lalala

I'm looking for a buche for boxing day or christmas. We used to get one from Essential, but they are not making them for the holiday. Is there another bakery out there that is making them this season? Thanks.

I was in Rome for Noruz, so no feast for me. I did manage to put together a pretty nice little haft-seen including senjed and sumac that I got from my aunt in London for our apartment, so it felt like new year. We're Azeri, but its typical, sabzi, noon, panir, yoghurt, sabzi polo with fish (white fish - usually find a nice piece of halibut in the freezer for this. Sometimes I get inspired and make ashe-reshteh, but it can be pretty stodgy. As always, my mom sends the makings for ajil (trail mix) for the wednesday before the new year (Chahar Shanbeh Suri) and we eat it for the next few weeks. I still have a few rice cookies stashed away somewhere. I leave the sweets to someone who enjoys molding chick pea flour. lalala

Therese, I would say that Soho would be considered chinatown, there are specific streets that have good dim sum restaurants. I am blanking now on the names. I have to say the LTM has a few things going for it: 1. large plaza outside to burn off energy 2. interactive displays 3. great gift shop 4. decent little cafe, okay, its like an aroma or caffe nero, but still, its not bad Greenwich is also nice and you can always walk the tunnel underneath the thames. I'm not a big fan of chain restaurants, but quick eats that kids seem to like include belgo (covent garden location) and wagamama (all over the place). If you are reaching meltdown, you can get something down your gullet pretty fast. lalala

I wasn't directing at you, but it fills the bill as a tartinerie. I haven't seen any sort of mom and pop tartine shops in my time in Paris other than le pain and dame tartine.

I think you are referring to the ubiquitous and pretty decent chain Le Pain Quotidien which is now in England, Rome, New York and Belgium. I'm sure there are more, but those places come to mind right off the bat. They serve tartines, a pretty decent breakfast and have some nice things to buy. The best thing is that they have a communal table,so you don't have to wait if you are alone and they are non--smoking. Is that what you were thinking? lalala

Hmm, it looks suspiciously like Esfahani Gaz or a nice Iranian nougat. Good stuff and packaged in a flour to keep it from sticking together. I have a box in my fridge I should open. If I do, I will post picture and box. lalala

I will second Andrew Edmunds. Though it can get awfully smoky. There is another resto across the street and down lexington a bit towards regent street. That also looks pretty good- same kind of menu. I like Smiths of Smithfield, its open really early, so its good for those early morning arrivals into London when you are looking for something to do before you can check into your hotel and the Borough Market hasn't quite opened. The first floor restaurant is a bit more upscale. SOS downstairs does an eclectic mix of things -- breakfasts, smoothies and nice sandwiches. Some really interesting shops on Charterhouse street too. Not a good street if your daughter has vegetarian aspirations as Smithfield market is a meat market. I would also suggest, Books for Cooks on Blenheim Crescent -- right off of Portobello Road. The food has been really good depending on the time of year and its quite inexpensive. Basically, a group of the workers devise a daily menu with a few choices out of featured cookbooks. Some have been absolutely divine. There are many puddings to choose from. I would recommend going there early and avoiding it on Saturday. Its a zoo on Saturday. The cookbooks are pretty amazing and its just fun to browse. Other suggestions would be satsuma on wardour street. I think their bento boxes are pretty decent. Slug and lettuce at Canary Wharf is pretty decent on a nice sunny March day. They have plenty of outdoor seating. I have done it in March and you will not freeze. have fun! lalala

I stayed at home with my basset hound as my taller half was on her way to Corvallis for the week. We're going to celebrate Valentine's day sometime in the next two weeks, really. The dog had kibble, greenbeans and tuna. I think I had half of a pork sandwich from Met Market. We both had water from the cedar river watershed. We did go to breakfast at Cafe Campagne on Sunday, it was crowded, but the food was remarkably good and service was not rushed. lalala

Better yet, drive to villedieu-les-poeles and go to the Mauviel factory. Shear heaven.. lalala

I will second Dehillerin. We have bought many things from them in the past, try and go during the week, it seems less hectic then. lalala

Taller half went through the Pralus tower. She bought it at the Galleries Lafayette in Paris. I know for a fact they have the same tower at twice the price (even after currency conversion and credit card fees) at Larry's in Bellevue. Mind you the Pralus squares are huge, you could have a party with about 10 people and everyone would be overwhelmed by chocolate. The michel cluizel tablettes are good a choice and I know that the PCC in View Ridge carries a lot of his chocs. However, I'm not sure about smaller quantities. His chocolate is quite lovely and reasonable IMHO. Caffe tasse has small tablettes, but not territorial, more flavored. Not a good choice for a tasting. If someone you know is going to London soon -- you can have them pick up the Pralus tower at Monmouth Coffee at Borough Market at only 1.4 times the price. :) Hope this helps. lalala

I am trying to talk my taller half into a buche de noel class at the Ritz in December. I think she might bite. However, the classes are taught in French, correct? lalala

I haven't seen le puy lentils at TJ's in a long time. Are they really there? lalala

