Vinotas

You're not missing much. As someone said above, it's like watching a spoiled brat, and worse, I feel that he talks down to the viewer (and sometimes his hosts). Something about the man just rubs me the wrong way, I can't stand watching his show for more than a few minutes before I need to turn away. Even my wife can't stomach him (pun intended). Cheers!

I agree, this is a good thing. When it veers too far away from the food, as I felt it did during the Russia episode, things get pretty boring fast (it's the only episode of his during which I've ever fallen asleep). This season is off to a good start, though I could have done without Zimmern in the first ep. I can't stand that guy for some reason. TB's French Polynesian show was just too cool. Cheers!

Thanks for the reviews, I've only been to Le Boulingrin, which was as you described it. We drank a bottle of NV Billecart Salmon for 40 Euros, and lunch was just fantastic. As for visiting the Champagne houses in one day, the best bet is to stay within or close to Reims. Once outside of town the roads are winding and getting from point A to point B can take a LOT longer than the map shows. I strongly recommend setting up an appointment at Ruinart, they speak English, and they have huge caves deep underground that are amazing. Cheers!

I'd have to say the most expensive meal I've ever had was $1200 for two people at Le Troquet in Boston about 4 years ago that I paid for. I was with a buddy in the wine business and we absolutely pillaged their wine list, sharing wine with the owner, the chef, and a table of cuties. Needless to say, about $100 of that bill was food. The rest was wine. We went out afterwards with the cuties until very late, and let's just say the next day waking up was a rather terrible idea. Cheers!

Thanks to everyone who responded, I really appreciate all the feedback, this forum just ROCKS!

Really? I hope it's cheaper than the $24.99 they're asking for on d'Artagnan's website (not including tax & s/h). I do wonder why it's so difficult to find, it's delicious stuff and I'd think foodies in this country would go nuts over it. Being of French descent, I am biased (might I even be genetically pre-disposed?) and I prefer it to most of the Italian cured meats. Cheers!

D'oh! I completely forgot to check D'Artagnan, I see they do carry a dry-cured saucisson sec for $24.99 (2 lbs). Hmmm... might have to order that and check it out. I know their French pancetta (ventreche) is quite nice, I used it in the cassoulet kit they sell (which is quite nice). Thanks for the recommendations! Cheers!

Hey all, I love French cured meats, like Rosette de Lyon and dry saucisson. And while I can find lots of Italian cured meats, it's absolutely impossible to find the French version in the USA. Am I missing something? Is there somewhere I should go? Or are they just not imported? I resort to bringing it back from France whenever I go, but that lasts me about a week to 10 days as I eat small slices for breakfast. Sigh... Thanks in advance! Cheers!

Thanks all, I'll keep your comments in mind. Cheers!

Hello all, I'm starting to plan our kitchen renovation here in NYC. My old GE range died, so that was the impetus (that and the weird noises starting to come from the dishwasher). I've been doing my research (including many, many Searches on the EGullet site) and am zeroing in on the Bosch Evolution 700 Series 30" Stainless Steel Range. I read many positive reviews, but most of those are about 2 years old. So my question is, are folks currently happy with this Bosch oven? It's at the right price point ($1849 including s/h) and would fit perfectly in with our apartment's decor. Any advice and impressions would be greatly appreciated. Thanks!

I'll say I'd avoid most of the places in the Times Square area, the Meatpacking District, as well as any place that's swamped with B&T'ers. Most chain restaurants, of course. Also, anytime I read the descriptive "cavernous" I immediately get turned off. Sorry, but there are so many good spots that I don't see why I should be subjected to bad food, shoddy service, loud noise or annoying people. Even if I'm not the one paying. And I might add that men sometimes put up with bad sex for dinner. Boy, I'm a barrel of fun, no?

I just want to say a big merci to everyone who's weighed in, I can't wait to try the places mentioned on my next trip to Paris. It will be so refreshing to have good coffee for once! It really is mind-boggling that a culture that embraces good wine, good food and a relatively relaxed joie de vivre can be so lackadaisacal about its coffee. Sigh...

