ulterior epicure

Just got back from Strasbourg and thanks to all of you for your advice. I will be posting about my various restaurant experiences - which ranged from astronomically stellar to disastrous... But, first - I want to send a culinary question shout-out to all you Alsacians out there... It's about these delightful little chocolate-dipped puffs called tetes des negres... They're meringue (or whipped cream?) balls dipped in chocolate... I've posted my inquiry here. U.E.

hi all. i just had a wonderful time in strasbourg, france. it was within the stalls of this alsacian city's Christmas markets that i discovered a delightful treat that the locals call tetes des negres (for those who are not Francophones, literally - "heads of blacks"). they're basically a soft meringue ball dipped in chocolate. the meringues were incredibly creamy and i was suspicious that there was some mistake in translation... as the fillings tasted like pure sweet whipped cream. one vendor confirmed that it did contain a bit a cream (a teenage girl), while two (much older women) vendors and two (old women) patrons insisted that the filling was only whipped egg whites and sugar. despite its politically sensitive nomenclature, i want to know how theses treats are made. can anyone fill me in? are they indeed meringues? do they contain cream? do i bake them first? ???? would love to hear from you alsacian-savvy egulleters! thanks! the ulterior epicure. p.s. there's a little more detail about my inquiry posted on my blog.

Update - I had my second significant white truffle experience today. You all are definitely right on the aroma-no taste factor. In my opinion; the aroma is better than the taste!!

... I have... here are my 2 cents: Bon Lloc - stellar (with the astronomical pricetag). I don,t know why it only has one star. Alas, Chef Dahlgren told me on my visit in Sept. that he is closing his doors soon to re-open a totally different restaurant... I say GO NOW! Fredsgatan 12 - disappointed and not reasonably priced for what you get. It,s all about the scene. On the lower end of things - excellent restaurant is the Backfickan (literally "back pocket") which is the bar-like restaurant attached to the Opera. more later... U.E.

Thanks for all the replys... alas, I have decided to cancel my German aspirations due to the fact that I got a reservation at my top choice.... in France... so I suppose, I will have a bit longer to really study well the German culinary-scape before I return. Thanks again everyone for your input! U.E.

Culinista I have to agree with Bux - thanks for the excellent posting. Re: the quoted text, I must say that I am extremely frugal and usually rather risk-averse... but not with dining. While Le Cinq did leave me "bleeding," I moved on.... since then, I have had several near-perfect meals at three starred restarants. I approach each one as you and Bux have put it - a learning experience... and I find that my rather indulgent frequency is affording me a surprisingly steep learning curve. I look back on my experience at Le Cinq now even more confident that my disappointment is justified. I faulted myself for perhaps not being able to appreciate some uknown factor due to ignorance... but after "eating-around," I have discovered that my natural instincts at the time were more telling than I had let myself believe... U.E. EDIT: P.S. All signs seem to point to Le Bristol, Le Pre Catalan, and Gagnaire the next time I visit Paris... this last time afforded only one meal, and I chose a simpler affair - L,Os a Moelle, which I found solid, but underwhelming...

thanks malacintana, now you have got me in a quandry as neither sound that appealing from your description... did you like muller better or vendome? also - have you been to either schlossberg or waldhotel sonnora?

I'm reviving this forum... it seems I have another chance at a great German restaurant experience. I toyed with the idea of re-visiting my beloved Dieter Muller's where I had a fantastic experience... but that hope was quickly dashed when I was informed that they were full. Miraculously, I've secured reservations at both Bareiss and Schwartzwaldstube... any recent input on either? malacintana/stephen w/any other eGulleters? I've also (having forgotten about this thread), posted the question here. Cheers! U.E. P.S. I leave tomorrow - but will have web access on my travels... so quick responses would be appreciated!

Since this tread is under the "France" forum, I refer you, many of whom are very familiar with the Alsace/Black Forest culinary landscape, to a new question, more adequately posted on the "Elsewhere in Europe" forum. Cheers. U.E.

...but have not been able to find any recent reviews. Would appreciate input, as I have secured reservations at both. Thanks eGulleters! Cheers. U.E.

Sigh... must you torture my car-less soul? Thanks for the notice, but I've decided not to rent a car, as it would cost more than my taxi ride out to L'Arnsbourg.... anyway, I'm leaving the area by the 04th Decembre anyway... Incidentally, I'm toying with the idea of visiting train-friendly Au Cygne. As well, I have reservations at Bareiss and am awaiting Scwartzwalstube (yeah, shot in the dark)... any advice/suggestions? U.E.

As of early last week, both partridge and pigeon were on the menu at L'Os a Moelle (not the Cave). I think it's likely to be the same, as the menu seems nearly identical to its repertoire exactly one year ago (down to the starters, and accompaniments - uncanny). U.E.

