Vinotas

I have one free evening in Carcassonne, a Sunday night, and was wondering if anyone could recommend a good dining experience? I know the city's got lots of tourist traps, so I want to avoid them like the plague. Good food, nice wine list, and decent prices are welcome. Thanks in advance! Cheers!

I agree, I ate quite well while I was there (Maison Rousseau in Les Halles was amazing). I do wish I'd been there longer, but I still had time to do the tourist thing as well as wandering through town, the best way to really see a place. Still, I do love Beaune, something about it really speaks to me. Cheers!

Reims is nice but the weather is so-so, even in summer, and in winter it's quite dreary. As an avowed bubblehead, I tend to visit the smaller Champagne makers as often as possible, and while I do like Reims I always had the impression it was a bit cold (in personality). Lyon is also quite nice, the food's excellent, but I found the people to be a bit less sophisticated than they think they are. Still, it was a pretty town. I was there for the first time in February and posted pictures online, they can be found HERE. I still prefer Beaune. And Abra, you asked me on another forum if I'm in the wine biz, yes, I'm a broker/importer. I'll be in Beaune in mid-July and other regions during that month. Cheers!

I think there are several things to remember in your case: 1- don't be afraid if you can't read the label (French/Spanish/Italian/German); 2- set a budget and stick with it, asking your local wine merchant/wine geek to recommend some in that price range; 3- remember what you like/don't like so you can narrow your choices; 4- know that Old World wines tend to have very little oak, so if you like your Chardonnay buttery and full of vanilla, a St. Veran or Chablis will NOT be for you; 5- don't hesitate to try new things! Drink what you like, not what you think you're supposed to like. That said, I do find it ridiculous at how expensive wines in the US can be when they're so cheap in France. So those of you complaining about pricing in France should consider yourselves lucky compared to the rest of us in the US! Cheers!

LOL!!!!

OK, I'll bite. Our house whites are the 2004 Roulot Bourgogne Blanc and the 2004 Ramonet Bourgogne Blanc. They retail for about $20 each in NYC and are fantastic values. Both producers make excellent higher-end stuff, but their lowest-end stuff sees the same amount of care. These go great with tons of dishes as well as being yummy on their own. Our current house red is a 2004 Usseglio Chateauneuf-du-Pape, also retailing in NYC for about $20. This is a delicious red that also mates well with tons of food (BBQ and steak anyone?) or is nice on its own. Cheers!

Ooooh... Drooooooool... Thanks for the info! Cheers!

Canned confit is generally better than the ones you buy from butchers. It is a preserve, so it improves with age, and you get a chance to have true mulard parts instead of leftover muscovy legs drowned in fat with the bones sticking out as you buy them. Not to mention that cans and jars contain confit jelly, which you do not get with butcher-bought legs. Most Southwestern brands are good. I like Spanghero and Delpeyrat. ← Sorry if I was not clear; the confit I like is not canned but vacuum packed and found way in the back of GL. The canned stuff I used to buy at the Produits de l'Auvergne was OK but not as good as the vacuum-packed ones to which I add the sausages, Tarbais beans, tomatoes, garlic, etc. ← I am curious, how do you cook the canned/jarred duck confit? I've always seen them in the stores but never taken the leap. Since I am renting an apartment in Paris in early July I figure I might give it a try. And grab a good bottle of red Burgundy of course! Cheers!

Abra, Beaune, while the capital of Burgundy, is still a geographically small place. Even if you find a house outside of the walls it's OK as most of everything is within a 15 minute walk of everything else. I've gone from the North Gate to Place Madeleine on foot in less than 15 minutes (I used to stay at the Henry II when I first started going to Beaune). I suggest you look at sites like www.Seloger.com and www.PAP.fr (person-to-person) to find something. You might also want to contact the local mairie to introduce yourself and ask for advice. I am so jealous...! Cheers!

I like Beaune for many reasons. It's the largest town outside of Dijon and it's pretty central to everything. There's a direct TGV from Paris, the A6 goes right by it, it's small enough that you can walk it and may not need a car all the time and you get the "country" feeling but big enough that there are almost always things going on and you shouldn't get too bored. The food and wine are amazing, the market makes me drool even now as I sit here in NYC, and the countryside beautiful. I go several times a year on business and absolutely love it. BUT... Winter in Beaune is an exercise in utter stillness. It is dead in January/February, though I am sure if you have local contacts you shouldn't have any problems. Houses are very cheap, I usually rent a place when I go. So far I've rented a duplex in the center of Beaune and a house on the road between Meursault and Monthelie. Remember that if you're living in the countryside you will absolutely need a vehicle, there's not much public transportation that I know of. I'm jealous! Cheers!