Wow. Thanks for all the info, this explains a lot. There are a few places in Paris where the coffee is decent (I usually stay near the Arc de Triomphe, so I hit l'Arc and the small patisserie across the street from it on Blvd Carnot), but for the most part it's swill. Whenever I can get my hands on an apartment with an espresso machine, I run out and buy some good coffee from a roaster. It is amazing to me, but it does explain Charbux success recently in Paris. Sigh... What a shame...

I love good espresso. I love France. I love having good espresso in France. But it is amazingly difficult to find, to the point where I feel like one of the Knights of the Round Table in search of the Holy Grail (or, in this case, the Holy Ground). Why is this? Why is it that in a nation that makes such beautiful wines, such luscious foods, and has such an appreciation for la joie de vie, it is so difficult to find a decent cup of espresso? This has perplexed me for years, yet after another month of drinking espressos after lunch/dinner, I can only recall 2 that made me sit up and say "aaaahhh". Oh, let's not forget the ones I made at my rented apartment in Beaune, those were good. But most of the restaurant espressos were shameful, sad, limpid expressions of a great drink. I see the correct beans being used (Arabica), yet what comes out is a watery, burned and abused shot. POURQUOI??????

I just noticed the website is under construction but I do have his business card with the info: O Bontemps Place de l'Eglise Magalas Phone= (0)4.67.36.20.82 Tell him one of the guys from the Languedoc wine group sent you, he's just started (7 weeks in!) and while quite talented, he's a bit nervous. He'll appreciate knowing he's getting good press on the Web. Cheers!

David, Beaune is an amazing town to eat and drink in. I am jealous that you're going, I just love the place! Enjoy! Cheers!

Hi Abra, From what I've heard from others, the food at O Bontemps is definitely top-notch. I don't know if we got special treatment (except for the smoking of the meat which was done in front of us), but we were a large group taking the place over for the night. BTW, if you stop in St Jean Pied de Port on your way to Espelette, drop by La Cave des Vins des Pays de Nanterre, a small wine bar in the center of town. The owner, Patrice, was exceptionally helpful with wine advice, and his cured meats and chorizos were fantastic (and cheap!). I'll be writing a piece on the Basque Country in an upcoming blog posting. Cheers!

During one long week of work while in Beaune, I decided it was time to go out and have some fun. I was in Burgundy, so it was time to drink well and let someone else take care of the meals for once (all week I'd been cooking at home, which was great). I had always been a fan of the Hotel de Beaune for its amazingly priced list of wines, but recently I'd heard they'd opened a bistrot next door so I had to stop in and see what was going on. The decor was modern, with lots of space between the tables, and a lovely outside patio that was separated by an old wall from the noise of Place Carnot. I ordered a starter of girolles et trompettes de la mort fricasseed with herbs and olive oil, and a main course of veal sweetbreads in a Dijon mustard sauce with some veggies on the side. But what to drink with this classically Burgundian meal? Ahhhh, there it was: a 1997 Mommessin Clos de Tart. As opposed to many Burgheads, I'm not poo-pooing the 1997s, though they do have a softness that isn't "classic" Burgundy. Still, the well-made ones that I've had were delicious if slightly advanced for their age. At first, this offered a sappy, dark Pinot nose, with earthy notes and a hint of burnt oak. But as it breathed, the nose took on an aged character, smelling older than it was by at least 10 years, with those dark cherry and mushroom notes that we look for in older wines. Not unpleasant, though a bit surprising. The palate didn't reflect this aged aspect, luckily, with rich, soft, dark sappy Pinot fruits leading to a hint of oak on the finish. The acidity was there, though it was more muted than I like in my Burgs. That said, the wine remained in the mouth long after it slipped down the throat, a lovely reminder of what was. While not breath-taking on its own, the wine really shone with the food. In fact, this went so well with the mushrooms that I just sat there taking my time, and apparently a long time was taken. After a while, Yohan, the chef, came out to ask what was wrong. I said "Nothing, it's fantastic, why?". He answered with, "You've been eating that dish for an hour, I was afraid you didn't like it!" Oh God no. But when you've got a great little menage a trois of wine, food and me, why hurry? Cheers! PS: I have a more complete review on my blog.

