Jump to content

Laidback

participating member
  • Posts

    288
  • Joined

  • Last visited

Posts posted by Laidback

  1. Perhaps we all have our own conception of who and what deserves a star. I personally don't see Besson losing his , but then again I feel Helen Darroze is lucky to only lose one. Is Yam Tcha's star an attempt by Michelin to show that they are more open to "hip", foreign takes on French cuisine and that a classicist like Bresson is passé? I see so many inconsistencies...a star for Passage 53 but none for Les Crayeres??? I would value hearing your takes.

  2. A very easy train trip from Gare de Lyon will take you to Dijon, which has a compact centre ville area, walkable from the train station. We had several enjoyable meals there, probably topped by Stephan Debord. You should also have plenty of time to visit the historic Palais des Ducs, the covered market and other sites on the easy to follow "Owl Trail".

  3. Of course this is top secret and yet to be confirmed, but I've heard he is planning to open a restaurant in association with François Simon. That would be in Paris. Not sure I heard or remember the name right but it should be La Pipe or something like that.

    This could start a new trend...what next...Pudlo with Ghislaine Arabian, Jean-Luc Petitrenaud with Christian Constant, François-Regis Gaudry with Alleno...the mind boggles and culinary criticism no longer has to pretend to be impartial.

  4. I am glad to see that John is still contributing to egullet.

    Prior to his tenure i used to go to as many new restaurants as I could after doing a lot of research and my satisfaction level was around 60%,but then someone by the name of John Talbot appeared with reviews of most new restaurants.To my surprise my satisfaction level went to 90% after I followed his recommendation.I think that the Paris chapter was lucky to have him.

    Pierre,

    I could not have said it any better myself...well stated.

  5. ...and Philippe Toinard reviews l’Acajou, coordinates in the guidebooks, which has had the same chef (Jean Imbert) since 2004 but has a new table d’hote, common table and terrace but serves awful sounding dishes, except for the millefeuille for 19 (lunch), 31-59 € and is closed Saturday lunch and Sunday night.

    We were taken to l'Acajou shortly after it opened and was favorably reviewed in Figaroscope by some Parisian friends and were favorably impressed; pleasant decor with mahoghany paneling, comfortable seating and quasi-gourmet offerings at bargain basement prices. Repeat visits confirmed that this was no flash in the pan. However this past Oct. we were shocked to enter and discover a brand new total renovation to a Manhattan-mod styled makeover. Instead of the comfortable seating arrangements there is now only a long, high, uncomfortable common table running the length of the room which destroys any privacy/intimacy. I was told that the chef is the same, but the place has been ruined for us...We don't go to France to eat in diners.

  6. Can I come?

    :) I take that as a sign that you approve of the itinerary. I have however had 2nd thoughts about Balzar reading some very mixed reviews, and quite a few downright bad ones.

    So after a bit of research I've come across a nice bistro called Louis Vins which seems to get good reviews. It won't break the bank and the food is apparently very good. Has anyone here been and if so, are there better sunday night options? I've been through the threads here but none have appealed to me so far.

    I would suggest Le Gaigne in the 4th; tried it last week and was pleased.

  7. We are slow-poking through Burgundy this month and had lunch today at Le Comptoir des Tontons. If this was F-R Gaudry's restaurant of the week the poor guy needs help in restaurant selection. This is not to say that it was bad in anyway, or that the products were not "bio", but it probably was about 4th or 5th "best" on our places this week.

  8. Totally personal, subjective, no right or wrong answers, just opinions and reasons to back them up."

    Le Florimond, Carte Blanche, Le Violon d'Ingres, La Table d'Eugene...all for the same reasons....consistentancy, never a bad experience and the pleasant familiarity coming from having visited these places regularly since they opened and I am thus recognized and made to feel appreciated. My ego unabashedly welcomes gratuitous balm.

  9. Host’s Note

    On another topic Al Wang asked us to suggest truly creative restaurants anywhere in Paris.  I think it would be clearest if we separated this from restos in the 11th.

    I'll start the ball rolling;

    How about:

    Les Magnolias

    Ze Kitchen Galerie

    Lena & Mimile (the Herve This items).

    I have only been to 2 of the above and would agree. As you know, I think that Carte Blanche in the 9th also fits the category of creative.

  10. Incidentally tonight I am dining at la table d'Eugene ,which is in the 18th arrondissement, 1 hr away from my home in the Eiffel tower area

    In my opinion an excellent choice for good rapport qualité/prix, but I can't imagine how it would take an hour to get there from the Eiffel Tower, particularly with your intimate knowledge of Paris, was that a mis-type?

    If you're really interested in knowing why it will take about 1 hr to go door to door to the restaurant i'll send you the itinerary in a personal email.I am curious though as to why this is important to you.

