PaulaJK

Oh, Vengoff....You'll have so-o-o many more stories to tell before it ends!!!/g --Where do you find these people?? Everywhere! We used a CKD who had marvelous pre-sale delivery. Promise her anything but give her ___________! --One of the promises was that the KD firm had their own contracter who was dedicated to your job/ stayed right through. Right! except for the days he didn't appear because he was finishing other jobs. These days were not predictable based on what he said the evening before. --Our pompous CKR mis-measured & mis-designed one area of the kitchen. Similar to your sotry, he lengthened a counter and ordered extra cabinets. While we were able to cancel/change the order, we also had to change the configuration and give up space and a lazy susan in the process! --Our CKD recommended a marble floor, so durable it hadh had years of waer in a local church with no problems! We have had soiling from the get go and have had to have it refinished 3 times in 3 yrs. --The crackerjack tech our CKD offered to fix all the dents the installer made in the rather expensive Seimatic cabinets turned out to be totally incompetent. He used the WRONG color to fix the flaws and although this was admitted to, we fought months over getting it corrected. --The minute the cabinet doors were on, the contracter's men gouged them while moving a ladder. I could go on, but I think I'll stop here lest I become flooded with too, too many unhappy memories> Oh, did I mention, that in my new kitchen "with far more space" I couldn't fit back in my original items? --Our contractor,also, used our side yard as 'the dumpster'. Why was I worried, he queried. His team was so lazy that they threw their lunch pizza boxes & soda cans out the door also.

Need a pleasant restaurant...quiet enough to chat w. another couple...located between these two towns. We know Verve in the somerville area..Any other recommdations....

Well,BigBoy, I guess that I need to rephrase my question! "Could anyone who has dined at this restaurant, please offer their opinion on its food and service. " I seem to be confusing Faucher and Faugeron. The restaurant I was in reminded me of Danish modern in its decor. Chef was middle aged. Reputation seemed to outscore the food. I thought that this was Faucher and have made a reservation at Faugeron....but would hate to do a repeat visit.

Has anyone dined in this Paris restaurant?

We had a fabulous dinner at this local French inspired restaurant in Maplewood. There are several new and interesting fish dishes [skate over chive mashed potatoes & wild king salmon w. melted leeks & lobster sauce. e.g.] along w. the tried & true items. We had two new appetizers [new to us, anyway]; - chilled Cavaillon melon soup w. Sauterne foam Crisp & soft w. a melt in your mouth experience -Warm Peekytoe Crabmeat w. salsify batons, herbs and truffle slivers sat in a pool of divine sorrel sauce. If you dine here, try them.

I recently read a recipe for wasabi foam in R. Tramonto's 'Amuse-Bouche' CB . Does anyone have experience making or eating this?

Summer brings some flexibility & availability in schedules..so I often meet w. friends for a treat lunch. Today it was Martini's in Millburn. This restaurant is often described as NY chic but I found it to be cold/sterile. We were led to our table by an indifferent young man.who just plopped the menus on the table as he walked away. The table was crooked and abutting the wall in a way that didn't allow seating until we moved it a bout. There is a bar.... altho the lack of a list of wines by the glass made choosing cumbersome..especially when the waiter didn't attempt to name them. A small bread basket arrived;it contained 2 HALF rolls! ...a first in my experience. The selections included individual pizzas, sandwiches, more formal entrees, several salads & appetizers. It is possible that the lunch and dinner menus are the same. We shared a bowl of mussels in a saffron & tomato laced broth ---good. My hanger steak sandwich ($9) contained little steak; the blue cheese & onions overwhelmed it. I left most of it. My friend selected the vegetable salad which she only picked through. The veggies were marinated and, somehow, the salad itself seemed warm, although it wasn't wilted. Service matched the seating scenario. We won't be returning.

Bux, Chef Gagnaire was present, including visiting the diningroom. I believe Madame was also present but I am less than 100% on this one. It was alarmingly poor service, including pouring of the wine. While not excusing it, I had the impression that they were busy bringing so many plates for each course. It probably is the only time that I have had truly wretched service at a multi starred restaurant.

I found the service at Savoy to be perfect...... and the cusine very interesting. We were under- whelmed [sorry] at Gagnaire's and had horrid service...perhaps an off night but it was valentine's Day and one would have thought.........

