mlutzmann

Done and done. I've cancelled Prosecco (I trust all of you far more than Trip Advisor). Its Cafe Spiaggia now. That hits our sweet spot of my 'best of the best regardless of cost' and my wife's preference to slightly below that financial carelessness. I'm convinced we'll both be ecstatically happy!

OK, I take it back! Now this site is confusing. :-D Just kidding. I'm enjoying the debate. How 'bout this: Sable is getting such mixed reviews I'll take the last advice and change it to Publican. Found Processo on Trip Advisor 'cause my birthday celebrating wife's fav is Italian. Open to alternatives. Everest would be it if it were my birthday. (We went to Chez Panisse in Berkeley for my 50th last October - terrific!) So disappointed I can't get into Alinea. Everything I'm reading about it is right up my alley. I've 'liked' their FB page and will watch for last minute tables (tickets :-) Keep it comin'. This is fun!

This group is such a valuable resource, I've now become a donor! Thank you all. My three and a half days in Chicago are now full of food. Dinners at Prosecco and NaHa. Brunch at Sable. Will try Yolk for brekkie and also try for Purple Pig or Avec on the only open evening. I've booked the Architecture Foundation's bus tour as well. Too bad the boat tour doesn't start 'till April.

So far ... booked Sable for Sunday Brunch.

Thx NancyH. I'll let you know how I do.

Gayot has Everest and Prosecco as up there. Comments?

Another visit to Chicago. I thought I would include my request in this thread since all of you Chicago-centric members are already involved. My dates are Thurs, March 21 - Sun, March 24th. I've obviously left this too late. G&TG rez's are for mid April now. Alinea is all booked up, of course. I was devasted to see that Spring is gone. One of my top 5 meals of a lifetime there several years ago. I'll try all of the no-rez spots mentioned above at the times suggested but I've got a 50th birthday to celebrate and don't want to risk a complete disaster. Doesn't matter which night. Staying at the Felix. Any brilliant suggestions for a resto that takes rez's and isn't booked into next month? Money/style not an issue.

Thank you, once again for the input. We are in the midst of making the difficult decisions about what to include. I agree that what we are passionate about will be a major part of the tour. We are, indeed, having a great time with the research.

Thank you so much for your input. This forum is such a wonderful resource. Lesliec, we agree that our tour should be for the informed cook and gourmand. We are modelling our tour after one that we took in Florence. Lots of information about where the food comes from, what makes it special, and what to look for in choosing the best. We are also going to try to partner with a few cooking schools to provide as much food tourism as anyone could possibly want. JBailey, thanks for the thought. In fact, we met David at O Chateau during our last stay in Paris. We did a Wine and Chocolate pairing in the cellar. Wonderful! We'll definitely check out 'Secrets of Paris'. Parigi, a great wealth of information so specific to the area. (ever think of becoming a tour guide?). We refer to the individual sellers in the covered market when we say stalls. We hadn't thought of it as confusing but will avoid the word in our marketing. Thanks again for all of the links. We're having a ball! Michael & Lisa

... what would you like to see. My wife and I are starting the "Flavors of Paris" tour in Paris this year. Montmartre is the first neighborhood we are going to feature. Help us to design the finest tour in France. The tour will include tastings at several of the stalls and also include a neighborhood wine shop, patisserie and fromagerie. Please tell us what you would want to see when you go to Paris. We want to provide a tour that appeals to everyone's gastronomic interests.

Thank you all again. I'm on my way tomorrow and will report the good, bad and ugly when I return.

Thank you all for your information. We had a get-together last night and the concensus around the table seemed to be in the $50 per head range. I've seen the $35 prix fixe at JG's down-market spots. Any suggestion as to which on of them to try? Lunch at JG about 3 years ago is one of the few meals that literally brought tears of joy. At that time, I skipped the prix fixe and spent $135 for my wife and I. One of the recurring themes from my group (small - just 4 of us) was 'street food'. While I'm more than happy to try it, I don't know where to start with that one. I thought about Emily's suggestion of eating alone but alas, I am one of the poor souls who revels in dragging others into my gastro heaven. Not to worry, my therapist says that someday I will be comfortable with my own company. Cheers to all. NYC on Friday! Just two more sleeps! Michael

As an amateur chef in my own kitchen I find that the skill I would benefit most from is handling knives. I'll be taking a full cooking course once I retire but at the moment only have time for short, specific learning. Does anyone know if a course specific to this skill? It can be anywhere in the world as I could take it as part of a vacation.

I'm coming to NYC with my wife and friends who do not share my value opinion of paying for great food. I would have us at Per Se but they will not be moved. Is there anything out there at the moment that delivers the experience I'm looking for for a price that my companions will accept? I have already gleaned the eG Forum for dumplings at Dumpling House and Italian at Celeste. Anything else I can fill my aching heart (pining for Ducasse and Per Se) with during our four night stay. Thanks in advance from Stratford, Ontario.

The Santé Wine Festival in Yorkville (midtown TO) happens in May each year. The website still has the last one on it but here it is http://www.santewinefestival.net/guide.htm Salut!