zoeadler

Our meal ended up costing about 100 euros - with a few glasses of wine and bottled water. We did appetizers, mains and desserts. I did see on the menu though there was a "menu" for 25 euros...I'd assume it was for an appetizer and main...although we didn't ask. Also, after looking over the posts for the past few months, I must say that John Talbott beat me to the scoop. He's eaten there as well. It's really a darling little place with lovely owners. For those NYers on the board it sort of reminded me of the Tasting Room on 1st street - a bit less "trendy" and definately more laid back french style, but the love of food and the couple running the restaurant made me think of that place.

Hi there, your trip sounds like it will be wonderful. The advice so far is spot on - it's hard to not be taken for a foreigner - I've been here 2 1/2 years and I still am taken for one, I'd imagine it will always be this way! I'm also a very non-scarf kinda girl. I haven't seen to much advice on markets, so I'd reccomend taking a Sunday morning stroll over to Marché d'Aligre. It's a great scene and lots of great food. The market outside on the place d'Aligre is one where cheap veggie and fruit vendors sell mass quantities at very low prices. There is also a tiny tiny flea market (not great but interesting to walk around). I prefer the covered market where there are amazing cheese, meat, fish and veggie vendors. Also a spice market that sells amazing olive oil and belotta ham. A real treat. After a bit of wandering you could grab some wine and oysters at Le Baron Rouge - 1 r Théophile Roussel in the 12th. The easiest way to get to the market is either taking the 8 line to Ledru Rollin or you could walk from the Marais...it's not too far once you get to Bastille. Good luck!

If you don't have time to go there but would like to try the Corsican cheeses, I'd highly reccomend that. There are certain ones that are so strong they knocked the socks off of my french boyfriend who is a veteran of strong cheeses. Also try the Tome from Corsica. Additionally if you are going to travel, be sure to go to the Dordogne region of France - we had a cheese there that you CANNOT get in Paris. It's made by monks in this one little town. It's made of walnut liquer I think or walnut infusion and it it SO GOOD!!! We had it when we stayed at the Chateau de la Treyne in La Cave. If you are interested in going down there let me know and I'll look in my notes from the trip and see if I can find the city where those monks are. I'm not sure what your budget or timeframe is - but the Chateau was amazing and could be a nice stop.

Hi, Just wanted to share a little experience I recently had in a lovely new restaurant that has been open in Paris for the past few weeks. It tiny and not high end like Ducasse et al. but it is a wonderful warm experience and a lovely little place that I can imagine will be doing quite well in the future so book ahead. It's sort of like C'Amelot for those of you who know that place, but a much warmer atmosphere and friendlier service...and more a bit more inventive cuisine. We went there on a fluke after having read a review in Zurban - our local Time Out-like magazine. It's on a tiny street not too far from Bastille called Rue Paul Bert. They were totally booked - they probably have 10 tables - so we agreed to be seated at the bar (which was SO nice, 4 places and you talk to the owner). The restaurant is owned by a couple in their late 20's early 30's...she is a gracious hostess and he is the chef. They also have a love affair with food - the walls are decorated by portraits of their favorite chefs - Ducasse, the guy with the hat that grows his own herbs...I forget his name. I didn't ask, but wouldn't be surprised if he was trained by one of the biggies. In any case they are darling and you really feel their appreciation for the great chefs. That particular night we had the foie gras terrine with a confit of mangos on the side (very delicious) and a tartare of coquilles st. jacques. Then the coquilles st. jacques cooked and served with caramelized leeks and endives that was AMAZING. Boyfriend had the leg of lamb and puree potatoes...amazing. Desert was an out of this world tarte tatin with spiced ice cream and a cafe/chocolate ganache. So I guess it's sort of taking the classics but each has a slight twist or certain ingredient that makes it just a bit less traditonal. So I've put the address below, I doubt it's in Zagats and I'm not sure if Francois Simon reviewed it yet, but it's really worth the trip to meet the owners and to discover a new little up and comer in Paris. Good luck!! Le Temps au Temps 13 r Paul Bert 75011 PARIS 01 43 79 63 40

Hi all, My boyfriend and I are going down to St. Remy for the weekend and would love to have couple of recommendations for great restaurants down there. We will be close to St. Remy of course, Arles, Avignon, Les Baux, Orange, Chateau Neuf de Papeetc. As it's off season it should be relatively easy to get into the good places, so hoping to hear what people think. Open to both high end and just good down home cookin experiences people have had. Thanks! Zoe

oooo....I'd agree with many of the posters. I went to Taillevent with my Dad when he came to visit - I live in Paris - and it was SO dissapointing. Service was SUPER snobby, the atmosphere was pretentious, the lighting was too bright and made it feel almost like a cafeteria and the food was good...but you could get the same in a great brasserie. The meal was very traditional french, not inventive at all and not interesting at all. The crowd was mostly japanese tourists and businessmen. I cannot begin to explain how let down I was by the experience. It seems like a place business men take clients to impress them....i.e. not foodies who are just their for the experience. I haven't been to the Grand Vefour but I've heard that the atmosphere is dreamy there...can't comment on the food. Ambroisie however would be my choice as the food was outstanding and the atosphere very luxurious and decadent without being pretentious. The staff and service is impeccable and very friendly. I'd love to try Ducasse, have heard nothing but praise so would also say check that out.

