magnolia

I am a huge fan of the mid-level bit of Smithfields, it's very good value, always have trouble deciding what to have - and is very lively (sometimes deafeningly loud though), good service, good wine list (maybe even same as the upstairs). I also love having breakfast there. Other good choices are Club Gascon if you want foie in its many guises (though I suppose that doesn't really count as meat per se).

Actually...come to think of it, last time I was at Bodeans I asked the guy who his butcher was - they don't have short ribs on the menu but they are certainly 'american' oriented - he told me, I wrote it down on a little scrap and proceeded to lose it of course. I will call again...

OK I wasn't going to step in here because the subject gets my hackles up, but I've been to several reputable butchers to buy short ribs, and none of them knew what I was talking about, even though I brought them the diagram and said I want the "cut off ends of the prime rib". One - the guy on Essex Street who wears the hat, (I have blocked his name out of my mind) said 'oh, yes we do these - come back tomorrow' which I did, and he had it all wrapped up and ready to go, charged me like £30 (I should have known at that point something was wrong) and sent me on my way with a smile. When I got home, with this package that weighed a ton, it turned out to be a joint of beef for roasting. A lovely piece of meat but not what I asked for. Yes, I know I should have opened the package in the shop to check - buyer beware and all that - so I take some responsibility. But I showed him the **** picture and he said he knew what I meant ! So I guess what I'm saying is...buyer beware and all that!!

Socket - or is that Sock et, as in Sock é? Do a search on "Nahm" and all will be revealed - or at least some arguments for and against. It is indeed very expensive, but you won't dishes of this calibre (ingredients, combinations, technique and presentation). However some people aren't keen on the decor. I love Rasoi Vineet Bhatia (high end fusion Indian in Chelsea) which is a hot ticket, as are Yauatcha and Hakkasan (Chinese), both great for dim sum especially - but quite pricey as well. Of course the big fave on this board is St John - but some say St John Food & Wine is even better, though I haven't been to the latter. Just peruse the posts over the last week or two, you're bound to find enough places to fill your three free days - and don't forget to let us know how you get on.

And why can't anyone join you in a dirty lunch? Wouldn't that make it that much dirtier? How might one get there, from London, by train...or would that just be asking for punishment?

Hmm....seems to me that ...is in fact a good definition of a gastropub...

In case people have trouble finding it...it's : Fish la Boissonerie 69, rue de Seine ... Paris 6ieme 01 43 54 34 69 Watch the vintages if you order wine, though, twice on the same night they brought one that was different from that which we had ordered. The first time, the bottle that arrived was from a 'lesser' year than the one on the menu...and we complained. The next time, it was from a better year and...we didn't. (edited for appalling grammar)

Like most of the resto critics, she is more reliable when writing on food than wine but I find her reviews pretty trustworthy - and she has a better 'write about the restaurant' to 'write about myself' ratio than do several other critics who spend most of their column inches on the latter.

Don't know if it has been mentioned here yet (I am having a bit of trouble with the search function) but Chisou, on Princes Street off Tottenham Court Road) is great. Not cheap, not outrageous but very good food. I've been once, it was packed with Japanese diners. I also hear good reports from people who work at the Japanese National Tourist Office about "moshi moshi", but haven't been, myself.

I have started working for a new consumer wine magazine called "World of Fine Wine" (see www.finewinemag.com) We are based in London, but our tasting/editorial panels - amazing if I do say so myself - include luminaries and contributors from all over the world. The magazine is semi-monthly, so we have the wherewithal to cover topics in greater depth than do other publications; we will have reports on major, sometimes unprecented tastings such as one of Port covering 12 major houses and about 10 vintages over the 30 years between 1970 and 2000. We are also doing a Champagne tasting comparing about 50 growers and Grande Marques. Our first issue had an analysis of the Pavie debate which elicited kudos from those on both sides. Subscribe, help us expand our global readership ! Editorial ideas also most welcome by PM.

Haven't tasted Mission Hill, but it seems that the Okanagan Valley has become a little slice (drop?) of Bordeaux these days; I'm just writing up a new wine produced via joint venture between Gruaud Larose and Vincor - wild guess who oversaw production...yup, Michel Rolland. It has a super fruity, intense 'new world' character to it, hints of licorice and decent tannins. It might calm down in a few years.