I just returned from a month in France on a business trip and wanted to let everyone know about a fantastic new restaurant in Magalas, in the Languedoc, O Bontemps. I ate there one night and have to say that, after 30 days of very good meals, this was absolutely outstanding. We were a large group of wine buyers who took over the place and so we had a set menu, but wow what a show! The decor is modern rustic (ie exposed brick with small, pinpoint halogen lights) and colorful wall decorations. Service was good to very good, we rarely had to ask for water or anything else. But the food...! I took the liberty of uploading a picture of the menu with Chef Bontemps' (his real name!) beautiful cursive script writing to my website here. But I'll describe (and translate) everything we ate here as well. We started with a round of small tapas, including a shot of Gazpacho, some cured-ham wrapped Melon, mussels with lard (OH MY GOD!), fresh olives, and small cherry tomatoes (so succulent that I ended up fighting with a neighbor for the last one) with a house vinaigrette. First course was a porc terrine and a mousse of game birds with mustard flower and a capuccino of mushrooms (this last was just fantastic). Second and main course was a delicious standing rib roast that was quickly smoked (to great fanfare and with great showmanship in front of us) with the local guarrigue herbs and a gratin of potatoes and mushrooms, all with a truffle-based sauce (I dare not call it a gravy). The meat was some of the best I've had in Europe, and if it was a mad cow, then frankly I don't mind going nuts. I am usually not a fan of European beef, but wow was this tasty, and cooked to perfection (bloody rare). Next came a pungent cheese course, and dessert consisted of an apricot and peach jubilee dish and a chocolate cake that I just can't translate but was astonishingly good. Add to this the wines and we were one happy crowd. Cheers!

DAMN! Can't believe I missed this one. He was booked every night I was in Paris.

Nathan, Sorry to hear that, they really ruined it didn't they? I grew up in Manhattan in the late 1980s and went to Florent when it first opened, back when the neighborhood had character (among other things... ). Still, amazing how fast it become a Las Vegas version of itself (though much of NY is now like that, sigh...). Epicurious, I am sure if you do a quick search on the BBS you'll find plenty of suggestions for places in the Village. It's a beautiful area that's still relatively unspoiled. Have fun! Cheers!

If you're looking for Vietnamese, Vermicelli on 76th and 2nd isn't too shabby and not too expensive. Their duck in peanut sauce is quite nice, we order from them sometimes. Sadly, you won't find many cheaper places in the 70s and 5th, that's one of the most expensive areas in NYC. You will need to walk to 3rd, 2nd or 1st avenues to get away from the more pricey precincts. Madison Ave has many overpriced joints with crappy food, lackadaisical service and haughty attitudes. Cheers!

I can't say anything about ramen places, but there are plenty of decent (and sometimes better) places where dinner for 2 without wine/drinks can be had for $40. Here's a quick list (sorry it's not more detailed, haven't had my coffee yet): Afghan Kebob II Sushi Hana Iron Sushi Bandol Wine Bar Uskudar (Turkish) Luscious Thai Delizia Pizza Hope this helps! Cheers!

As a native NYer who lives on the Upper East Side, I'd vote for staying downtown, at the Greenwhich Village location. You get the atmosphere of NY, you're close to many of the best restaurants/night clubs/bars, and almost everything, from the Battery to Wall St to Ground Zero to Union Square is within walking distance (OK, a bit of walking, but still...). And plan on walking a lot, this is NY, and the best way to see it is on foot. Stay out of the Meatpacking district, unless you're hitting a restaurant in the area, but run away ASAP afterwards. It's packed with tourists/B&T/obnoxious drunks from Wednesday to Saturday night. Avoid Times Square like the plague unless you really like flashing ads and crowds of gawking tourists. Greenwich Village is a beautiful part of town and lovely to meander through on foot, day or night. There are lots of places to eat, both high-end and low-end, of many different ethnicities. It's the most European part of town, with small mom & pop stores and wonderful bakeries. So don't be shy, taste everything! Cheers! PS: Oh, and welcome to NYC!

Thanks folks, I'll see what's open on Sunday night. I'd prefer not to drive as I do enjoy wine, and I'm staying right outside the walls of the Old Town (at the Mercure Porte de la Cite). Thanks again, Cheers!