bushey

There are a number of creperies on Ile St Louis where you can have a light meal or snack. Mon Viel Ami, right on rue St Louis en L'Ile, has gotten great reviews here and from Patricia Wells, so if you're feeling tired one evening and don't feel like going far that would be a good option. A few years ago friends went to Altitude 95 with their three children and had a wonderful time. The kids really enjoyed the view and the food was better than our friends had expected.

Ginger altoids aren't in my local CVS yet, but I'll be on the lookout. I'm addicted to the Ginger People chews. My kids occasionally get them for me as a treat if they're near a store that carries them, and I try to "ration" them but to no avail. Completely awesome while drinking tea. Speaking of which, for settling a stomach or reducing intestinal gas, try ginger tea: heat ginger ale until boiling and add a tea bag. This was given to me by a wonderful nurse following abdominal surgery and it really helped.

My elderly Dad has been doing the cooking at home for the last few years. Though he lives alone now, for a few years he took care of my Mom, who has Alzheimer's, at home. Every Friday night he has this "special" chicken: he buys a rotisserie chicken from the local supermarket and then proceeds to bake it in a 350 oven for an hour because he likes the skin crispy. Believe it or not, the chicken actually tastes okay. Those chickens must have such a high fat content that even roasting them for another hour can't dry them out!

We ate at Fontaine de Mars a couple of years ago and found the food to be just okay, although the atmosphere was lively and the service was good. L'Ardoise in the 1ere is open Sunday nights and I still dream about the delicious Filet de Boeuf and my husband's shrimp risotto. Though the clientele was more than 50% American when we were there (same trip as Fontaine de Mars), we sat next to a large party of raucous French couples who were having a grand time drinking their Cerdon du Bugey and eating.

What kind of places are you interested in? You've got the "double whammy" of the February vacation period and being in town on a Sunday. Our hotel was a block from Arpege and it looked like they were closed for vacances as well. We just returned yesterday from a long weekend in Paris and absolutely loved Au Bon Accueil in the 7eme. There's a 29 € menu and several additional a la carte offerings. I had the creamy pumpkin soup, followed by wild boar tenderloins (fabulous) and an apple tart. My husband and friend had the boar rillettes on toast and another special on the menu, lamb shoulder braised in a cabbage leaf. Our other friend ordered a green salad and sea bass a la carte. We all got a coffee cup filled with decadently rich whipped potatoes and a small spoon with which to eat them. The warm chocolate cake and bitter chocolate and mandarin napoleon were wonderful. The restaurant itself is very tiny and more forma than I was anticipating. Almost all of the other patrons were French and quite nicely dressed. Service was excellent. Sunday night we ate (I use the term "we" loosely, as I was under the weather and did not eat) at Le Petit Pontoise, which was recently written up in the New York Times click here . This is a neighborhood place, just off Blvd St Germain des Pres a little past the Maubert-Mutualite metro stop. It was crowded and lively (and a bit smoky) with mostly Parisians. The menu (all a la carte) is listed on blackboards mounted on the walls. Out friends shared a starter of marinated sardines with roasted peppers and loved it. My husband had a starter of small scallops that were dressed in a Thai-style dressing and formed into a small cake with bean sprouts and oven dried tomatoes. The main dishes were sandre (pike-perch), a brochette of large scallops and rack of lamb. Everything looked wonderful and all of the dishes were wiped clean. Interesting wine list, many organic choices. Wines served by the glass were generous pours from the bottle at the table. Friendly, warm service. Those are the two I would recommend from this trip. If you are interested in something more formal or gastronomique, we also splurged on a wonderful lunch Saturday at Le Violon d'Ingres. I believe they are open for Saturday dinner as well, and we did not see any notices about vacation closings.

We have reservations for tomorrow night, can't wait.

