David Bizer

Does anyone have any experience with reasonable hotels and good eating around Mont St. Michel? Also, if one was considering a weekend trip, what else would you want to see in the area? Anyone ever been to St. Malo? Thanks for any tips.

In the "Pages Jaunes" (French Online Yellow Pages) www.pagesjaunes.fr, Astrance does not have a fax number. Usually, this service is quite accurate. The phone number listed is +33 1 40 50 84 40. I don't think they open again until Tuesday, August 27. David

I went to Violin d'Ingres about two years ago. I was not impressed, but to be fair, my expectations may have been too high. I can't remember at the time if they actually had two stars or one. I thought the food and the service were only average, and there are much better choices in Paris. That having been said, maybe things have changed. They do get quite good reviews in several publications. I've preferred the one stars like Astrance and L'Angle du Faubourg (does it have the star yet? it will.) I don't have much info on Sancerre. I've seen it written up, but have yet to give it a try. Perhaps I should just pop on over one night. It's only right around the corner. David

Hi all... As a four year resident of the 7th, I felt the need to chime in here. I live on Rue de la Comete, which is between Rue de Grenelle and Rue Ste. Dominique. The Metro is Latour Maubourg, which is line 8 between Invalides and Ecole Militaire. During my first two years in Paris I made it my mission to try new restaurants without exception. However, after two years of continuous research and trekking all over Paris, I decided it was time to get to know the quartier. I have no regrets. I love the 7th, and particularly my neighborhood. With regards to a few of the previous posts; Rue Cler is no more expensive or less expensive than the majority of market streets in Paris. Believe me, I've been checking. There are times when the best deals can be found on Rue Cler, especially towards the end of the day when they start unloading the berries. Marie-Antin (sp?) is expenisve, but the fromagerie on Rue Cler with the blue awning is reasonable, and the selection is vast. They have a fantastic "chevre aux herbes" which happens to be one of the best omlette ingredients I've tried. New this year to Rue Cler, we have Lenotre (yes, they are expensive, but you are paying for the name and the quality), Oliviers & Co (chain store), and an Italian Charcuterie. People seem to only mention Poujaran, but G. Robineau & Fils on the corner of Cler & Grenelle is excellent, as evidenced by the enormous weekend lines out the door. The "retro" baguette is fantastic, and for one of the best cheese breads, try the "fougasse au fromage". As for restaurants, there are many outstanding places to choose from: I tend to prefer small, quaint bistros. La Brunie, rue Surcouf - quite possibly the best "moeullux au chocolat" in Paris. Friendly service too. Le Florimond - Av. de la Motte Piquet L'Affriole - rue Malar Le Clos des Gourmets - av. Rapp Table d'Hote - rue Ste. Dominque - this is a very small place run by the same people who own La Fontaine de Mars. the interesting part is how there is one long table, where everyone sits next to each other. if you want to meet locals and practice your french while enjoying well-prepared simple cuisine, this is it....menu changes daily. For lighter meals, I would suggest: Cafe du Marche - already mentioned previously Le Comptior du 7eme - av. de la Motte Picquet This is place is fun. They have very reasonable prices, and an almost entirely French clientele. You won't feel like you are surrounded by tourists here at all. They have a great terrace. The menu looks extremely simple; poulet roti, confit de canard, tartare, etc...they also have fantastic salads which are a meal in themselves. Try the "Brick", which is their famous salad topped with two chunks of "chevre" wrapped in pastry. Cafe de la tour Maubourg - Blvd. de la Tour Maubourg Nothing exceptional, EXCEPT for the "Croque aux Trois Fromages". Most people try a "croque monsieur" while in Paris. Skip that and have this, you won't be dissapointed. Finally, if you want Italian...something for a change, or if you happen to live here and don't eat French every night... Il Duomo - Blvd. de Latour Maubourg Local place serving nice and fresh italian fare. The penne with four cheeses is excellent. I think I could keep going on about the quartier, but I'll leave it at that for now. Feel free to drop me a line if you want more info. David

