TarteTatin

A large group of 10 of us went Saturday night around 10 p.m. I had Bitter Chocolate, Mexican Chocolate and Banana. I know there were no sorbetto's left for our two lactose intolerant friends... Hubby had Nutella, Thai Coconut and Bitter Chocolate. He noted that they were all heavy. Then, I agreed, and so did the rest of the people. Y'know, I think I've fallen out of love! I used to be madly, unfailingly in love with not only the flavors, but the quality of Capogiro! There was nothing like her outside of Italy! But, I have to admit, my love affair is----not over, its still good, but, its different somehow. Our love has gotten----heavier! The consistency is more -----corn starchy? It's been great, and its certainly not over, but we'll stay good friends that see each other once in a while instead of obsessively!

There are two between Dijon and Beaune that we like: Chez Jeanette north of Savigny-les-beaune- somewhere, and Bar/Tabac who's name I always forget in Flagy-Echezeaux. We've been there twice, its a lot nicer and heavier than it sounds. Real old fashioned heavy French food, multi courses, but quite an experience. I think its the only restaurant in the town. There's an M.F.K. Fisher story she tells about how the waitress in an Inn in France just kept bringing courses and courses of food, "Oh, you must try this, and this, and this, the Chef just made it fresh", that this place in Flagy totally reminds me of! Just one more little mint, Monsieur!!

Standard Tap was still closed last night for renovation... (Don't remember if the week of renovation is almost up or not?) Anyway, we wanted a quick meal last night in our NoLib neighborhood. N. 3rd was absolutely PACKED, all the leftovers from Tap... Honey's (new on 4th) isn't open yet (no idea what type of food they'll have). So we went into Rustica to get take out, which is right next to Tap. First of all, that place should be in the Pizza thread. Their pizza, their pannini, especially their ricotta, fresh spinach and sausage stromboli should be mentioned... Anyway, while we were waiting for our order, there must have been 8-10 parties of couples and friends that went up to the door, read the sign, and were bummed that Tap was closed! Popular place on a Thursday night! We love it there. I think part of the charm of the place is that it is a pub with good food, and doesn't warrant having someone seat you! I actually like that about the place...

We love Zeke's! I had my adult birthday party there a year ago last November! First, we started, yes, started at Capogiro's with about 20 of our friends on a "surprise" outing! They didn't know where we were going, just "meet us on the corner of 13th and Sansom" and, "bring a bottle or two of wine or champagne"...."come hungry". Capogiro is a BYOB, believe it or not, so we had mid afternoon Sunday gelato and champagne. Then I gave them directions (without telling them the name of) - Zeke's, pre-arranged with Prentice Cole, the owner. (He used to be in the wine business, you know, sold wine for a long time)...We all met at Zeke's, I had everyone order what they wanted, it was absolutely wonderful, and tons of food! Everything from that great pulled pork to incredible ribs, great wings, mac and cheese, lots of wonderful sides...and those desserts! Gosh, I can't remember what else! He has a smoker out back... I've sent others there, but unfortunately, not everyone feels the way we do. It's in an old McDonald's building, not much atmosphere... But what a birthday party! I held a surprise party for my friends!

We had our anniversary dinner there last night. Excellent. I had, "Foie Gras Parfait Terrine, Dried Cherry Gelee, Walnut Toast, Duck sauce, and shredded pheasant rillette" to start. He had, "Sauteed Veal Sweetbreads, stacked phyllo crisps and whipped potato, parmesan, truffle-scented veal sauce". Entrees: Me: "Day Boat Scallops, Handmade Bowties and clam sauce, sweet onion, herbs, buttery chardonnay clam sauce" He" Seared Pheasant breast, potato-gruyere gratin, braised pheasant leg meat, black trumpets, rich pheasant jus". Dessert: Me: "Orange-saffron sorbet, creamy cardamom-honey panna cotta, pistachio brittle" He: "Goat cheese cake, toasted pine nut-brown surgar crust, tangy lemon curd" All super. Total $93. Of course, we brought a bottle of Castellane champagne and a Crozes Hermitage '99. Incroyable. Good grits.

Oyster Po Boy Sandwiches for lunch today. Delicious! Also loved the bread it was served on, and thought the coleslaw was delicious! As for the fries, they were great too, and I actually loved the remoulade from the sandwich on them. We ordered a side of blackened grean beans! Wow! Randy, the bartender we know from Tap and N. 3rd is there on Sunday days. He gave us a warning, saying they were really spicy... Yes, they were. But what a great idea! Sauteed and blackened spices added, served as an app or munchie with a side of that remoulade. Really good, not for the faint of stomach. $3, I think. Good bar, good pub. Not only good beer, but a nice selection of wines too. I had a Trimbach Riesling, $7. This is by far not a restaurant, just a bar with a few items on the menu, and it gets smoky at night, but we really like it.