Hal, I love the bakeries on rue des Rosiers. The rugelach are sensational. Sounds like you had a fabulous meal at Au C'Amelot. If you have a chance, please write a little about the atmosphere and service. We'll be in Paris in about 10 days and this is one of the places on our short list. thanks, bushey

I was just going through my file folder of information that I gathered for my last trip to Paris and found a review of Les Magnolias, as well. I had really wanted to try it but we weren't sure we were up for a train trip at night -- the review I read made it sound like getting back to the city late at night could be a problem. It didn't quite make our short list for this visit either, though I'm tempted to reconsider.

blind lemon -- We could start a new market trend: timing the stars . Congratulations on your new job and the good fortune of having friends who know how to celebrate! bushey

With veal chop, braised artichoke and sundried tomatoes: San Leonino Chianti Classico Riserva 1997 Villa di Capezzana Carmignano 2000 The chianti was wonderful, but both my husband and I really loved the carmignano. I usually don't go for such big wines, but this was pretty well balanced even though it's young and still a bit chewy. It was Tuscan night at our local favorite restaurant. We started with a soave that was not remarkable and finished with a slightly sparkling red dessert wine that I can't remember (hey, I'm a lightweight -- after 3 glasses I can't remember much!) but matched well with molten chocolate cake and homemade strawberry ice cream.

Rain? It never rains on a golf course (or so my husband claims) or in any city I'm visiting. Actually, one of the things I'd love to do this time around is a walking tour of the passages, so a little inclement weather won't deter me. Another couple has decided to join us on our trip, so now we've got to coordinate food likes/dislikes and preferred dining times (we like late, they like early). But it should be fun. They probably think I'm obsessive when it comes to research on restaurants, but as I told them, it's not as always as easy as one thinks to just find a "little place in Paris" and have a great meal. Especially when one might be jet lagged/tired/hungry/cranky. We'll be staying in the 7eme, and with all fo the great eGullet recommendations, we could easily eat in the 'hood all 4 nights and be quite happy.

Bux, you're making me smile. I live with someone very dear who sometimesorders poorly because he just can't help himself. (That's one reason we end up walking everywhere when we travel -- to work off our excesses! ) My sweetie has learned over the years not to order each course based simply on what sounds delicious, but to also take into account how it works as a whole, but it's harder to resist the urge when everything sounds so wonderful. You're kidding, you mean you can't average calories and consumption for the table as a whole?

Problem is, I always think I am pacing myself only to find out later I was wrong.....That being said, I already know we'll forego dinner the day we have a late lunch at Violon d'Ingres and maybe just have a late evening glass of wine and snack or an omelette.

Bux, thanks for your thoughtful reply. Yes, I find the same dilemma when planning meals on a short trip. So thanks to Louisa for clarifying about Astrance. Our task is made more daunting by the weekend line-up of Fri/Sat/Sun. I need a spreadsheet to keep track of which places are open when. And inevitably I run into the problem of being a rather small person with interest in food and wine that far outmeasures by ability to eat and drink :~). Plus, I like to balance heavier, richer meals with lighter fare, if possible. Can anyone recommend a place to get really good roast chicken and frites (along the lines of L'Ami Louis with a lighter tab)?

Bux -- Were those lunch or dinner prices at Aux Lyonnais and Fish? I'd love to try Aux Lyonnais, based on a review of the restaurant on Chocolate and Zucchini . We're planning a trip to Paris for a long weekend in February and are trying to line up our lunches/dinners. I'm afraid it's probably too alte to get a table at Astrance, but I've booked a late Saturday lunch at Violon d'Ingres and am looking at Petite Pointoise, Au Bon Acceuil, Close des Gorumets, Aux Lyonnais as other possibilities. Can't wait!

I recently opened a magazine (can't remember which one) and saw a great photo of the Coney Island Hot Dogs neon sign and it brought back memories. Wonder Bar -- yes! great cheap student food, along with Libby's, Emilia's, Angela's, THe Boynton and Chopsticks. There also used to be a great cheapo Italian place on Grafton Street, not too far from the rotary, but I can't remember the name. It was in a barn-like building and there was a penny candy store attached. When my first husband was a medical student at UMass, my parents used to drive out to Worcester once a month and take us out to dinner. We'd check out lots of different places. But that was a *long* time ago and I'm sure many of them aren't around anymore. When we left the area, there was just starting to be a increase in the number of Southeast Asian restaurants, along with some better established Thai places. essvee, we've been to Circa a few times and enjoyed it. Hope they're doing well -- it hasn't looked busy the last few times we've passed by. Last weekend we noticed their seasonal liquor sign -- they're BYO now until April 1 -- and made a mental note to go there again soon.