I think this is a fantastic idea and I'm surprised it hasn't been done before. Vis-avis Italian cooking, one thing that has always driven me crazy was how Italian food was viewed as simple with excellent ingredients but French meals were considered froo froo with heavy sauces. Having grown up part-time in France, most of the best dishes I've had there were simple preparations with fresh ingredients. Sure, there have been sauces that were so thick that you could walk on them, but mostly these were at the bastions of fine dining (and they were generally fantastic, I might add). Not being a sauce-fan, I usually have a KISS (Keep It Simple Stupid) philosophy when cooking. I cook a lot, and I tend to make bistrot dishes most of the time at home. OK, rant over. Cheers!

I’m sorry to make you even more jealous but it really was a great event. The weather was perfect and the atmosphere very laid back and fun. Where else could you find 17 artisanal wine makers happily talking about their wines and letting you taste at least 4-5 different wines—all for free. Here’s Hervé Villemade discussing his Cheverny acacias 2005 I also recognized many people from Paris’s food community, including Yves Camdeborde, Hugo Desnoyer, and various people from wine bars/shops around town. ← Oh, that's just mean. A few friends went and loved it. I can't wait for my trip!

Sigh... I wish I was in Paris right now! Are there any websites that offer listings/schedules of wine tastings in Paris? There's a great site named LocalWineEvents.com in the US that shows, as its name suggests, all the region wine tastings and dinners. I'll be in Paris from the 3rd to the 8th of July and am looking forward to tastings and fine dinners while there. Cheers!

If you don't hear back (he's got lots of email traffic) pick up the phone and call, a bit before dinner is a good time. ← Thanks John, I'll do that if I haven't heard before I leave on 2 July.

I'll be in Paris from the 3rd to the 8th of July and would love to try Spring. I will email Daniel to see if I can get an RSVP under the ledge, I've heard such good things that I'm already drooling. Cheers!

I like Pain Quotidien's baguette but I do find the crust too thick and sometimes too burnt. The interior, however, is very good, nicely chewy. PQ's multi-grain high-fiber boule with raisins has impressed me lately, I might add. Balthazar's baguettes used to be good but went downhill in revent years. Sullivan Street bread is fantastic but I can't get any near me, on the UES (that I know of). Payard's bread is terrible, though his pastries and croissants are fantastic. I do wish NYC was like Paris, with small bakers on every block. Sigh... Cheers!

Wow, thanks for all the info. As kbjesq said, the market is FULL of great-looking ranges, though finding one that will fit my needs/budget is becoming a full-time job. Unless I start thinking kitchen renovation, I can't do more than 30", and I'm in a NYC apartment (though I cook almost every night as I work from home). The oven would be right by the window, so I don't think venting would be an issue (or at least too much of an issue). I'll definitely look into the BlueStar, any good suppliers out there? Thanks all, I REALLY appreciate it! Cheers!

Thanks Baroness! I'll definitely look into it.

Baroness, Is it safe to assume you're satisfied so far with the Bosch? Also, did you need to get a ventilation or recirculation hood? My oven is right by my kitchen window, so venting would not be an issue. Finally, where did you find it and were you happy with their service? Did they install? Thanks!

Hey everyone, My 13-year old 30" GE gas oven range finally died a few weeks ago and I've been researching options for a replacement. A friend swears by his Five Star gas range, and I've been looking at it for quite some time. The price is right (approx $2,400), the size is right (30"), and it's a stainless steel gas range/oven with capacity for simmer and high heat (14K BTUs). Just what I need and want for a small NYC apartment. So, does anyone have this, and if so, are they happy with it? Thanks all! Cheers!

If you're really into food, I'd suggest Beaune. It's a very nice little town, and the few expats around are pretty sophisticated. The food/wine scene is amazing, I think the food there is some of the best in all of France (and I really love Provencal fare). The markets are also some of the finest I've seen in a while. So I'd say go to Beaune. I know I am this summer. Cheers!

Wow, that looks amazing, and quite beautiful. I may have to stop by for dinner one night. Thanks so much!

Thanks! I've got Paris covered, I spend about half the year there. I just need some interesting and good places in those other areas.

I will be spending the month of July in France, flitting from one wine region to another. I've gotten many recommendations as to where I should drink, but now I'm hungry and am looking for cheapies but goodies in the following regions: -the Loire (preferrably closer to Sancerre/Pouilly Fume) -the Jura -the Basque area Thanks in advance! Cheers!

I have to say, Les Halles has always had good to very good food, but wow can their service be inconsistent. I've actually had 3 different people hand me a check (for the same amount) after pestering everyone for my bill! On one visit I was sure Bourdain was in the kitchen, everything came out on time and perfectly cooked, the water glass was always full and our bill arrived on time. Too bad, this could be so much more wonderful. Cheers!