Thanks for all your help. It is a Saturday night, so Union won't work. However, all the options mentioned are great. I will start calling. The Warwick room looks really cool and I've heard good things about Brasserie Margaux. Its funny, I eat out, but not much in Seattle. I'll update you guys if you are interested. lalala

Er, near rue de seine and the covered marche at st. germain there is a great store that sells old maps.. I can't remember the name, but if you are visiting gerard mulot, its pretty close. As for ras el hanout -- I think I bought some from fauchon and the grand epicerie has some. lalala

Haven't been there because they were closed on our last visit, but I really liked Le Coquillage and the chateau richeux. We will return in September to eat at maison bricourt. I will make a plug for the graines de vanilles tea room -- some of the best gallete breton I've ever eaten. We stayed at Chateau Richeux in December right before they closed for the season and it was great. Quiet with fabulously quiet rooms and great service. I would recommend it on the off season, especially if you can get a reservation at Maison Bricourt. lalala

Dearest E-gulleters, I am looking for somewhere downtown or thereabouts that could serve as the venue for a decadal birthday. I'm thinking about 30 people, some from out of town who may need hotel rooms, some local, somewhere nice and elegant with good food. I was thinking Tulios because I like their food; my mother is thinking the Fairmont (don't ask why--I think they've been to lots of weddings there) and my father suggested the Sorrento. I've never eaten there, but the rooms look pretty nice. Has anyone done an event there recently? Or: Can someone suggest an alternative? I'm looking at about 80-90 max per person for food, drinks and other charges... Thank you in advance, lalala

Wow, i don't I have to schelp tymsboros and golden crosses from London to Seattle any more..... sweet. lalala

LMF, Classes are definitely fun. I did about six months of them, though I believe they were on Monday nights. You talk, you watch, you drink and then you eat. I have a nice little notebook of recipes and have a great appreciation for what Bruce does in his tiny kitchen. lalala

Does the cheese cellar carry the Neals Yard goat cheeses? lalala

Marcolini is indeed on rue de Seine and things are just like in Brussels, stores look identical. I would pass up Marcolini for Gerard Mulot's rochers any day. Michel Cluizel's store is at 201 rue st. honore. Its quite a lovely place and the madames that work there are very helpful. We just did our chocolat stomp through Paris on Saturday and Sunday. We hit Debauve and Gallais for a few ballotins, tablets and orangettes, citrons, gingembres and pamplemousse pieces dipped in chocolate. La Maison for a box of truffles nature for a friend and a small ballotin for taller half. Gerard Mulot for a small ballotin. Fauchon for a chocolate dessert of my taller half's dream in their tiny new tea salon and a neon orange eclair for the road. Lutetia for a valharona hot chocolate, taller half said christian constant's was too intense. La Grand Epicerie for some Weiss chocolates. Taller half's bags were quite heavy and this is about 1/2 of what she usually gets for a few months. The place for hot chocolate on rue st. louis en l'isle was packed to the brim on sunday afternoon, we decided to skip it and went to the lutetia instead. Other chocolate finds: A pretty decent store in Dinan (branch in Rennes) with the neatest packaging and chocolate christmas trees. Lovely truffles from Roellinger's store in Cancale. Did I tell you we have a lot of chocolate at home right now? falala

we have the earlier version of this fridge and I love it. I went with the swinging door on the freezer instead of the pull out drawer. We also bought at Albert Lee and were quite impressed as they moved our old fridge into our basement and removed the old goldenrod fridge from my childhood out of the basement and took it away for free! Our next purchase (fisher paykel washer) will be with them. Our 40" double oven was purchased from Almvigs (originally from Laurelhurst, now in Roosevelt), I was not too impressed by their installers, but the store is good. lalala

geez, had i had a chance to read egullet while in Brittany last week I would have loaded my rollaboard with caramels and sold them to you at cost. I love fran's caramels, though i prefer them natural, the chocolate sort of detracts from the buttery goodness. I'm going to try and duplicate roellinger's caramels avec fruits sec (basically caramels with toasted almonds), they were yummy. lalala

Christmas Eve Tulios for dinner Sorrento for drinks St. James for carols Christmas Day Home, but Brasserie Margaux sounds good Boxing Day Home -- roast of beef and all the trimmings

If I remember correctly, Paris is dark in January. Please see Monthly Climatologies for Paris to get my drift. However, I go every year and just make the best of it. Bux is correct, its a bone chilling damp much like Seattle, so I dress accordingly and go with the flow. You can also tuck into a cafe to warm up. I believe the markets happen in the winter -- the Batignolles and Raspail ones are quite lovely. Have a galette and a cidre and warm up and then dive into a roast chicken. Yum. My only problem with travelling in the winter is all the layers. Its great to have them when you are walking outdoors, but once you get inside, you roast. Ditto for the metro. I tend to walk as much as possible to avoid overheating. You'll have fun no matter what you do, I heart Paris for its amazing ability to be beautiful in any season. lalala Paris bound in 13 days