Zip

Great suggestions and thanks again. Porchetta on creamed spinach.. OMG. Your descriptions of both places make me want to jump on a plane and come right down.

Thanks and yes, I am willing to travel farther to eat well.

Took my mother here for her 85th birthday last Sunday and it was awful. Food, service and drinks. I live in another state but have been here before and it was "okay". There seems to be a lack of good restaurants in this area. Waynesboro, Quincy ... Does anyone know of any alternatives as I will never go back to The Lodge?

Check out Ramekin's Bed and Breakfast in Sonoma www.ramekins.com We have stayed there several times and is very convienent. It is a cooking school with 6 great rooms above. Next door is The General's Daughter. Chef Preston does an amazing job. We plan to be at Ramekin's the end of Oct. You have gotten good guideance here. This is a great time to go.

Very good point. So many different perspectives... An open mind is a good thing.. Mr. Petrini should take note.

We too are going to be in Piedmonte in Nov. Have been there several times before and this time we are staying at one place for 6 nights before we move on. The place looks great and I have had good feedback abt it. The restaurant sounds good too. The owners seem very helpful and will offer a lot of guidance. We too do not like to have to drive at night after enjoying the delicious wines. Nov. is often very foggy and those small. winding roads can be a challenge. Look this place up... Hotel Castell di Sinio. www.hotelcastellodisinio.com I am hoping they might be able to find drivers willing to take us on nights we want to eat out of the hotel. Another place I like is Il Cascinalenuovo. The food is wonderful and they have maybe 10 modest, clean rooms. It is on the Asti-Alba road. Hope this is helpful.

many thanks for starting the thread. I was not at all familiar with minus 8. Now I have a bottle and am excited abt it.

Just received my bottle yesterday. Can't wait to use it. Had to have a small taste and it is delicious. Any different ideas for using it??? I ordered through Amazon and it came through Aquaverve Specialty products.

Oh.. almost forgot. Has anyone heard of Auberge le Saint Gabriel???? opinions?? Thanks

Thanks for all your input. Have reservations at Toque and called for Joe Beef but was disappointed to find out that they are closed for August. Still working on the next night.

A friend has highly recommended Toque. I feel more comfortable trusting eg. Will be in Montreal for two nights in Aug. and hate to "waste" a meal. I have the issue from Gourmet but have not yet read it in depth.

Had one of the best meals I have experienced in SF last Nov. at Quince.

Did go to Gusto last Sat. and had a very good meal. Chef Jody Williams was there (saw her) and is not planning to leave. Just doing menu development etc for a new project. The focaccia with gorgonzola and pear was delicious as were the deep fried carciofi. We then both had pasta dishes, tagliatelli with prociutto, radiccio and bread crumbs and a tender, veal filled tortellini in a butter sage sauce. We were very pleased with both. It was a good stop... thanks for your thoughts.

The "mayo gloop" would be the aioli (garlic mayo). ← Yeah I figured as much but mayo seemed to be the pervasive flavour. Also a bit of anchovy, maybe? I forgot to mention, to my amusement (and joy) many of the dishes had either rasins or anchovies! must be regional... I also forgot to mention, the little fennel salad antipasti/ amuse was very good. Bright clean fennel taste, coupled with silky anchovies and olive oil. tasty. ← sorry guys... don't know what happened. Anyway.... what to do, what to do??????? I appreciate the input.

Oh no.. does anyone know more about this?

We have stayed at a small place in Corgeno called La Cinzianella. It is abt 15 km from Malpensa. The rooms are plain but certainly adequate and clean. The best part is the restaurant. We have had some very good meals here and there is a nice wine cellar. Have stayed at Soriso and Ranco..... this is closer and for airport accessabilty... it works. Hope this helps.

This one is new to me. Have heard a few good things... now i am bringing it to the experts. Any opinions?? Thanks.

We just got back from a trip to Sonoma and a stop in Napa. We had a great tour and tasting at Jarvis Winery. Must call and set up in advance. Really good wine and an awesome cave.

Generals Daughter was terrific!! Chef Preston offered us a tasting menu that was exqusite. What was amazing was that he prepared two different menus and wine pairings for each of us. Both had a starter that was comprised of an oyster on the half shell. a delicious tuna tartare, stone ground grit cake with rock shrimp and last, marinated cherry tomatoes. Then..I received a fabulous foie gras with a reduction ( my notes say sticky, red) not sure what.. figs. Very smooth and rich... with Texas toast (smile). Alan had a carpaccio of prime, organic beef. excellant! Third course was fish. Scallops with a mushroom risotto and Halibut with mussels and linguica. The portions were more than generous. Wines perfect for each dish. Next came Short ribs on a bed of mashed potatoes and an out of this world oxtail ragu with butternut squash ravioli. At this point we were so full we could not do justice to it all. Just when we thought we could not eat another bite EVER... Chef Preston came out with the perfect end to the meal. I hope I get this right. Served in a wide martini glass... to be sipped. Meyer lemon sorbet mixed with a bit of ricotta chese, honey and basil. It was unbelievable. The perfect ending. Thank you so much Chef for making a great memory for us. For me also it was a perfect birthday. Happiness also happened at Cafe La Haye and the Girl and the Fig. The cheese counter did not offend me but I have no prior ecperience without it.

All this information is great. Will be staying at Ramekins and have reservations Nov. 1st at the General's Daughter. Just a walk through the trees. Can't wait. Anxious to try some of the other recommendations. Thanks so much.

I think we will stay south on 101. As our plane lands at 11. Maybe we should think San Mateo area. Hate to eat too late as may interfer with dinner. ( It is always abt the food, right?). Have eaten at Viogner in the past. First time was very good.. 2nd, not as good.

I will be heading south from the airport and wonder where to catch a nice lunch. Any ideas?? Thanks.

You make a good point chezcherie. I hope you are right.

Nice that the Brennan family is doing relatively well and drinking their Cheval Blanc. I lived in New Orleans for 3 years and enyoyed the many wonderful restaurants and life style. I find it hard to believe that in the face of such devastation, a prominant family like the Brennans would put forward such an image. People can't even get water or food. I agree, looters should be shot!, but these other people need information and food and water. My heart gors out to them. Zip

Never heard of a Slow Food in Vienna, sorry. If you search with "Vienna" among topic titles, you'll get a lot of suggestions. If you're capable of reading some German language, have a look at the Speisinger Online Community, probably the best place for current infos about restaurant in Vienna. ← Thanks Boris and Schneier. I suspected as much abt Slow Food. I will check out the topic titles.