Quick note on L'Ardoise...while the food is excellent, it has become a haven for American Tourists. It's pretty much been listed in every major tourist guide as well as the recent issues of Bon Appetit and Gourmet (at least one of them as I recall). If you don't mind the tourist house, the cuisine is well worth it. They usually have scallops on the menu which are consistently good. If you happen to see a Pumpkin Soup, (Potiron), you have to try it. I was in heaven..ok, I love pumpkin, but the presentation was excellent. The other thing you must keep in mind....when you make a reservation, ask to be seated on the main floor. The basement is really boring, and in the summer you will feel like you are dining in an inferno.

While everyone is talking about suffering with Falafel...let me suggest something I think is a great way to spend a Sunday afternoon. L'As du Falafel on rue de Rosiers in the Marais serves up what's probably some of the most famous and tasty Falafel outside the Middle East. You will see about a dozen other places in the area to get Falafel, but you will notice none of them has a crowd waiting outside. If you don't feel like waiting and having the waiter take your order, while you are standing outside, just order to go. Order the "speciale" if you want hummus and eggplant, and make sure to tell the guy "piquante" at the window if you like it hot. Then grab a fork, and walk around the corner to a little courtyard where you can peacefully munch your falafel. After that, explore the Jewish neighborhood, with it's delectable bakeries, selling all sorts of little treats, and some of the only half-way decent bagels in Paris. Then, head over to rue Francs - Bourgeois (i think that's it) where the shops are actually open on Sunday, and the mood is quite festive. Finish it off with a stroll around the Place de Vosges, visiting some art galleries, or if you are lucky, relaxing in the park on a beautiful sunny day. I realize most people on this board are collecting data for their trips to Paris and don't care for much outside authentic French, but for the few who might live here, or yearn for something a bit different, it's a great choice. Besides, can you really eat French every day, twice a day for a week? Well, I guess if you don't live here, you have to take as much as you can! So, is Falafel all that bad after all? :D Enjoy!

I just returned from the Paris Fermier show at Espace Champeret. While it wasn't as large as last year, there are still quite a few good finds. Also, going today instead of on the weekend was a good call. If you can manage to go on Monday, you might be able to avoid the monstrous crowds over the weekend. A couple of things to look out for... Blueberries--a stand with everything blueberry, confiture, liquers and even mustard. Almonds--from Rousillion..garlic, spicy, salted or plain...worth picking up a jar or two Garlic--really great looking rose garlic..the woman told me it would last until next July Soup--there is one stand selling three soups in big jars...i immediatley purchased the potimarron (kind of pumpkin) because i love it....but she offered me a taste and a discount on another, so i tried the pistou--close to minestrone, but she claimed it's much better...which it was, so i picked up one of those as well.. There is so much more...lots of rillettes, terrines, foie gras, sausage with chevre, wine, champagne, etc. In any case, a good show to check out and everyone is really friendly, and there are plenty of samples. One other thing I found which might interest some of you...a new magazine...in French...they just published the first edition..."La Revue des Gourmands". I skimmed thru on the metro ride home and it looks great, even if you are not fluent, there are lots of great tips covering all of France. Bonne Foire!

Thanks for the speedy responses. With your help, I've got a decent schedule mapped out. If there were one or two vineyards you would visit in the St. Emilion area, which would you choose, and how do you go about arranging a visit? I'm under the impression drop-ins aren't so common in France. Also, Bux...thanks for pointing out my typo...I even previewed my post before sending. Must be some kind of Freudian premonition....

Greetings, I just joined eGullet today after reading most of the posts over the past couple of weeks. I've been looking for a forum like this for quite a while. Now I found it. I hope I can contribute from time to time, as I've been living in Paris now for 3 years and have no intentions on living....mostly for the cuisine! My question is...can anyone suggest some great restaurants in Bordeaux. I'm looking for one of the best, and then a couple of other less expensive (read-not three star) bistros. I'm staying in St. Emilion and have time for three lunches and two dinners. Any suggestions are truly appreciated. Thanks!