Le Zouave

I liked les Amognes when chef Thierry Coué was there -- he left a year or two ago for le Vin de Zinc, on rue Oberkampf. I found the new chef's cooking quite poor. As far as all the other places are concerned, Felice and John Talbott already said everything. I'll just add that l'Ecailler du Bistrot, the Bistrot Paul bert and the Temps au Temps are closed for the moment. I went to la Muse vin last wednesday, just for a glass of white: the place was packed! It's not too expensive (maybe 30 to 35 euros wine included) and food's not too bad. Le Villaret might be closed as well: I went for dinner in july, it was really great (though a bit expensive maybe), and I especially loved the wine list. Don't forget to check the list they call "medicaments du jour" (today's medecine), with some unexpensive bottles. And Freckles, if you want a beautiful bistrot, do try Le Vieux Chêne -- but I don't know whether they're open or not on august 30th (dial 01 43 71 67 69): food and wine more than OK, 35 to 38 euros. Have fun!

Last time I heard about him, he was still at l'Ampère (1, rue Ampère, in the 17th). I ate there a few weeks after he opened, last winter I think: honestly, it was expensive and really banal. Maybe I should go back?

Yes, absolutely. The place is brand new, but I didn't eat there: from what I saw on the menu, it was the same kind of french-japansese fare (did I see a camembert with shisho leaves?! ), but not as expensive as Le Charlemagne. And there's a lovely japanese garden behind... People in Beaune told me they were really happy to have that kind of restaurant in the centre ville: it's new and really different in a place like that. Btw, I also had lunch at The Jardin des remparts: everything was OK (it was two monthes ago), I especially remember a pigeon with petits pois (some of them were actually prepared like Adria does with his "melon caviar": small and jellified, really good!) and a pommard from Philippe Pacalet. And there's this place that I find quite interesting as well: the Benaton, classic with a twist, not too expensive, cute and nicely designed salle à manger, cool staff. It's a small restaurant, so reservations required.

(Quite) new and (quite) exciting: le Charlemagne, in Pernand Vergelesses, where a young chef (trained in France and Japan) serves a quite modern Burgundy-Japanese fusion cuisine. Have a look at their site (in French), Le Charlemagne, it'll give you an idea. And don't miss the wines there!

Except les Caves Saint Gilles is a spanish place, not a wine bar... If les Enfants rouges is closed, why not try le Bascou: it's not exactly a wine bar, although they do have a lot of choice (the owner one won a best sommelier prize, or something like that), especially in the south-west. Food is classic basque, with some great cured ham and a quite huge boudin noir.

I think the market John mentionned across the Palais de Tokyo is saturday morning. And the guy with the fabulous tomatoes is Joel Thiebault.

Les Enfants rouges, les Enfants rouges, les Enfants rouges! You're gonna love that one! The lady that owns the place is really nice, and she has some of the best wines of the moment. But remember: dinners only on thursday and friday. Have fun!

Brand new in Beziers: Octopus, ran by two former sous-chefs, from the Bristol and Cordeillan Bages near Bordeaux. Nice regional wine list (mostly unsulphered wines), modern decor, lovely patio if the weather's sunny enough: it's worth a star, and it's not too expensive (yet )

Sorry, fresh_a: I was just saying that the place might not open on april 1st. Camdeborde doesn't seem ready at all.

Le Zinc des cavsites, right: lots of wine, but from what I remember, very few sensations when you eat...

From what I've heard, he won't be ready by april 1st...

New York? I'd also like to know where that came from?! As far as Paris is concerned, he's supposed to have found a place in the 17th -- but nothing has opened yet. It should be something really small, maybe for less than 20 people, some kind of "gastro-lab" where he'd have some lucky and rich folks try his new recipes. But one must say, honestly, that Veyrat has been talking about his parisian restaurant for years -- and what have we seen for the moment? Nothing, exactly.

La Cerisaie if you hate smoke in restaurants, Le Temps au Temps if you love smoke in restaurants. But John's right, you should love both -- la Cerisaie being maybe a bit more classic, the Temps kind of trendy. Enjoy!

Right: la Robe et le Palais has an important wine list, and some fine charcuterie. They've also opened another wine bar, not far away, called Les Dessous de la Robe (it used to be the old Relais chablisien).

Right! And Pacaud also cooked for the body guards!

Why don't you try la Muse Vin (11th), le Verre Volé (10th), the tiny tables at Chapeau Melon (in the 19th, this one is actually a wine shop), le Baratin (20th), l'Estaminet du Marché (3rd)? Don't drink too much -- even though the unsulphered wines won't leave you with any kind of headache!

paulbrussel -- I'd even say Hisop is better, although I really like Alkimia. Maybe the guys from Michelin didn't understand what they ate?

Too bad GaultMillau no longer is anything like GaultMillau... ← Actually, Spain is back in their 2005 edition, as well as Belgium, Germany, Switzerland... But they only list top restaurants (from 16 to 19/20) : ElBulli, the Fat Duck, De Karmeliet, Lea Linster, etc. 60 or 70 pages: not bad, huh?

The only truffles I've seen so far are the white italian ones from Alba. I think it's a bit early for the french black truffle, the tuber melanosporum: maybe in a couple of weeks?

"Continental food": pirate, that's exactly it! Well of course, to be honest, I did eat one or two interesting things at Hiramatsu (the lobster entree with a strong vanilla custard (???) on the top, the langoustines with some jellied grapefruit) : but then again, I'd rather go back to Rocuchon's Atelier to get such a classic french fare. And although I don't like everything at l'Atelier, I must admit technique and flavours are sharper than at Hiramatsu.

47 of 49: who stayed at home?

PS: BTW, I never had one of the best meals of my life, even when the restaurant was in the 4th... Actually, I just don't understand why a skilled japanese chef tries to cook like, say, Robuchon or any other "classic" french chef. What's the point?

So, has anyone been to the "new" Hiramatsu yet? I went for lunch today -- and can only agree with Poppy Quince: "not in any way memorable". Sad, isn't it?

Sorry folks, but as far as I'm concerned corail just doesn't have that much taste -- I cooked some great saint-jacques last week, tasted the roe (once again), and eventually left it. And as far as quenelles are concerned, John's right about les Ormes. I'd also add Les Lyonnais, Alain Ducasse's upper-scale bistrot in the 2nd. And what about Moissonnier, in the 5th? Anyone been, recently?