TarteTatin

Chocolate truffles. Never understood them. Horrible texture. (Now, give me real truffles from France or Italy, that's a completely different story) Lemon/Lime Meringue Pie. Another texture problem. Whole anchovies. Yet another texture problem. (although I love anchovy sauce)

Wow! Great, great advice from all! Thank you so very much! I've got plenty to keep me busy in my researching, which I thoroughly enjoy! I'll update you all in a few months, and then again, after the trip. Thank you, thank you, thank you! EGullet rocks... And, don't worry, Dave, mums the word!

Thank you all, the Auberge is, indeed, closed when we are going. (As are most places the week between Christmas and New Year's. But that is when it is easiest for us to go, and we usually have to search harder, but eventually find open places! John, we like the lazy driving idea. But do you have any sort of route advice, or city to base? Montpellier or Cahors sounds good...Anyone have recommends there? I think Sarlat is too far north. Anything around the east coast that's also near wine routes? Gaillac sounds interesting...

30 or so years ago, Denver, Colorado. We had just moved there from New London, Connectictut. So, one end of the US to the other, as far as food is concerned. My Mom ordered Rocky Mountain Oysters. My Dad, very genteel, said, "Honey, you don't want to order those." Well, he never told us what we could or couldn't order. So she said, "that's what I want", thinking they were the Rocky Mountain version of East Coast Oysters. My Dad insisted that she not order this! The waitress looked on, amused. She said she'd be right back. My Dad then leaned over and whispered in my Mom's ear what it was. I knew, but as a teen girl, my Dad would never have said that sort of thing out loud. When the waitress came back, Mom ordered Buffalo or something.

Thanks, Dave, I'd like that. We like wine from Gaillac, and the site you sent sounds super. Is it near any other wine route, to visit as well? I couldn't find a link to the place you recommended. Any other information would be welcomed. Is it near Sarlat? Someone recommmended staying there.

I just posted in the France thread, looking for places to visit in the Languedoc/Rousillon for wine. Take a look, if you don't mind, and respond there or here! Thank you!

We are planning our yearly Christmas trip. Every year we go to a different wine region of France. Our research from the Languedoc/Rousillon area, shows that it is one of the largest wine producing areas in France. However, the literature we have received from the Tourist departments, shows no actual "Route du Vin", like other regions have. Any idea where we would find this? Any idea which city we should base ourselves in? Restaurants? Wineries to visit? (I know, I know, everything is probably closed the week between Christmas and New Year's, this happens to us every year, wherever we go.) The information we received from Carcasonne didn't seem all that interesting. We usually like to stay in a larger city in the area, and take day trips. Should I post this on the "Wine" thread instead? Also, I assume there is a difference in spelling for the Roussillon in this Southwest part of France and the Rousillon in Provence, which we've been to. Thanks for all your help.

Incredible site, Halvart! Thank you!

I know we go to the Delaware Ave. Superfresh specifically for D'artagnan products and, in season, Maine brown clams. (Big bag for something like $6). Also, their lobsters aren't a bad price. The herbs are pretty good, packaged well, even if they aren't local.

Yes, you're right, Rlibkind. Absolutely. I'm spoiled. Wegman's is good, especially in the Suburbs.

Sorry to dissapoint y'all, but we are underwhelmed by Wegman's. Went today to the Cherry Hill store. Have been twice previously to the other one in South Jersey. The only thing we remotely like is the real Rotisserie's they have there. Similar to the one's you find on the street in Paris. In Paris, the fat drips off the Rotisserie's, onto potatoes at the bottom. Delicious. Americans wouldn't go for that, the Exec told us. Nor for Rotisserie Ducks. Hmmm. No potato fat here... The Chicken we bought tonight was $4.99. Cheaper than any fast food restaurant. No added ingredients, that's good. But, no taste, either. Not local, nor free range...No taste. We added homemade Peach BBQ sauce that we had just made, which helped. Granted, for that price, we'll go back again, since we don't eat any other fast food. But nothing else there really rocks our boat! Oh, wrong...they have a good supply of Indian and other ethnic foods there. We bought some Poppodoms, some Gooseberry chutney, some Basmati rice. All stuff we get at the Indian store at 40th and Chestnut. It looks like they have a good British supply, Thai, etc. Reading Terminal is still the bees knees for us. Wegman's doesn't even have good Recycled trash bags, napkins, etc. Or, a good Olive Oil department that I used to go to Shoprite for. The same D'artagnan products I can get at Superfresh on Delaware Ave. Otherwise, Cheese, Meat, Produce, prepared foods, we'll stick with Reading Terminal.

My husband and I actually have it stated in our will; that we want our ashes strewn over a vineyard in Burgundy. I also have in our will, many close friends, who we have chosen to do it. AND, we'll pay for their trip over and a wonderful dinner in Bourgogne, to boot! (No, we already have the friends chosen. New ones do not count!)

I have a ton of local peaches that are really getting ripe. Someone suggested a peach BBQ sauce. Anyone have a recipe for that? Can I make it and freeze it? Thank you for your help!

Couldn't find in a search whether this has been talked about before... We're hoping to have a Tour De France finis soiree! Anyone have food ideas, besides the usual? Something not just French, since this year they are traveling to other countries? Merci!