I once took a cooking class w. Nick Malgieri whom, if memory correctly serves, chatted about his early experience w. making macarons. His chef kept the egg white in the open and they had to strain out the flies [!!] before using them in the recipe. Interesting to think that this was 'technique' vs. frightening sanitation.

Thank you for your replies. I,also, have learned that Maxence has closed; Bux you hit it! We are doing Goumard on Sunday and then Faugeron [comments anyone??] and Le Grand Vefour. Any ideas for interesting lunches but such that they won't spoil the dinners?

Has anyone dined at Maxence? Le Cinz?

Zappia's is casual italian w. sausage/peppers & sub type food. Kings you may recognize from their deli suggestions. Just conceptually, they are miles apart from Tim S. & Stage Left.

Will have 5 nights [conference] at Hilton, Walt Disney world Resort. Will have car transport but hope not to drive long distances every night. Read note below re; Jiko. Does anyone have any other suggestions? Have you tried Chez Vincent? Chez Daniel? Victoria & Alberts? Wouldn't mind a night that included music, preferably latin. We're cutting across generations w. 2 young adults in their 20's and the older set. Thanks

Do you pipe the mousse into the prunes and then soak them in armagnac or you first soak the prunes and then pipe in the mousse? If you're in NJ, several stores carry D'Artagnan products, including Kings supermarkets.

Scott, If you have returned from France, would you share your dining experiences with us? How was Le Cinq?.... Lucas Carton?

Steve and others....Thank you for your comments on Chez George which rekindled in me such wonderful memories from when I had taken my mother to Paris for her 80th birthday. A little younger then myself, I probably did not quite appreciate what an energy challenge this trip was for her. Nonetheless, she loved it all..... especially a cozy meal we enjoyed at Chez George. Not only was the food delicious and the staff was generous and gracious, but nearby tables of French diners must have sensed my mother's pleasure because they sent warm smiles our way.

We will have 3 nights in Paris in September, one of them a Sunday. Looking for suggestions for 3 dinners, 1 lunch. Have done several of the major restaurants and a few newer spots such as Astrance, Angle de Faubourg. We're looking for one special destination.. ? Le Grand Vefour, Le Cinq, ?Ducaisse. Suggestions please.

Jacques Torres, in his book Dessert Circus, sprays it with butter and bakes it in round shapes. He then uses these disks as layers in a napoleon [custard filling, fruits on plate]. I haven't tried it but the accompnaying photo looks delicious.

SHMall is bereft of pleasurable dining spots. Most favored for sitdowns w. the possibility of a alcoholic beverage is Joe's or Papparazzi. Both usually entail a wait and are noisy with marginal service. In my experience, Joe's is more like a greasy spoon-joint with burger & fries items predominating. Sometimes a simple turkey sandwich at Nordstrom's is preferable although none of the major department stores have an upscale dining venue. Remember the 'olde' Lord & Taylor lunchrooms? Nordstrom in Paramus has a nice---but crowded--pub lunch venue.

Boris, I spent 9 days in Reims last June and visited several of these spots although I have them slightly blurred I fear. Anyway, L"Apostrophe is a fine cafe for a bite late in the evening but I would pass on it for your dinner. I found little else of interest in that area [which is a walking street]. Especially poor was the hotel on the corner of that block/ name escapes me. If Le Vigneron is the restaurant with the mini wine museum, I very much enjoyed my meal there. Slightly more upscale in ambience and cuisine is Le Vigneraie, on a side street off of the pedestrian square above. If you can't find this one in your guide, I'll attempt to find my notes. Any plans for your Boyer dinner?

I am relieved and encouraged by your reports. I am always rather suspect when people report such animosity ["spat upon" e.g.] ...but.....felt perhaps I should enquire. Although we may be 'laying low' until our world calms a bit, we look forward to returning to Europe.

I live in the metropolitan NYC area where some have expressed strident views in response to the French government's statements on the war. While many wish to pour wine, avoid eateries,etc we are not among them. Nor had we ruled out future trips to France. However, today I received a call from a friend who had heard stories of Americans being spat upon in Paris. Has anyone heard similar stories....or more importantly, does anyone have feedback on whether American tourists in France are being treated any differently [this question assumes that the tourist is not provoking it]

I've 'almost' tried this restaurant on several occasions and now will certainly make it a destination. Thanks for the report,Gavin. I am familiar with watercress soup...but what is watercress cream?

The Hilton Hotel in Short Hills has a lovely brunch.