The meals are filling up quickly, but there's still some open spots! And the Muslim Chinese restaurant piqued my interest - any chance they serve Uigher (or Uygher) cuisine?

After a number of outstanding meals at my recommendation in NY, my boss has asked for some help in finding good restaurants in Los Angeles. Restaurants he has booked are: 1) Matsuhisa for Japanese 2) Ago for Italian and 3) Bastide for French Are these good choices, or are better alternatives available? Also, any good, authentic places for dim sum and other Chinese cuisines. And can good Mexican and Cuban be found in the vicinity? Many thanks from a Brooklyner...

Well - after hearing a fairly negative review of Spice Market from a foodie friend, I decided to give Kittichai a try. The room was very nice - pond with floating candles in the middle of the room, spacious banquets around the edges, silk wall coverings. It was never more than half full. The volume was loud but conversation was easy due to good acoustics... The service: our waiter was knowledgeable about the menu and what went into the dishes. Very polite, prompt, and attentive - you would've thought we were his only table. (He had 3 2 tops and a 4 top besides us.) If only all of the "trendy" restaurants could have service this good. The food (the most important part): From the Thai Tapas section: Marinated monkfish in pandan leaves - five tasty hunks of monkfish wrapped in (inedible) pandan leaves, great texture and flavor, though the unwrapping of the fish was a bit cumbersome. Also, the accompanying dipping sauce was rather boring, though luckily they didn't need to be dipped. Spicy chicken lollipops - Four excellent chicken drumsticks with the skin and meat pushed back to resemble a lollipop. The tangy, yet sweet, tamarind marinade was outstanding. I don't remember if they were grilled, fried, or a bit of both, but they were crunch and smoky and crispy all at once. From the appetizer section: Thai beef salad - a great rendition of the classic. Don't expect to find lettuce or other greens in this dish - it focuses on the beef and the spices that flavor the beef. Intensely citrusy and spicy, with rare beef instead of the usual grilled-within-an-inch-of-its-life cuts. Chocolate back ribs - more Mexican than Thai - reminiscent of a good mole sauce. Five ribs - not too meaty but not too skimpy either. Fantastic flavor, though I don't understand why they ended up on this menu. Had I had these at Hell's Kitchen or Mexicana Mama I'd be much more satisfied - however - I was expecting upscale Thai. Well, OK, they were really good so I'll let it slide. For entrees: Braised short rib green curry - possibly the best green curry I've ever tasted. Unbelievably fresh - my boss proclaimed it to be better than his mother's version, who makes it entirely from scratch. The short rib nearly melted under the pressure of the fork - that tender. I dream that all beef could taste like that. Honey-glazed duck - the least impressive of the entrees, though it was still quite good. The baby bok choy were something I had never encountered before - I imagine if these were more widely available the market for brussel sprouts would evaporate. The duck was slightly chewy but was quite flavorful. The mango in this dish was the best I've had (more later). Chilean Sea Bass - Jesus<Beatles<Sea Bass entree at Kittichai. OK, I'm kidding, it's not better than any supreme deity. But, I have to say that this is the best fish dish I have ever tasted. A fist-sized hunk of sea bass marinated with a sweet glaze of fermented yellow beans. It was served on a dish of sauteed... you know what - who cares? I don't remember. Perfectly cooked - hot and moist throughout. The fish kicked my ass. Side: Sauteed long beans with peppers, two bowls of jasmine rice. For dessert: Sticky rice with champagne mango - It was white rice as opposed to the black rice listed on the menu. (The waiter informed us of that as it was ordered so it was no surprise.) Relatively minute portion served with a slice of the aforementioned mango. It was so good, with a slightly tangy after taste due from the champagne glaze. Are they importing mangoes from Thailand, or are these a variety available here in the US? It's amazing what good ingredients can do... Frozen white chocolate parfait with jackfruit - A fine ice cream dish - I only had one taste before the whole thing disappeared. Kaffir lime tart with coconut ice cream - Quite possibly the best key lime pie I've tasted. Tastewise. It was a little solid for my tastes, I like the consistency of Steve's Key Lime pies better. However, the taste was slightly better. The dried, crushed lime leaves on top (at least I think that was what they were) really added to the dish. The coconut ice cream had much more of a coconut ice flavor and went really well with the tart. All this, plus two glasses of a forgettable gruner veltliner (good, not great) and a Thai iced coffee came to $193 for three before tip.