We go to Cape May often for family visits. Every trip we take our big cooler. We go into the Lobster House's Take Out section. There, I ask everytime, what is local, what they just have caught. They tell me, and that's what we order. Mostly it's Flounder, Bluefish, Cape May salts, Scallops...Lobster's are dirt cheap. $7.99 a pound last time, for the 1 1/4-1 1/2 pounders. We fill up our cooler, plus they give us ice to get back to Philly, for as many meals as we can eat in a few days (asking them how long each will last in the fridge). That is our routine. We also aren't satisfied with RTM fish, and hubby likes to eat fish often. He likes the stronger tastes (I don't know if it's from living in England for 10 years?), I like Crustacheans mainly, and river trout. (Although when we were in Halifax I fell in love with Halibut or Haddock - I get mixed up)

Yes, Chapoutier! Very good tasting room! Coquilles, I received your email. I hope I have time to find my records before you leave at the end of the summer! Can you remind me (personally) next week?

Cucina Forte is outrageous! Light and fluffy with a few different sauces. Homemade. I once attended a Slow Food dinner at Cucina Forte, and Roberta from Penne attended as well. She seemed to like the food... We love her pasta at Penne too! As a matter of fact, we attended another Slow Food event at Penne not long after (or was it before). Penne is a little fancy for the original question, I think. Cucina Forte might be a better South Philly Italian place.

We stayed about 20 minutes south of Lyon in a Relais du Silence in Condrieu. Very pretty place right on the river. Tres calme. Wasn't too thrilled with the restaurant there. Not bad, I just think we'd had one too many big meals at that point....I believe the Hotel was very reasonable. Chateau Grillet, in Condrieu, you should of course, visit...When we were there they were doing some construction, so we couldn't taste the wine. Not sure if they are open to the public or not. But their Viognier is the finest wine in the world, in my opinion. And, I think its still the smallest appellation in the world? (Someone correct me if I'm wrong?) Are you planning on going south a bit to Tain L'hermitage? There's a few places there we stayed and ate that were good....Oh, you have to visit the famous Chocolate factory there, Valronah! Delicious. As a matter of fact, the Terroir there for the wine, tastes to me faintly like the Chocolate that runs through the village. The Tain L'hermitage wine co-op is an interesting place to go for multiple tasting under one roof. And there's the other famous Rhone place in Tain that has tastings. Gosh, what's the name of the place? Delicious. I'll check my notes and get back to you with names and recommendations... Gorgeous place, I'm so jealous!

Monsieur Terraill will be greatly missed. He was an elegant, fashionable and courteous gentleman of the 'Old School'. On our first visit to La Tour d'Argent over 20 years ago it was our initial experience at a true Michelin three star, despite my postition as maitre'd at the Phildelphia version of the Cafe Royal owned by Trust House Forte. Monsieur Terraill came to our table, I presented my card, and suddenly we were not just guests, but honored guests. A digestif was offered on the house, a tour of the rooftop gardens and the cave was conducted and a lovely evening became a truly memorable one. We will always remember him fondly. He was the ultimate host and made everyone feel welcome.

Just saw the new Frommers in Barnes and Noble. The recommendation for Chez Gramond is unchanged. I know that guidebooks take some time to catch up to reality, but it would appear that Frommers just doesn't take into account postings on their own message boards. In addition, a friend of a friend wandered into Chez Gramond and had an almost identical experience to the one we had in November. Our friend hadn't warned her about the place.

I once held my birthday party there, at Capogiro, on a Sunday afternoon when they first opened... It is a BYOB, so she let our party of 25 bring lots of champagne, no corkage fee. We can do that at the tasting! Count two of us in, please!

Finally. http://web.mac.com/phillycasting/iWeb/Site...e%20dinner.html

A special meal at my Aunt Una's in Ascot, England. (not my real aunt) Hubby and I were visiting, and they put together a very special Sunday lunch for the American couple. It was all family, about 15 of us, they spent days cooking at their house, just for us. Adults and kids. At the end of this multi course lunch, they served Sherry Trifle, homemade, like everything else. They also put a bottle of Sherry on the table. I proceeded to open the bottle, put my finger over the top, and sort of shake it in dribbles- over my sherry trifle. I thought this was the proper way! I mean it was Sherry Trifle, and the Sherry was put on the table! My "nieces and nephews", all 8-15 years old, just stared at me horrified. I noticed their staring, but just thought they thought it was weird to be adding alcohol, at Sunday lunch. The adults, of course, didn't blink, and didn't say a thing. Only after did I realize from my husband how funny it was! All I remember is the expression on the kids faces!

Lunch again today with clients at Amada. Great. This amazing Gazpacho/celery soup topped with saffron. Love that touch... With cheese thingies on the side. I had a Serrano Ham and Fig salad. Sam had the salad with avocado, fava's and skirt steak on top. We had a bottle of gorgeous dry white wine, Allela or similar? Saw Katie! Super time...

It was great fun! Mr. Tarte Tatin still hasn't figured out how to post Egullet pictures (even after a tutorial). So he'll probably be giving y'all a link to a web page he puts up. He insists it will be "in a couple of days." grosses bises, The indefatigable Tarte Tatin!