raisab

Alex - That's exactly what I not John Whiting said. ← John, you guys are similar in apperance!

I called yesterday to get a reservation for April, and was told that they are fully booked until September! I guess I'll just have to show up and take my chances.... ← If you are willing to eat outside just show up. They have heaters and blankets and April should not be that cold. I ate outside Friday and it was wonderful. I imagine the same will not hold true (walk in for an outside seat)during the warmer months.

I ate at Comptoir again on Friday night and it was fabulous again. Just a quick comment on his reservation system. Chef shows no favoritsm it would seem with his policy. As sitting outside with me was a very well known personality in the French journalistic circles along with a singer giving a concert in Paris this coming month. The evening ended up with all of (including the chef) sitting inside, singing songs, drinking champagne and wine (some of it courtesy of Yves) and eating birthday gateau. A truly memorable evening.

Everyone has a moment when their senses awaken and that light comes on! I am sure alot of us were where he's at, at one time. What a better city than Paris for this to happen? Steak and Frites in a quintessential brasserie? With some good wine? (Or beer for that matter.) What a wonderful experience. Jules Verne would be a little out of budget I think, but still a wonderful suggestion.

(the good part of that, of course, is they speak kindly of the United States in the slow, articulate French of Cardinal Lustiger, President Chirac and Queen Elizabeth, so you can over-hear everything). It was chock-a-block full – go quickly! John I will go there just for this! I love it!

I spoke to Chef Camdeborde on Saturday and he said it was open. I also asked him about the few reservations available. He advised me he saves them for the patrons of his hotel. I imagine if they don't get filled by the patrons, he releases them at the last moment.

I stumbled upon this cheese shop during one of my walks this weekend in Paris. Why have I not read anything on it before? La Fromagerie Boursault 71, Avenue de General LeClerc, 75014 Paris They are affineurs and the quality and prices of their cheeses are excellent! I took a tour of their caves while I was there. The gentleman (and the rest of the workers) running the shop were extremely kind and helpful. I also ran into Yves Camdeborde purchasing his cheese for the day while I was there. Needless to say I am impressed by this shop, and am surprised I haven't seen it mentioned on this board!

I called Pre Verre yesterday for a reservation and was caught completely off guard when they asked Fumeur ou Non-Fumeur. Fish is now non-smoking? I will be eating dinner at Pre Verre Friday but I will finish off the night at Fish or start if off or both.

I made it to Great Wall today. I was amused by the frogs,the eels,and the turtles,and the ugly big head fish. But the store? Not at all. Super H may not have the frogs and such, but they have everything elseand it looks much fresher. The produce section at Super H is much bigger, better selection, and fresher. The meats at Super H also are much fresher, and a better selection. Granted they don't have the Black Chicken and the Headed Duck, but I like it much more. Checking out at Great Wall was a nightmare, the cashier bent my debit card. The good new is, I bought a Bullfrog. I let my Frenchie play with it for awhile, He barked, the frog croaked.Then I set it free in the pond. Please save your speeches about introducing foreign species in our waters. I just had to. Besides he looked like a normal Bullfrog and there are another 10,000 of them in my backyard.

The Orange Line, Dunn Loring is the closest stop. Walking distance is less than a mile, they also have bus service that will take you right to the shopping center. You will have to check with metro for exacts. Busboy, did you look at the scallops this time? I am so excited to hear anyone has live scallops in their shell. (at least I hope they are live ) I haven't been there as Super-H was the same, or at least I thought. I will try it tomorrow.

Oh, Thierry Burlot. I just had a thought...You know you are a foodie when you know the names (and actually are friendly with some) chefs from half way across the world. I should start a thread on EG about this and how non-food people think I am nuts.

1. Le Comptoir 2. Le Cerisaie 3. Le Troquet (They don't have to be new, right?) 4. Louis Vins 5. Carte Blanche John, what is Thierry Bretons new menu and pricing? Did I miss something? I have been out of the loop a bit this past year.

