Lesley C

Le Club Chasse et Peche is great. La Chronique is also an experience.

I can't believe I'm going to say this but you could check out Wunderbar at the W Hotel. It's just such a scene that I'm not sure you'll even notice your drink. BTW, dress up. Less of a scene but still buzzing is a bar called Baldwin Barmacie at 115 Laurier Ave. W. It's also right next to some of the best restaurants in the city like Raza, Bazaar Anise and La Chronique.

I rarely dine out on Wednesday.

You know what's great? It's great when I go to a restaurant, nobody knows who I am, I have a great meal and the restaurant gets a good review. Happened to me at O Chalet back when Alexandre Gosselin was the chef. You know what's not so great? When I go to a restaurant, they know full well who I am, and there are huge problems with the food and service. Happened to me at Au Pied de Cochon. Go figure.

Hee hee...good one

They should hold a benefit for the Chilean sea bass.

Despite the fussy eating habits, Paltrow is on record saying how much she loves to cook. I think I remember her saying on one of those early Actor'sStudio shows that if she hadn't been an actress, her interest was cooking. C'mon, it will be great! Paltrow will do great voice overs, and here's hoping at the end of it all that Mario will get her eating the jamon.

Hmm...I wonder if he'd cough up the money if I sent him a picture of myself. I mean, talk about an easy way of making a few bucks...

Hovey Manor in North Hatley

I'm shocked to hear the service at Toque! wasn't good. Shocked. Joe Beef is another excellent option.

Laloux

Probably the best time of year to dine there. Don't miss it.

Oh, well then it could take a while. But seriously, I'm aiming for September. Start small, see where -- or if -- it goes.

I'm all for this casual trend. But with this closing, I got that the impression that it was for good, but in reality she was planning to re-open. Why the secrecy? Maybe it's just me, but I feel this switch could have been handled more openly. Anyway, who cares. I'm honestly thrilled to see the talented Mme. Bassoul back in business. And her menu looks delicious. I can harldy wait to try it out.

Yes, indeed. But these things don't just happen overnight. Or do they?

I've bought them a few times at Marche 5 Saisons on Bernard Ave. in Outremont. Call before going because they aren't always there.

Yeah and nobody does it better than Le Latini.

Wow, what a story! But I can assure you Mme. Morali offered us incredibly friendly service. I would never had said so if she hadn't. Yet I have to say that most of the time I really do get excellent service when I go out to review. I think it's because I talk to the waiters and really try to be friendly. I think Mme. Morali is just great, and as far as I know I don't think she recognized me. If so, so be it. But she's very nice. I can't say the food is fantastic, but there's something about that place that I just like. As for Au Tournant de la Riviere, I reviewed the restaurant years ago and would never go back. My food was just OK and the waitress was odd and not very friendly at all. I actually hated the place. Like bad country contemporary. Yuck. And yes, you're right. Montreal doesn't have a lot of new restos this year. But I also think it's important to keep the old places in the loop (and I last reviewed Guy and Dod six years ago, which is twice as long as my three year rule). I now have to alternate new places with old, so next week's will be new. Well... sort of...

I don't know. I see it more as an "au revoir" than an "adieux"

Well, she's a coy one that Ms. Bassoul. I remember asking her if she was going to open a bistro months ago, an she flat out said "no". I find it interesting that she closed her restaurant without saying anything about re-opening, all the while keeping staff on a retainer and such, with much of the press (save for yours truly because I knew she had something up her sleeve) boo-hooing around her. I certainly like her food, but in this case, I really don't get her approach. What did she write on her web site when she closed in March? Something about having had enough? Odd.

And, boy, that's a face you won't forget!

I would highly recommend Linda Amendt's Blue Ribbon Preserves (HP Trade, 2001). You can start out by checking out her website at www.blueribbonpreserves.com.

Oh yeah, it's a factory chicken. Trust me, I'm not happy to endorse a factory chicken. All I'm saying is that it was pretty good. AND it's the only chicken that REALLY tastes great when I roast it on my turnspit.

I wrote a story last year about chicken, and I roasted most every bird available on the market (I didn't get hold of a La Crepuscule chicken that wasn't frozen, so that's a regret). I hate to tell you this, but the chicken that won for flavour and texture was the Exceldor (sp?) bird, which costs what? $15? The O'Grain bird was also excellent. But the Charlevoix chicken did not justify its high price, IMO.

Despite the lengthy attempts by Buford to describe Ramsay's style, I still have no idea what he has to offer that's not being done right now but thousands of chefs around the planet. What is the Ramsay style? Haven't got a clue -- and I have four of his cookbooks. That, I think, is his real undoing. The only thing I really know about this chef is that he has a vile temper. His food hasn't really had any kind of an impact, has it? And by what I read in that article, it sounds like he's struggling with his style as well. That's why the tourists --and not the foodies -- flock to his restaurant.