Aji Ichiban I would say is more of a Chinese sweets store than a Japanese sweets store. PLaces I'd try - Sunrise Mart on Stuyvesant or Grand M2M Market on 3rd near 11th (or 12th, or 10th) JAS Mart on St. Marks b/w 3rd and 2nd (basement level) or, if those fail, the holy grail is Mitsuwa Marketplace in Edgewater, NJ

Does anyone know how late the hours are now? Are they open for dinner? Hoping to go today around 6:30 or 7 - too late? Many thanks!

Can anyone comment on the service at this place? On *another* food board, a poster stated that the service was "inept and amateurish." Now, all I've seen here is that they're beautiful, whispy, young things - are they good at what they do or are they just hangers for tight, black clothing? I'm contemplating taking my boss, who is half Thai and half-Quebecois, here on Friday, as he's already scheduled for a Sripriphai outing on his next trip to NYC and was looking for something fancy but good. (Spice Market, where we also have a reservation, I've heard is quite fancy and not-so-much good.)

I am eagerly awaiting this opening. I love the original in Syracuse and look forward to clogging my arteries further...

The soup of the day yesterday evening was a cold, saffron cantaloupe soup - though I imagine mushroom soup would be a bit heavy at this time of year. And I can't imagine the pain of lingonberry soup in reverse. CSASphinx - thanks for the interesting post. The burger is made with beets, though I'm afraid it is not made with egg or bread crumbs. Though I believe the chef/owner is Swedish and, since they seem to be quite inviting, could make it in the style you desire. (Raw egg yolks feature heavily across the menu.) It appears they have plattar on the brunch menu - sounds like something definitely worth trying, though they seem to feature it as a dessert. I really wish someone would open up a Scandinavian restaurant in Bay Ridge/Sunset Park area, or that the churches around there that support the aging population of Nordic expats would have a Sunday dinner every once in a while... there is still a Danish Sports Club that apparently still has a restaurant attached to it - has anyone been there?

They do have a couple kinds of Aquavit, and I think one homemade kind made with a Swedish licorice candy (Turkish Pepper maybe) - but I don't believe they had the large number of flavoured ones like Aquavit (the restaurant) has. The only drinks had by our group were a pinot grigio (good - not great) and an Absolut Citron/cranberry juice/lime juice cocktail ("nice"). An interesting option is the herring party - for $125 you get a jar of herring with all the fixins and a bottle of Aquavit. It's meant for parties of 5 or larger.

First time in a long while I've been to Good World Bar, which is on Orchard Street just south of Canal. Have had some realy tasty brunches in the past - the pytt i panna, which is a hash made with chunks of steak, potatoes, and deer sausage with egg and beets, is particularly tasty - but haven't been for dinner in a long while. To start - bread was served with a sour cream "dippin' sauce" with dill, garlic, and perhaps some kind of cheese mixed in. Addictive stuff - the bread is just run of the mill NYC baguettes. (Not that that's a bad thing.) Started with two of the small dishes, the smoked salmon roll ($3) and the lavender flower-cured lamb loin ($4). The lamb loin, eaten by itself, was dry, a bit salty, and overpowering due to a healthy dose of the lavender essence. However, when paired with the accompanying rhubarb chutney the dish took on a completely different flavor, with the sweetness/bitterness of the rhubarb complimenting the saltiness and "perfume" of the lamb loin. All in all it has been one of the more interesting appetizers I've had in a long while and I thought it was really tasty. The smoked salmon roll was a healthy roll of smoked salmon with a layer of horseradish-tinged cream inside. Simply served with a wedge of lemon, it was good in a way that good lox and cream cheese can be. Compared to the lamb loin it was fairly boring, but on its own it was quite nice. Served with a sprinkling of wild rice on top. As an entree I had the potato pancake with bacon and lingonberries ($10). The potato pancake was a bit thin and crunchy, but the bacon was very flavorful - and abundant with probably over 10 pieces - and the lingonberries went well with both. It was quite good, but I don't think I'd order it as a main again. My dining companions had the swedish meatballs ($14) and the Good World burger ($11). I only was able to sample the burger, which was tasty enough, but not on par with the best in the city. The house-pickled beets mixed in with the ground beef add an interesting flavor to the patty. Definitely worth returning to - they pickle their own herring in house it seems, so I'd like to try some of those. And the lamb loin will definitely be making an encore. Good World Bar

Similarly - if in Porto, I recommend checking out the Solar do Porto at the Instituto dos Vinhos do Douro e do Porto. It's near the Crystal Palace, located on a woody hillside overlooking the Douro. They pour samples of ports at €1-€2 each - arrange flights of ports - and sell close to three hundred bottles of the good stuff. There's a fairly simple, inexpensive menu, and the views and gardens are magnificent. The place is simply beautiful. Solar do Porto And if you like ridiculously fatty, heart-clogging food - don't leave the area without sampling a francesinha - quite possibly the greatest sandwich on earth. (I have become obsessed with these since my trip to Portugal for the Euros.) Capa Negra has a decent version - Rua do Campo Alegre, 191 - phone# 226 078 380. Steak, ham, sausage, cheese, gravy. Man they're brilliant! Oh, and I would recommend being stationed somewhere around Porto - from which many quick (and cheap) trains run throughout the area. One day in Porto, a day in Guimarães, and a day taking a train along the Douro into the port wine countryside. Or, a trip to Aveiro for satisfying those seafood cravings - had some amazing food down there. And hopefully Chloë will be able to help out with some more definitive reasons for visiting the north.