    It is not really important to me, I was just curious, as I often stay at the corner of Rapp/St. Dominique and it doesn't take me that long either on the direct #80 bus or a 1 transfer metro ride. As fat and out of shape as I am, it would undoubtedly take me even longer to walk it, as the up-hill part in Montmartre would require a stop for liquid sustenance. :raz:

  11. Incidentally tonight I am dining at la table d'Eugene ,which is in the 18th arrondissement, 1 hr away from my home in the Eiffel tower area

    In my opinion an excellent choice for good rapport qualité/prix, but I can't imagine how it would take an hour to get there from the Eiffel Tower, particularly with your intimate knowledge of Paris, was that a mis-type?

  12. Le Beaujolais d'Auteuil and its chef Nicolas Duquesnoy the Best Paris Bistro of 2009.

    Do you know if there is a relation between the fore-mentioned young Nicolas Duquesnoy and the not so young Jean-Paul Duquesnoy who had the long defunct 2-star restaurant "Le Duquesnoy"on Ave. Bosquet?

    No but it must be in the DNA. I must confess that once again though I'm the sole dissenting vote about it.

    My how I relate as I have been verbally stoned for not finding Chez l'Ami Jean to be the greatest thing since sliced bread. My first trial was shortly after Jego took over so I waited awhile and after seeing universal acclaim I tried it again with Ms. L. and 2 sophisticated Parisiennes and found it still less than exemplary, just more jam-packed.

  13. They have all been very favorably if not superlatively reviewed, granted by French critics, but hey, they know something too. 

    Granted , they (French critics) know something, but after reading Demorand's typically hip (read semi-incomprehensible to a non-native) rave over Chamarré Montmartre followed by Rubin's broken-hearted slam of the same spot within hours of each other, one wonders what :wacko:

    Demorand was very enthusiastic about Le Chamarré, perhaps a tad too much so IMO, and Rubin much too harsh in my opinion. I tend to lean in Sébastien's direction, and Emmanuel's conclusion "tristes Caraïbes" when it's all about the Indian ocean left me a bit puzzled. Products are good if not magnificent, preparations a bit too complicated and redundant but it wouldn't take much for this chef to serve really amazing food. A bit of streamlining would do it. No reason to jump to the ceiling but no reason to blow your brains out either.

    A shared experience cinematographed by François-Régis Gaudry from L'Express led us halfway between the two extremes; I suppose his review of the restaurant in the magazine will reflect this more temperate appreciation.

    Thanks, Ptipois, I enjoyed your video. I too was puzzled by Rubin's "Caraibe" reference and just assumed his geography needed a little brushing up.

    I would so much prefer that critics give a straightforward pronouncement dealing with the quality of the product, level and consistency of the cooking and service as you and Dr. Talbott seem to do. A mention of the comfort and decor is worth a few lines, but spare me the flowery prose occupying 3/4 of the content, or the color themes (let's eat red today) found in the food press upon occasion.

  14. They have all been very favorably if not superlatively reviewed, granted by French critics, but hey, they know something too. 

    Granted , they (French critics) know something, but after reading Demorand's typically hip (read semi-incomprehensible to a non-native) rave over Chamarré Montmartre followed by Rubin's broken-hearted slam of the same spot within hours of each other, one wonders what :wacko:

  15. John,

    again thanks for sacrificing your body for the edification of e-Gulleteers. One small addendum to Miroire; on Sundays they have joined the noxious (to me anyway) trend of only serving a no-reservations brunch rather than the normal menu. This seems to be a popular, and probably, profitable device judging by the crowds I see in the street in front of Le Café Qui Parle every Sunday.

    We have just missed each other in the last 2 months at Table d'Eugene, Epigramme, La Véraison and who knows where else.

  16. O.K. Felice, since you asked.

    La Véraison, 64 Croix Nivert in the 15th, is quite worth a visit, not for the decor which as you see here is minimalist

    IMG_23LaVraison492.jpg

    but the value is very good; sorry about the glare on the chalkboard.

    IMG_23LaVraison49.jpg

    Ms.L. and I had 3 appetizers, 1 main course, a dessert and a cheese course along with a bottle of Cairanne, a noisette and a double café serré and escaped for under €100.

    The velouté of choux fleur with generous shavings of foie gras was a pleasant start

    IMG_23LaVraison491.jpg

    followed by the high light of the meal for me, fresh sardines, butterflied and grilled. Ms.L. took a tiny nibble and declared them sardines, which are low on her personal taste parade...I could have enjoyed another order.

    IMG_23LaVraison493.jpg

    However she was very happy with her Gambas grilled with a touch of ginger

    IMG_23LaVraison497.jpg

    and cleaned her plate in a lady-like fashion as she also did with the St. Jacques

    IMG_23LaVraison495.jpg

    I had the confit de canard, not very exciting, nor meant to be, but with a nicely crisped up exterior and a meltingly delicious interior, it was spot on for a chilly, drizzly day. The mashed potatoes were not quite Robuchonesque but good.

    IMG_23LaVraison496.jpg

    My delicate little dining partner thought highly of her creme brulé and even higher of the accompanying chocolate terrine

    IMG_23LaVraison498.jpg

    I finished with a trio of cheeses and an additional glass of red.

    IMG_23LaVraison499.jpg

    I think the eGullet bistro beacon, John Whiting, would enjoy this place.

×
×
  • Create New...