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It is my impression that a November opening is planned.

Again, Jakob, thank you. When we have our final travel dates, I may post again with any gastronomic questions. I know, for instance, that I will be eager to know about the best pastry shops and cafes serving Danish cakes and pastries.

Thank you, Jakob. Is this true for museums, shops, etc. also: that everything is back to normal a day or two after new year? I know the opera has performances that week, for instance (sold out, but I shall try somehow to get tickets).

I am glad I searched for this thread: we are considering a few days in Copenhagen in early January, perhaps between the 3rd and the 8th. Noma looks amazing. I've e-mailed them to ask whether they're open during that time, but perhaps an eGullet member can answer a more general question: do Copenhagen restaurants take a new year's holiday break, or will pretty much everything be open at that time? Thanks.

Just a word on oil temperatures in home kitchens. I find that bringing the oil to 325F for the initial blanching is a good idea, because that gives you lots of room for the inevitable temperature drop when the potatoes go in. Similarly, for the final frying I bring the oil up to 375 or even a bit higher. I generally get good results. Incidentally, even though they might not meet the McDonald's specs, potatoes such as Carolas or German Butterballs make fries that may remind the nostalgiacs among us more of the French bistrot experience.

Can we all - apart from non-pork-eaters - agree that the bacon, lettuce and tomato sandwich is one of the great dishes? Well, even if we can't: where does it come from? There's something vaguely English about it, isn't there? Yet it really flourishes only in the US. Anybody know about the origins of this sandwich?

And too fastidious by half. Why wouldn't one just drink them?

Not based in the UK, I have nothing to add to your list, but do want to say how good Laduree is - if you know and like the Paris shops, you will not be disappointed in the one at Harrods.

To follow up on an earlier query: Does Bouchon Bakery take reservations, at least at mealtimes? I suppose I could pick up the phone and ask, but it's too early in the day, and I'll forget to call later.

http://www.nytimes.com/2006/09/27/dining/2...html?ref=dining

Really good with foie gras terrine. I'm not joking.

My concern would be that a 220v appliance adapted for use on 110v circuits might not work properly. Years ago, when Dualit toasters were first introduced to the US, I bought one, and it heated very feebly indeed. I corresponded with the company, and they admitted that they hadn't adapted it completely to the lower voltage but were working on it. I returned the toaster. I believe (but do not know first hand) that the problem was eventually resolved - but early adopters got, er, burned. Anyway, you'd want to make sure that you could return this thing for a refund if it simply didn't get as hot as fast as the 220v version.

Tom Cat bakery and Pain d'Avignon. Both wholesale only, I think, but the breads can be found in retailers and restaurants around town. Gourmet Garage sells Tom Cat baguette - I think it's the best in NYC. Some Pain d'Avignon breads, as well as Balthazar loaves, are sold at Whole Foods and at Corrado (Grand Central Station and a few other locations). I agree about Sullivan Street; their pane pugliese is what we always have in the house.

This might be useful information in case anyone else is marooned in London at the Festive Season: I just checked with Sheekey. They're going to be open for lunch on December 24th but closed for dinner.

As New Yorkers, my wife and I are great ones for being in the city when most other people have disappeared - summer weekends, for instance - for much the same reasons as Weasel mentions. The difference, of course, is that few things are closed here. I find the shutting down of London and other UK cities rather depressing. Part of that, of course, is not being home and having no familiar bolt-hole to scurry back to.

Thanks, Jon. More or less what I expected to hear, alas, and a reminder of why we generally stay away from the UK within spitting distance of major holidays.

For years, we have avoided the UK around Christmas; this year, we shall be in London from the 23rd to the 26th. We're set for the 25th, the 23rd should be no problem, and we're off to Asia on the 26th. Does anyone have a sense of what restaurants will be open on Sunday the 24th? No price constraints, one way or the other. No wish, however, to be presented with a "festive" set menu. Thanks.

I really don't think that hanger steak needs any special treatment at all, apart from the care involved in trimming it well and keeping it rare. I say this having just eaten one - merely salted, peppered and cooked in a hot (but not smoking hot) skillet for a couple of minutes each side. Marinating it will only mask the somewhat distinctive flavor - and if you don't like that rather rich taste, why bother with this cut?

In all this cornucopia of fruit and veg, let's not forget the protein: pork from Flying Pigs Farm, more pork and delicious Belle Rouge chickens from Violet Hill and lamb (and mutton) from Three-Corner Field (though the latter won't be back at the market until early September).

Oh no, Checchino serves plenty of dishes based on normal muscle tissue. Among less costly restaurants, this summer we enjoyed Matricianella, off piazza San Lorenzo. While the early diners were a mix of tourists and locals, by 9:45 or so it was a purely Italian crowd. Not a particularly original recommendation, but it was very good.

Sometimes, I'll choose a main course and ask the waiter [to ask the chef] to choose an appetizer for me.

Rich - explain please. Perhaps you can post an analysis of the section and explain why you feel it is so bad.

For us, the trick to a pleasant experience at Fairway (Broadway and 74th) is to go very late at night, after the opera at Lincoln Center, say. Not crowded, not crazy. Mind you, we buy only a few things there (mainly Beurremont or Plugra butter), so we're in and out quickly anyway.

This is SUCH a good thread.

Again, thanks, all, for your information and for the interesting exchange of views. I settled on Handford wines; their list contained exactly the sorts of things I was looking for (Italian and one California Italianate).