loladrian

wow Ptipois, thanks for opening this up. I am new to France and loving every minute of learning about the cuisine. Aside from a quick trip to Provence, I haven't been outside of Paris to explore. What a great way to open the horizon. I would love to get my hands on some great Norman creams. Where could one find some quality Norman products here in Paris? Or must I take a field trip?

Shira, I think you just made my day! I think this is the place ... I remember the tagine agneau with almonds and prunes being especially delicious. Oooh, I hope it is as good as I remember. And to make it there soon and report back. ps. they have a website and an epicerie in front.

I have fond memories of a very delicious night at a Moroccan restaurant near the Bastille I ate at about three year ago, but I cannot find it again. I think I read about it in a Virgin guide book of all things. I just remember a very clandestine entrance (perhaps why I am having trouble finding it again). I've only had 3 other moroccan eats in Paris. Chez Omar was dissapointing, dry couscous and very little flavor. The food at 404 was more interesting and better tasting than Chez Omar, but I wouldn't go back. Better than both was the couscous I had in the Enfant Rouge market for a quarter of the price and outdoor seating in the market, but I am pretty sure they microwave the food!! I can't wait to see a great find because I am longing for it too!!

I am happy to read about and participate in a not-so-serious french wine discussion! And how timely. Last week, my friend and I made a plan to spend 30 Euros each on 6 different bottles of french wine and try one a night to see which were drinkable in that price range. We found quite a few standard and mediocre wines, but one that we particularily liked was a Bordeaux (sorry Dave, not white!) 2006 Château Genibon-Blanchereau Côtes de Bourg. At 3,60 a bottle from Monoprix, I have no complaints. Somewhat spicy and herbal, reminisent (to a very amateur taster) of a nice Rioja. Still have a few to go, and hopefully more to report. Cheers!

How funny… Last night on M6 there was a programme all about how to make a perfect steak frites and during the show Daniel Rose (from Spring) goes to what I think was a Belgium French fry shop in Paris to learn the secret of perfect French fries. I had never heard of the shop and tried Google and Pagesjaunes to no avail, I wonder if it’s this place. ← No idea. A long time ago, way upthread, we were discussing those little jutting out fast-food places in Paris that dispensed frites or crepes or now paninis. Not many left but this place is so small it has no telephone apparently. One of us will have to drift by. ← We just happend to swing by and here are my thoughts: Although I am not an expert, I do not think that they were cooked in beef fat. They needed salt, which makes me think they were not. There were fried at least twice. A big batch of par-fried potatoes, and then fried again to order. If you go, be sure to order a small, because the large was big enough for 4 people. And I agree with Daniel that it is cooler than it is good. There were only about 6 sauces in big tin sauce dispencers. The general ketsup, curry ketsup, mustard and mayo. And then some different choices including sauce americain (think all of the components of a macdo hamburger pureed into a sauce...ehh) sauce andalusian (mustard/mayo mix?) and sauce samurai which we opted not to try. They also had hamburgers, paninis, kebabs, sanwiches, waffles etc., but frites seem to be the thing to eat. The decor is great, kitchy pictures of happy old Belgian people drinking beer and a big painting of a frite claiming "ceci n'est pas une frite." The young men working there were very friendly and as we stood eating frites, they asked us to translate the reggae music they were listening to. If you are in the neighboorhood, perhaps a little beer buzzed, it's a great stop.