... yeah, the thing is, all my rail travel is FREE, any idea how much "un velo" for rent might run? If it's less than 50Euros/day, I might as well drive out to L'Arnsbourg! U.E.

... what do you mean "not to say impossible?" the restaurant said there was no bus, and i don't think it'd be feasible to walk 25 km in this kind of weather... u.e.

... what do you mean "not to say impossible?" the restaurant said there was no bus, and i don't think it'd be feasible to walk 25 km in this kind of weather... u.e.

... what do you mean "not to say impossible?" the restaurant said there was no bus, and i don't think it'd be feasible to walk 25 km in this kind of weather... u.e.

winemike! thanks for the advice - pont aux chats is in strasbourg? what are the prices? do they have degustations? if so, how many courses? also, do i need to reserve? as for travel - i'm considering a go at one of the two in baiersbronn, if i can get last minute reservations - any suggestions... from anyone out there on either schwartzwalstube or bareiss... keep budge friendliness into account. i would really LOVE to visit cheval blanc, but unfortuately, it's 25 kilometers from the nearest train station input on le cerf? it seems to be reachable by public transport. u.e.

PaulaJK What a pity... I'm sorry you had such a disappointing meal. U.E.

Hello yossi and co. I'm going to Strasbourg and the area surrounding it this coming week. I have reservations at Serge and Co. and L'Arnsbourg, but will probably cancel L'Arnsbourg due to travel difficulty (I'm limited to rail and foot)... I've read over your comments and suggestions. Restaurant du Faude seems to be popular, as well, Le Cerf, Auberge de Chevel Blanc, R. Bareiss, and Scwartzelstube. Any recent visits/comments/updates/advice? Thanks! U.E.

Felicitations Chef Herman! Well deserved! Just curious - is it not within Michelin's ability to give out stars to Jalhaij (yet) - he opened the restaurant a month ago... so I guess he's going to have to wait another year before hoping for the stars? Thankfully, we have you, paulbrussels, to give us an "early" report! Cheers. U.E.

My goodness - I seem to be missing out on all the fun at S&S, one of the restaurants that I wasn't able to make it to this summer. While I'm enjoying white truffle season in Europe, I'm sure I'd be paying a lot less in Chicago... Alex, do you mind if I ask how much your menu was sans wine? Ulterior Epicure.

Update - for a review of my visit to Carre de Feuillants, see my blog.

gidon. if you give me a few hours - i can transcribe the new promotions and demotions... u.e. UPDATE: as promised: Belgian Promotions Hostellerie St. Nicolas (Elverdinge) promoted from 1 to 2 stars The rest were given their first star: 't Overhamme (Aalst) Le Petit Zinc (Antwerpen) Gin-Fish (Antwerpen) Dome (Antwerpen) Aneth (Brugge) Sans Cravate (Brugge) Le Pain et le Vin (Brussel) In de Wulf (Dranouter) Apriori (Haaltert) Aan tafel bij Luc Bellings (Hasselt) Couvert Couvert (Heverlee) Helioport (Luik) Devos (Mons) La Frairie (Perwez) Belgian Demotions Down to one star: De Bellefluer (Antwerpen) De Bijgaarden (Brussel) No stars: Au Gastronome (Paliseul) L'Ecailler du Palais Royal (Brussel) Villa Lorraine (Brussel) La Truffe Noire (Brussel) Saint Guidon (Brussel) Au V. Boitsfort (Brussel) Les D. Maisons (Brussel) Michel (Brussel) Dutch Promotions Oud Sluis (Sluis) promoted from 2 to 3 stars. Ron Blaauw (Oudekerk) promoted from 1 to two stars. Earning first star: De Vrienden van Jacob (Santpoort) Au Coin des Bons Enfants (Maastricht) De Gieser Wildeman (Noordeloos) Kaatje bij de Sluis (Blokzijl) Seinpost (Scheveningen) 't Brouwerskolkje (Overveen) Tante Koosje (Loenen) Auguste (Maarssen) Valuas (Venlo) Aubergine (Tegelen) De Treeswijkhoeve (Waalre) 't Raethuys (Wateringen) Katseveer (Wilhelminadorp) Unfortunately, no information on Luxembourg Enjoy!

What?! No second star for Gaig? I'm really surprised... U.E.

Agreed! I'm posting my review of my *stellar* experience there within a day or so on my blog... be on the look-out!! Need to check that out... I find it rather ironic that on more than one occasion, Dutch people have encouraged me to eschew the top end restaurants in the Netherlands and eat in Belgium instead... well, I've had great experiences in the Netherlands and I think the fact that they now tie Belgium in the number of 3-starred establishments supports my experiences... If I'm not mistaken, Au Gastronome lost both stars?? And, I concur, am not suprised if/that it did...