I'd have to vote for Brasserie Lipp. It's so french and wonderful and you can get little smoked salmon on toasts or other light fare. Although they don't have the terrace of Deux Magots or Cafe Flore, I think the food is better. Best have lunch at Lipp and then go to Flore or Deux Magots for a coffee on the terrace. Be sure also to walk along rue de Buci, a great little street in the area with a couple of cute cafes. And....for shopping (sorry I can't resist) the Bon Marche is not far - near Sevres Babylone - and is the most chic department store in Paris. Rue St. Peres and the little streets around it are great for small boutiques and expensive brands...Prada, Paul & Joe, etc.

I agree with Felice. No pre-packaged - or less of it than americans. And they DONT SNACK!! In Paris you eat a real lunch and a real dinner - and you take your time with it. You don't grab a sandwich and feel hungry at 4pm. If you look on any french restaurant/cafe/brasserie's lunch menu you'll see most meals are loaded with protein...fish, chicken, meat....which results in slower digestion and less of that hungry feeling after. Also, I'd bet that the amazing amount of coffee they drink helps to cut the appetite...one after lunch, one in the afternoon....and you're good to go!

thanks for the advice. so far our trip is shaping up quite nicely and we're sure to have some good reports when we come back. so far our plans are as follows. if anyone can comment on any of the places we've chosen, or anything to order in particular that would be great. thanks. day one Lunch Relais Gourmand de Olivier Roellinger no dinner avails Dinner and night stay at Trebeurden Manoir Lan Kerellac day two Stay at Hotel de la Plage Saint Anne la Palude 02.98.92.50.12 stay with friends one week in brittany...then drive to the south... day one Drive to Bordeaux, stay at HautRive St. James. day two Possibly lunch at Le Vieux Pont in Bergerac...worth a special stopover just for lunch???Bux? ...they were booked for the eve and hotel. Stay evening at Chateau de la Treyne in Lacave day three Drive around Perigord then down to coast Stay eve at Abbaye de Sainte Croix Salon-de-Provence Off to Calvi the next day for one week with friends.

We live not far from the Bastille and I can say that although we love Chez Paul for the atmosphere, the food has taken a serious nose dive. I'd highly vote against it - and it used to be our regular place. As for Swan and Vincent, it's a neighborhood regular, but as someone said, it's nothing to write home about - good pasta and ok wines. Although not mind boggling, but a real french experience is Bofinger on place de la Bastille...go for the deluxe seafood platter for two to experience what french brasseries are all about. Per John Talbott's list - Goldenbergs and Chez Marianne are like NYC deli food with a bit of sephardic fare mixed in. Fun because they are in the heart of the Marais on rue des rosiers. Square Trousseau is somewhere we've been meaning to try - it's typical french fare and it's quite trendy right now...but attitude I've heard is a bit snobby. But on a warm night on the terrace it's quite nice. Sadly I can't say we've discovered any amazing restaurants in our area in the past year or so and venture outside the Marais and Bastille for good eats!

Hello all, I'm new to the group and hope I can add a bit of help from the french side and also ask for some advice, like now, to help plan a last minute trip around France. A bit of introduction. I'm a NYer who moved to Paris 2 years ago. Raised as a total foodie in Manhattan, I've been slowly experiencing some of the restaurants in Paris, both the well known and the not so well known. So far our (french boyfriend and myself) hands down favorite is L'Atelier Robuchon. Although we had a great experience at L'Ambroisie but much less interesting than L'Atelier. So here's what I'm hoping for some help with. We are staying with friends most of August but we'll be traveling quite a bit in France to get to each place. As we are going by car and I thought it would be great if we could plan our stops based on food! I was hoping to get a few reccomendations of great places you have experienced....perhaps some that are "break the bank" experiences that can't be missed, and others that are just great food experiences that won't be as expensive as the first set. Since we just decided to do this and it's haute saison here, the more reccomendations the better as I assume many places will be full. Also, I promise to post our experiences as soon as we get back! Our travels are going to be as follows - 2-3 days traveling around Brittany - mostly near the coast and exploring from Saint Malo towards Brest and a bit below since that is where our friends are.I read one post about Maisons de Bricourt...going to see if we can get in but welcome other suggestions 1 night around La Rochelle or vicinity 1 night between or around Cahors/Toulouse...I read a post about Le Vieux Pont....but again going to try and get a reservation but suggestions welcome. We'll also be staying in Calvi for a week in Corsica, so any wonderful tables in or around.... Thanks again et a bientot, Zoe