For an enjoyable sunday lunch or dinner, I love Le Petit Marche just off of Place Voges. It is a charming little bistro that produces simple and delicious food. Best of all, it is very affordable. Last visit, we had rabbit in the style of Provence, and a seared tuna mille-feuille. As for patisserie, I completly agree with VivreManger that Pain de Sucre is divine! Open on Sunday too, although closed Tuesday and Wednesday. G. Detou is very fun as well. But, I do think L'As du Falafel is quite good, especially for the price. Even given the slightly obnoxious experience of getting your hands on one. If you do check out Les Enfants Rouges (the market or the restaurant), head up the street to Goumanyat. You will walk into a beautiful display of knives, spices, books, wines, salts, sugars, you name it. Don't miss the bottom and top floor too! It is only open in the after-noon, so be sure to look at thier site. www.goumanyat.fr And, for the record, my meal at Au Bascou was wonderful and I am awaiting an opportunity to return. Warning: I think they are closed weekends. Goumanyat: 3, rue Charles-Francois Dupuis, 75003 Paris - 01 44 78 96 74 Le Petit Marche: 9, Rue Béarn, 75003 Paris - 01 42 72 06 67

I was very excited by the prospect of attending a dinner at Spring. I had read so much, heard so much, and I was ready to experience it. And it lived up to the expectation. Not only was the meal a treat, we ran into some exciting people too. Just as we sat down, David Lebovitz walked in and took a seat. Then moments later, Alan Richman (food writer for GQ) stolled up giving bisous to Daniel Rose. He stood in the kitchen and noted on Rose's jittery, yet talented hands and even snuck a spoonful of lemon curd when Rose wasn't looking. So just a heads up to perhaps glance at GQ (as one might not regulary...) in a few months for a review on dining chez Spring et a Paris!

Aside from Spring, which I believe you need to call about ten days in advance, I have always had luck with the day of for dinner. But just to be safe, I would call a couple of days in advance for the ones I recommeded. I know places like Le Comptoir it is next to impossible to get a reservation, but since you are staying in the area, you might just want to swing by around 7:30 and see if they might have space... you never know!

When there is so much in Paris to explore and so many wonderful restaurants, it is hard to go back to the same place twice! But there is always that desire for something you know, something comfortable. So there are a few restaurants I would return to, or have returned to. Because it's fun: Bistro Vivienne and Fish Because it's different/unique: Spring And I would like to add: Because it reminds me of home: Rose Bakery (lunch) Other than that, I am going to keep eating my way through Paris one (different) restaurant at a time.

Hotel Saint-Pierre is in a good neighboorhood and a great value. For something a little but more charming, my parents stayed at the Relais Saint Sulpice, although the rooms were not huge by any means, but a beautiful building, and you can't get a much better location. As you probably know, it is a bit difficult to find a decent size hotel room in Paris. Hotel Relais Saint Sulpice www.relais-saint-sulpice.com 3, r Garancière, 75006 Paris, France 33 (0)1 46 33 99 00 Hôtel Saint-Pierre 4, rue de l'Ecole de Médecine 75006 Paris, France 33(0)1 46 34 78 80 As for restaurant picks, BradenP gave some great suggestions. Le Pré Verre is close to where you want to stay, and is a great value for lunch and dinner. Lacking some taste in decor and location, but making up for it in the cuisine, check out Au Fils des Saison if you don't mind a cab ride or metro trip to an off-the-beaten-path kind of place. Wonderful and delicate flavors, house-made bread and ice creams, great wine list, and a choice of about 7 different origin coffees. If you are going to the Louvre, or to Galeries Lafayette/Etienne Marcel, I like Bistro Vivienne for lunch. Great roasted Chicken and a cute little place as well. We are trying Spring in a couple of weeks, which I am very excited about. Although, it is not for everyone. He is an American Chef, who does a 4-course menu with no choices. So, not good for food allergy people, or picky eaters. I have also been wanting to try Le Sensing, but have heard mixed reviews. If you don't mind a little bit of reading, it is worth your time to read some of JT's posts on restaurant reviews... Bistro Vivienne 4 rue Petits Champs 75002 Tel 01 49 27 00 50 Spring 28, rue de la Tour d'Auvergne 75009 Tel 01 45 96 05 72 Le Sensing 19, rue Bréa 75006 Tel 01.43.27.08.80 Have a wonderful trip! And report back if you find any treasures java script:emoticon(':rolleyes:')