My sources have provided to possible explanations: 1) vine leaves contain ozone, and ozone generators are sometimes used to treat oak barrels that have been infected with Brettanomyces (aka "Brett", which is the yeast that gives red wine the distinctive 'barnyardy' aroma). However the ozone used for for sterilisation (O3) quickly reverts to molecular oxygen (O2), so there's probably something a bit more complicated going on if this is the source. 2) Alternatively, the 'thunderstorm' ozone aroma of ozone is similar to that of a freshly struck match before the scent of burning - so it may be the sulphur (also used to treat barrels).

what is sloan rangers on the square - and where is it? Sloane Rangers are sort of the 'portenos' of London.

Hmm.. maybe they're already busy enough to take another day off...? I wanted to reserve for a Monday in October and was told they're shut on Sundays and Mondays.

Actually I think L'Ourcine is fermé lundi, all year round. Tant pis.

No worries - the more the merrier. And since your event is in September, you will probably have a lot more choices !

Will be passing through Paris on the last Monday in August, and would welcome some inspiration - what's open on that Monday, where we can have a decent but casual, and not overly costly meal? Diners will be me (very adventurous); beau (semi-adventurous); my mother (not too adventurous).

i'm glad you find it interesting. it's made me want to do some more research on my own country's culinary history. maybe i should write an article on it. -che Che - I have a book I would be happy to lend you, by Derek Foster - the food critic for the BA Herald. Despite his name, he's Argentine through & through. I never even came across tamales or humita. I do see your point about the availability of "ethnic" cuisine being negligible *outside* Buenos Aires - I had French food, and excellent pizza elsewhere but you're right, lots of meat and fish, simply prepared but delicious with great raw materials. However, in Bs As, I'd say there's decent variety; it may not have the huge range of London, Paris or New York, but I came across Moroccan, Indian, Armenian, and I seem to remember, thai. And I only visited a couple of neighbourhoods, I can only imagine there's more to it...Anyway, it seemed pretty cosmopolitan to me.

I'm not a big Maschler fan, and sorry, can't be bothered to fill out all the online forms that allow "free" registration (time is money after all) to this article. However, my sense is that Gaucho Grill has been - is ? - a steak house with some Argentine wines on it, maybe a couple of other Argentine dishes - granted it has been awhile since I've been to one. What have they added that's particularly Argentine? In fact, I'd be very interested in your take on what Argentine food is. I travelled around Argentina for about a month last year and found the food to be very good indeed. But just as I can't really put my finger on what "American" food is, I couldn't quite describe most of what I had as specifically Argentine. I had Armenian food, Chinese food, Italian food...a fair amount of what I can only describe as "global fusion food", and of course lots and lots of steak and potatoes. Yes, there were some specific ingredients that re-appeared - dulce de leche everywhere; incomparable beef everywhere; empanadas almost everywhere and...dulce de alcayotas (sp? yum!) in Mendoza...but nothing else that cried Argentina for me...

Where? Do tell ! I've found a decent breakfast for around £2.00 (Smiths of Smithfields) but nice cheap lunch remains elusive.

Tomme shouldn't smell like that, although Brie sometimes does (but shouldn't either)

I would respect a restaurant that served Kraft slices (individually wrapped for freshness, of course) more than one that charges £10 for a plate of grizzly, badly stored cheese-plate-worthy cheese... I'm still keen to go but have been fairly warned about cheese, room and possibly overbearing service...

While in Valencia, don't miss: Seu Xerea calle Conde de Almodovar 4 Tel: 34-96-39-24-000 www.seuxerea.tdv.net bargain lunch, dinner even better Restaurante Riff calle Conde Alta 18 Tel: 34-96-33-35-353 www.restaurant-riff.com dinner El Maldon calle Maldonado 46 Tel: 34-96-39-13-510 cheap and cheerful but very nice lunch Óscar Torrijos calle Doctor Sumsi 4 Tel: 34-96-37-32-949 I think it's the only Michelin starred one there... I wrote an article about the restaurant scene in V. a couple of years ago, if you're interested I can send you a copy but due to copyright laws I wouldn't be comfortable posting it (and the link is only available to WSJ subscribers)

Sorry this is not directly food related - but I am going to eat while in Bilbao... I'll be in Bilbao for a few hours on Thursday and I understand the Guggenheim doesn't sell advanced tickets over the phone/internet, only in person. I can get to the museum by 17h30 (museum's open til 20h00) and wondered whether anyone had any insight as to whether it's even worth it (i.e. will queues be too long?) or whether there are 'alternate' entrances like at the Louvre, Met etc.?

actually while we're on the topic, The Bleeding Heart (recent thread on this board) has at least two 'spaces' that could be considered a wine bar, one is actuallyl a bar, the other is a cafe. Heck, they have a decent restaurant too. Main thing is that the food's good, the service & atmosphere are pleasant, and the wine list is much better than average.