I was able to sample Doritos Jamon!-Jamon! (jammin'!) and Lay's Presunto chips in Spain and Portugal, respectively, and couldn't get enough of their hammy goodness. Elsewhere in Spain I had a queso viejo flavor that tasted remarkably like manchego, but I forget the company that made them. And I would kill for poutine chips.

Slightly off-topic - but your comment of tarragon ice cream is nearly a new favorite of mine - ice cream floats made using Russian tarragon soda and vanilla ice cream. Not Iberian whatsoever, and I apologize.

Just a heads up for those questioning the high prices - it seems that the store is offering 15% off all knives during the month of July. Apparently, the reduced prices will be reflected at checkout. Link to sale coupon info Link to Japanese-Knife.com homepage

Can anyone report on what the prices are like?

Yes - it is indeed spelled ensalada Malagueña. I found a recipe for it, but alas - no potatoes. I am 100% positive that they had potatoes in them when I had them, though... Ensalada malagueña (Málaga Salad): 100g of salted dried cod; 1 cooked egg; 1 bitter orange; and for the dressing: garlic, olive oil, vinegar and paprika. Put the cod in water to soak overnight (7 or 8 hours); peal the orange, slice it and place in a serving dish; then add the cod pieces and a finely chopped hard-boiled egg. The garlic for this dressing needs to be very well crushed, you then add a pinch of paprika, olive oil and vinegar to taste.

I had this at a couple of joints in the Malaga area - all with potatoes, all referred to as an ensalada Malaguena. The first time I ordered it from sight from a bar-top cooler and asked what it was called. When I saw it on menus from that point on I always ordered it. The potatoes may have been steamed before being cut up in the salad, not boiled, as they were nice and chewy, not mushy. And yes, the binding agent was olive oil. I wish I could rememver the names of the places I had this at but several of them didn't even have signs as far as I knew.

I'm partial to the Ensalada Malaguena - a salt cod salad with potato, black olives, orange, onion and garlic. The citrus really makes this salad shine. Maybe just found around Malaga, although it may be elsewhere in Andalusia/Spain.

Don't go to Pittsburgh all that often but I do have a couple of recs. First of all, taxis are cheap - bus and subway cheaper. Places that should be considered: Bloomfield Bridge Tavern - Polish Church Brew Works - good wood fired pizzas, esp. the Pierogi pizza - other American food - it's in an old cathedral - absolutley beautiful. Decent beers. There's decent German food over on the North Side - Max's Allegheny Tavern - Penn Brewery (if you like beer, I enjoy the Penn Weizen - it can be enjoyed in the courtyard of this 19th century brewey) Downtown you'll find above average Cambodian at Phnom Penh. Also downtown is Kenny B's Eatery - an interesting Cuban diner. In Bloomfield you have Tessaro's for great burgers. Lots of Abruzzese Italian joints around the city but I don't have a fave - that said - Bloomfield is kind of Pittsburgh's Little Italy.

I second the rec for the Dumpling House on Eldridge - 5 fried dumplings, a scallion pancake with beef (probably the best NY Chinese invention of all-time), and a huge container of warm do cheon (or however you spell that soy drink) - all for $3.50. Then pop down to East Broadway off of Essex and get a fantastic Chinese pastry for 60 cents. That's another addition - Chinese pastries - at the good Chinese pastry shops - are always between 50 and 60 cents. Can't be beat! Another favorite is Schnack in the Columbia Street Waterfront District - Blimpy Burger-style sliders for 99 cents a piece and they're really good. Three of those and two PBRs will set you back $6 - plus they sell the wonderful swojska from Juibilat for $3.50.... and a nice Chicory Stout milkshake... Banh mi sandwiches and street tamales round out my cheap eats. Mid-range - the dessert tasting menu at Chikalicious for $12. Love that place. High-end - any restaurant week offering by Danny Meyer. Grammercy Tavern bar menu. Blue Hill's dessert tasting menu if that's still offered.