Poppy Quince

Thanks for the update. I haven't been back to l'Epigramme in about a year but mean to go soon. I had dinner at Le Gaigne in September and was very disappointed. The food was boring, some of it not good at all. We were surrounded exclusively by Anglophones in the tiny room. When I asked the server (the owner's wife?) if this was typical, she told me that it was since the article had come out. She seemed quite pleased.

I should have given my opinions of the places I listed upthread, but was in a hurry at the time and just reeled off everything I could think of in the immediate area. I agree with Ptipois about Au Bascou, I never understood what the big deal was...l'Ami Jean is soooo much better. Although I prefer 404 to Chez Omar, I think both of them fail to hold a candle to La Table de Fez. I didn't particularly like my one meal at Pramil 2 years ago, I thought the chef overreached. Chez Nenesse is, I think, too expensive for the 'real traditional bistro' experience, but it certainly looks right, I agree. I've had several very good meals at Café des Musées, and one mediocre one. On the whole a great choice. Le Progrès is a lot of fun to hang out in, and although it's become more and more 'in', it's miles better than that new-ish Costes place down the street. I like Chez Janou for the bar and the outdoor seating, although the food isn't anything special. It just looks like a movie version of Paris.

Within about 3 blocks: Au Bascou, 38, Rue Réaumur, Telephone: 01.42.72.69.25 Au Fil des Saisons 6 rue des Fontaines du Temple Telephone: 01 42 74 16 60 Café des Techniques, Musée des Arts et Métiers, 60 rue Réamur, 01 53 01 82 83,. Sunday brunch includes museum entry. Pramil: 9, rue du Vertbois, Tel: 01 42 72 03 60 404, 69 rue de Gravilliers, Tel: 08 26 10 09 84 Chez Omar, 47 Rue de Bretagne, 01 42 72 36 26 The take-out options at the Marché des Enfants Rouges are great: Moroccan, Japanese, Italian, etc. There is an extraordinarily good boulangerie open only part of the week (try the blinis!), a wine shop that sells homemade sausages and several greengrocers. The shops along rue de Bretagne at that point include a fabulous poultry merchant and a great cheese shop. All: M° Temple ou Arts-et-Métier As for farther afield, there's a new branch of Rose Café on rue Debelleyme near Le Pamphlet and tons of good places in the Marais. I agree that you shouldn't miss Breizh Café.

l'Epigramme has it on a special gibiers menu tonight, Oct. 10

The sub-head to the article does say "the scene has moved-across the Seine-to a collection of fringe neighborhoods..." so I assume they're not geographically challenged at Gourmet.

I should think business fell off, but I can't understand why it took so long. And as for that expensive farce upstairs...the Connaught can have her. (re-reading this I realize I sound cranky, but that's the way I felt after visiting chez Hélène)

No no no. If your heart says no, don't go. We should start a topic on this. There are places, such as l'Astrance, Ze Kitchen Galerie + Itineraires where honorable eaters disagree; we should respect that. We should each speak our piece, but tastes differ and that's life. And information as to where to go. ← I agree that we don't have to agree, but since you (and the three harshest critics you know!) were so enthusiastic, who am I to dig in my heels and refuse to give it another try? I intend to go back and hope to be won over next time. (I'll take a couple of critics along as well to make sure.)

OK, I guess we'll have to go back. I'd love to find I was mistaken the first time.

Well, as they used to say on the commercials, your mileage may differ. I was thrilled to have stumbled across Itineraires when out for a walk one day in early May since I had absolutely loved le Temps au Temps. I made a reservation for dinner immediately and looked forward to it all day. Having arrived in a downpour, we were welcomed and seated with an aperitif and ordered from what sounds like the same menu you were offered. I had the asparagus in vinaigrette, in which I could identify no foie gras, and found the dried tuna belly just odd. This was followed by the beef cheek confit, the sauceof which was, in my opinion, TOO intense and I just couldn't finish it. The potato puree however was the best I've ever had. Can't remember what my husband had, but we were both disappointed and agreed that it just didn't measure up to Temps au Temps. The service was very warm and we had quite a long talk with Mme. Sendra, who was charming, but we left feeling no need to return. Having not had a chance to read any reviews since then I'm a bit startled to hear you rave. I feel we do need to try it again, but given we had the same dishes, I wonder if it's just a matter of personal taste. Maybe we could try it together next time and compare on the spot.

Well, we had dinner at les Fines Gueules in early May and enjoyed it very much. The excellent first courses were more exciting than the mains, it's true, but the dessert was also stellar. Can't recall the wine I'm afraid, but here's my note of the meal from the blog I write when traveling: >>Last night we wanted to stay in the neighborhood for a simple meal and wound up at Les Fines Gueules near Place des Victoires, a wine bar that distinguishes itself by serving impeccably fresh simple food sourced from the best names among local producers. We had a terrine of fish with leeks and eggs baked with barely smoked haddock to start (here's the terrine de poissons, discreetly snapped for your edification) and shrimp Provencale and a gorgeous hand chopped tartare de boeuf. Dessert was an entire peeled poached peach (can you say that 3 times, fast?) with a sauce of caramel laitier, a milky unctuous cream. << Now that I think about it, it was awfully early for peaches...

Thanks Forest, this is great. We were just mentioning today that dinners in Paris tend to be less expensive than in the US because we don't order cocktails beforehand, but every once in a while the need for a great martini kicks in. For me that usually means vodka, but friends have introduced us to Hendrick's gin, which has turned my opinion of gin on its head. The Experimental Cocktail Club is just around the corner from where we stay in Paris and we'll definitely try it soon.

I'm sorry to hear it, but will be interested in the details. By the way, when was your last previous visit? I haven't been there since October, when I felt it was still very special.

Figaroscope's article mentions that great and talented couple running Le Temps au Temps have given it over to someone else. This had become my favorite resto and am devastated to hear this, although the promise is that it will "not change". Can this possible be the case with a new chef? At least my favorite dessert remains, according to Figaroscope. Has anybody tried it since mid-JAnuary? Any reports?

I came across a used copy of The Chateau a few years ago and have read it at least twice since then. It's definitely worth searching out. And thanks for the reminder of Godden's Greengage Summer. I recall reading it decades ago, enjoyed it a lot, but have very little recollection of it now. I think I would like to re-read it.

Exactly what I ordered on my first visit...wonderful! I've never been able to just walk in and get a table however; always quite a long wait and nowhere to wait comfortably, although you can get a coffee at the café across the street, or sit in the park on warm days.