It's been a long time since I lived in the Worcester area (my first house was on Lake St. in Shrewsbury, very close to rte 140), but even back then Worcester had lots of good dining options, especially if you like ethnic cuisine. Shrewsbury Street in Worcester (off of rte 9, just past the Medical Center) has some old time red-gravy Italian restaurants and diners, a popular Indian restaurant, and a steak and chop place, 111 Chop House. The Chop House has a sister restaurant that specializes in seafood and is really good. Click Here. Worcester has well established Lebanese and Syrian communities and there used to be some excellent options for Middle Eastern food, including a great market, Ed Hyder's. I used to shop there all the time. It's mentioned here , along with some other suggestions for specialty stores. Finally, the Wednesday Food section of the Telegram & Gazette probably has restaurant reviews, as would the Worcester Advocate, a weekly paper. Enjoy your new home. I think the towns around Worcester County are just beautiful.

The butter poached lobster was phenomenal. We had seven lobsters, and I prepared three that way and we shared the other four steamed -- everyone was in agreement that we wish we'd had more of the butter-poached. It was sweet and very tender. I had a bit of a problem, though, with a slight allergic reaction while shelling the lobsters (I had a really severe reaction to shrimp last month) so I only ate a small portion of the lobster. At that point I was drinking J. Schram 1990 sparkling wine and it was a pretty good match.

Brad, LOL! Let's hope it's really good freakin' lobster, considering the Fedex charges to have it shipped down to western Mass......But it's partly a sentimental thing -- our friends spend a couple of weeks every summer in Old Orchard, ME and they want to get the lobsters from their "local" place, Bailey's.

Thanks for all of the suggestions! Looks like we might be able to try several options from our own cellar. No white bordeaux, but we do have a bottle of St Supery Meritage, which may fit the bill. I tend to agree about buttery with a big, new world Chardonnay, but having had butter poached lobster before I found it not so much buttery (as, for example, steamed lobster dipped in melted butter) as sweet. winebill -- I love spatlese, especially the Selbach Oster and Kerpen. We'll probably open a bottle to go with some of the appetizers, and a Sauvignon Blanc for the salad course, and naturally we'll be opening some Champagne as well so most bases will be covered.

We're getting together with two other couples for our third annual New Year's Eve dinner and this year we're ordering lobsters in from Maine. I'd like to try preparing butter poached lobster, though one or two sticklers may insist on having theirs steamed with drawn butter on the side. What would be a good wine match? I usually opt for Muscadet or Chablis with lobster, but I know many folks like a big buttery chardonnay, and I'd like to try one. Any suggestions for a chardonnay that's buttery but without tropical or caramely flavors? Alternatively, would a Meursault work?

Jeez, this is double-weird. I made Bolognese last night and hadn't even read this thread. I prefer beef and veal, but beef and pork will do in a pinch. If I have lots of time I cook the sauce slowly and let all of each liquid cook out before adding the next. I like bay leaf and a bit of tomato paste. I use a potato masher to get the right texture. Definitely cream, added a little bit at a time to get the consistency and flavor I want. Fresh grated nutmeg and black pepper right before serving. I also like to add some frozen peas at the end because it reminds me of a favorite dish at a local restaueant, Rigatoni alla Nonna.

Le Grnad Colbert looked wonderful -- do you know anyone who has eaten there. The setting and the description of the roast chicken is enough to make me put it on the list for my next visit. Loved the movie, though it was a good 20-30 mintues too long. In the scene on the bridge, is that Hotel de Ville in the background? (edited after googling "le grand colbert")

One of my closest friends, a middle eastern food afficionado, loves Al Ajami, a Lebanese restaurant on Francois 1er in the 8th. We've never managed to get there but it's on our wish list as an antidote to rich meals.

In my (somehwat limited) experience with hotel rooms in France, a large double bed is roughly equivalent to what we call king size in the States. Sometimes the arrangement is two twin beds pushed together, with one headboard, and it is actually much more comfortable than it sounds. We've found this to be the case in London, also.