ulterior epicure

Looking for a good to great Sunday brunch in St. Louis. I see from above that snekse recommends Nadoz Cafe. Any others?

It's funny/sad that they're keeping the space for private parties, and now is about the worst imaginable market for such events. Let's hope Trabocchi finds another gig in town. ← Oh, why didn't someone say something earlier? Just turn it into a momofuku vincisgrassis bar then.

Let me add that one does not have a petits fours trolley to be stingy. Or, at least that should be the theory. Any restaurant considering and willing to bring out a petits fours trolley, in my opinion, should be prepared to offer and dispense as many as the guest may like. And, a voluntary show of generosity is always appreciated. For instance, at le Cinq in Paris, we were quite full and rather modest in our petits fours selections. After our little dishes of sweets were presented, our server went through the trolley and boxed up a nice selection for each of us to take home without asking. Now, that's a rare occurrence (one that my not even happen regularly at le Cinq), but that's the kind of service I expect at a restaurant of that level. Edited to add: Corrected for grammar.

The magic number *should be* as many as, and whatever, you like.

I can't imagine Trabocchi would stick around to do private parties. Or, would he? Either way, I'm sure I'll never find out what that would mean. ← Trabocchi won't be sticking around. From Bruni's blog post: ← Thanks AEK, I'll just hope that he resurfaces somewhere I can visit.

I'm sure you've all visited the website by now. For those who haven't, here is what is posted: I can't imagine Trabocchi would stick around to do private parties. Or, would he? Either way, I'm sure I'll never find out what that would mean.

Wow.

Actually, the free certificates from LEY are good for their high-end restaurants (Everest, L2O, TRU, Joe's), but only on Sundays, Mondays, and Tuesdays. ← Have they gotten around to refurbishing the space yet? The last time I was there (summer of '05), the leopard-print carpet was burning a hole in my eyes. My meal was quite good. Service was notably good as well.

If you add the two outside number together, you get a string that resembles Lucifer's number?

The wide and execrable choice was probably down to the usage of the mass central suppliers such as 3663 ? ← God, 3663. I was on the wrong end of their tinned carrots at secondary school. Edit: And everything thing else for that matter, fortunately the cooks were pretty good. ← Carrots? Tinned? Oh, you poor British souls.

Wow, I'm exhausted just reading your description. Opa!

What is that wrapped around the outside of the foie gras au torchon? Is that just fat speckled with pepper?

FWIW, I think value increases significantly the further you get away from the metropolises (i.e. London and Paris). The three-stars outside of those urban rings are much more affordable.

If I'm not eating my heart out from Kansas City, I don't know what I'm doing. There's lievre a la royale on the (tasting) menu at Everest. For the love of game and blood, someone please go and have it and report back!

Your are the third one on this thread to comment on a less than impressive experience at Hibiscus...a pattern? ← I noticed that. It was, by far, the least pleasant dining experience I had on my entire 14-day trip. Not all of the unpleasantries, however, were due to the food. In fact, some of the food was quite good. I'll elaborate further on the appropriate thread.

So, when does the proverbial shoe drop?

You keep calling it that. Is that what THEY called it too?

I would have to note that the frosty service we received at The Fat Duck in 2008 left a worst taste in my mouth than the boring food at RGR at RHR, which didn't leave a bad taste at all (it left no taste).

It was my least memorable three-star (food) experience out of 10 in 2008. (The others being Jean Georges, per se, Le Bernardin, The Fat Duck, Guy Savoy, l'Ambroisie, l'Arpege, Paul Bocuse, and Ledoyen.)

I can't presume to know much, if anything, about the London dining scene. But, based on my recent visits, I'd say: RGR at RHR deserves a demotion, though it probably will not get one. Hibiscus will probably get a second star, from all of the momentum and speed it's been gathering in the press and among fans. But, I for one, had a less than stellar experience, which, I'll admit, was probably an exception. I'll echo Food Snob upthread and throw out l'Ambassade de l'Ile for star contention.

Andy Hayler (Michelin-bagger extraordinaire) has a useful analogy - that Michelin stars are "sticky". Very difficult to get, and almost as difficult to lose. RHR has been running at 2* level MAX for a number of years now as far as I can tell, but the outcry and controversy involved in stripping them away has meant they've long outstayed their welcome. Same can be said of the Waterside Inn apparently, though I've never been myself. ← Exactly. There are quite a few restaurants "stuck" at the 3-star level, I'm afraid.

I went. I ate. I wrote. You can read the full post at the ulterior epicure. Here's an excerpt: By the way, I didn't have any sea urchin, and don't recall seeing any on the menu.

Oh, goodie, we can compare notes. Here's the end, and a nice summary of my experience and take-away:

Last June, per the Times. ← Thanks.

When did Chef Puglin arrive at Veritas from l'AdJR?