I haven't found a good one either. Mine is the best I have tasted, and I use the premade Pate Fieullette (sp?) Pur Beurre for the pastry! Still better than anything I have tasted!

Daniel, I don't think that it can go against NYC as you will always find it fresher or better.The question is,will you find it all of reasonable good quality at one place at great prices? It is kind of a demi gourmet/discount mini mart. You are so lucky to have NYC, I guess I am lucky a TJ's opened up in my area.

Le Petit Troquet is a beautiful little place for the ambiance, food is good, but only go to the late sitting! La Cerisaie is good too.My personal favorite is Le Troquet not to be confused with Le Petit.

If anyone could answer this quickly I would appreciate it! What is the differance between a circulating and a magnistir or stirring water bath? Could you e-mail me as well as answer on here? Thanks. Raisa

If you were a regular subscriber to this forum and had visited several of the restaurant's that Mr Talbott had reviewed, you could use that as a litmus. Your opinion versus his on the same. If I read his review and it was the only one I had ever read, well I wouldn't rely too much on it as we all know tastes are subjective. As far as there being a personal responsibility, if your opinion has changed substantially, I would say it would be nice service to your regular readers, but not necessarily a responsibility to the restaurant.

Didn't I see a march on Tuesay of restaurant workers, lots of them, rallying against the ban? Prigs? Charles, I learn new words from you everywhere! And as for comparing this to helmet laws,they have repealed those in a few states already. I guess if you are into a socialist form of government, this ban works for you. Just don't complain when they start interfering in other parts of your life

I would be interested to know the percentage also. I find that a majority of those bar workers and restaurant workers I personally know smoke. Again I do not like the smoke, but I agree with Delgato on this one. These are militant nonsmokers who wish to impose their will upon others. Choose to work and eat elsewhere.

No Mr Kinsey, work is something you need to do. Going out to restaurants is something you like to do. I find the distinction very simple. If I do not like the food at a certain place, I do not eat there. If I do not like the smoke, I have other choices. Government interference in something I have a CHOICE in, is absurd. Comparing the two as the same is absurd also.

We ate at Artisanal on the 28th for lunch. I ordered the Snails as an appetizer and wasn't very pleased with them, to me the taste was off, it needed more butter, garlic and oil, after all it is about the sauce and not the snails. My son and husband had the French Onion Soup. I thought it was delicious! I like the thickness of it and the cheeses. Did it have cheese on the bottom also? If someone can PM me a similar recipe I would love it! My kids shared the Classic Fondue, I think everyone thought it had too much of the wine(?) in it. It overpowered the taste of the cheese. And to tell the truth I cannot remember what my husband and I had for mains, so it must have not been too impressive. Desserts were a chocolate fondue for the kids, a Fig Tart for me, and a Cheddar Cheese Tarte Tatin for the husband. I did not like any of them. But believe it or not, I would go back here for the onion soup alone! Plus their selection of cheeses is wonderful and I don't find the prices that bad. Next time I would just order the soup and cheese and salad.

I personally hate cigarette smoke and cigar smoke, but if I don't like it, I would make the decision to go to a place that offers a non-smoking area. I am against such government control of any of our personal habits or business habits. Unfortunately, we are turning more and more into a government controled society.

Don't ever go to Big Bowl,the chain and the people that run all of them are idiots. (Long story involving 6 year olds birthday party, glass, hospitals, and tongues.) My favorite sushi place in all of Washington is Hama Sushi. They are located in Herndon which is right next to Reston at the Clocktower same place as SBC cafe.

Menton, I am not sure what you are refering to, in my post I was talking about TSA rules. And as our beloved host would say, I respectfully disagree about the rules. They are not meant to harass the public, that is d'accord, but safety, not always. The caviar is in response to over fishing in the Caspian. Others are politically motivated, not all, but some.

On the subject of security items, they will now allow previously disallowed items(at US security) . I won't even mention them, since I vigourously oppose the relaxation of these rules for obvious reason. I will be going through customs again on Thursday, if I have time before my flight back to DC I will question the agents on where I can get copies of their updates, but this may be harder than trying to get high security documents!