No kidding, Shoprite Aramingo had 5-7 lb lobsters on sale last week for $6.99 a pound. (Smaller were more expensive) I couldn't buy them, even though we often buy whole lobsters. These guys and girls just looked so wise, they'd survived this long... I know, sentimentality, I know, someone will buy them, but I just couldn't.

I believe its Clos Du Val which is partnered with an Australian winery, Taltarni, in showcasing Ronald Searle's wine drawings. Really fun postcards and books about wine. Ronald Searle.

Don't forget Reading Terminal for lunch. Cheesteak and great Pork, provolone, greens sandwich, plus tons of other options... Also, Lacroix is SOOO much better than Le Bec Fin. Try Pasion! A super place for ceviche (of all sorts), not cheap either... Standard Tap for lunch, but its a good cab ride away... Fork? Pif? Philadelphia Fish and Co. has good fish, I think even fried clams? But I love Samson St. Oyster house too!

Fork now has an absolutely beautiful private dining room. It's in the back of the new store next to the restaurant. I know Fork might be above your price range, but give it a try!

"you've got Czerws Bros kielbasa makers right there on Richmond St.";

I'm sorry not to continue the string to compare the two wines... What I can say, is what helps me with these wines are to actually see the terroir. Having been to Burgundy twice, it helps to really see the vineyards, the towns, to wander the streets of the city of Beaune, to drive through Mersault, Pommard, etc. Having a bottle of Savigny Les Beaune in that town square, or Vosnee Romanee, that's what makes the wines of Burgundy even better for me, and helps me appreciate it more. Looking at the land itself and breathing the air!

OH, MY GOD! Everything everyone said and tasted and everything in the pictures; we had! It was Valentine's Brunch for us, and just like everyone said, it was great, expensive, and worth it! Lacroix was indeed, welcoming us at the door, in the kitchen, I think even his wife was there. He was smiling and it wasn't one of those fake smiles. Here's the menu (which I asked for): Please note, its only tiny tastes of everything, one bite each. My mother probably wouldn't know what to do with the spoons, or soups, in their little tiny containers. (She prefers spoonfuls and quantity-I prefer taste and quality...plus, if it weren't small bites, you would never be able to taste everything!) Raw Bar: American Caviar, Malpeque Oysters (I had 6), smoked Trout, Mackeral and Whitefish, House smoked Salmon, Salmon Tartare, Sushi Maki Rolls, Jumbo Shrimp Hors D'Oeurvres:Chilled Pineapple Soup with Star Anise (refreshing), Jambon Croissants, Quail Egg with Ratatouille, Chicken Curry Dumplings, Smoked Duck Breast with Pinenut Brittle (Great!), Pumpkin Barbajuans, Manchego Cheese and Quince Tartine (yummy), Foie Gras Pots de Creme (OH MY GOD), Smoked spanish Mackerel with Basil (good), Tuna with artichoke puree (good), Lobster Canneles wit Lemon confit (I went back three times for these!) Salads: Potatoes with black olives and lemon, beets a la greque (good), asparagus and veal tongue with truffle vinaigrette (out of season asparagus, not enough truffle flavor), and three more veggie dishes....Sweet Potato with Citrus Flavors Soup (too rich with chicken stock). In the kitchen: Beef Wellington, Lamb chops, Monkfish loin, Leg of Wild boar (all good, I had tastes of each), Quail eggs, mushrooms stuffed with duck confit (sitting under the lamp too long), Lobster Pot au creme (good), Scallop Quenelles (a real dissapointment! I love quenelles, these were so bland and tasted only of egg whites), Duck with cous cous, Braised Cabbage... (I have to admit I didn't put the descriptions with the entrees-thought you would be tired of reading this) Desserts: These aren't on the menu I took home. Anyway, memory: They had two tall fondue stations in the kitchen. One was chocolate pouring down in a fountain, the other was white chocolate with strawberry infused. To dip, there were your out of season strawberries, homemade rose marshmallows (good), dried figs, dates and apricots, and pineapple. Then they had all the delicious desserts you saw on previous emails. My favorites were this pineapple banana foam thingy, passion fruit creme caramel, griotte (cherry) and pistachio tart, cassis glace, homemade strawberry and vanilla ice creams, gosh what else??? $48 per person, a bottle of the cheapest champagne was $52, plus tip, it wasn't cheap... Overall, the food was delicious and we would go back again. The biggest food fault was lack of seasoning! Yes, the food was fresh and well thought out. But there was a definite blandness to ALL of it. No herbs, no spices, nothing spicy, no salt and pepper, really. Yes, you could taste the tuna (for example), fresh and clean, but didn't taste the artichoke puree it came with. Are people afraid of herbs and spices lately? Is Lacroix being forced to cater to the general public who are afraid of big/bold tastes?

Well, I showed himself all the emailed compliments, and thought an egullet Cassoulet party at our house would be just dandy, but....he's spent...for now! He said he'd "think about it" in the next month or so (since it really is a winter dish), or maybe next year! Meanwhile, we have a freezer full of leftovers!javascript:emoticon(':wink:') In response to a private emailed question: 13 quart, 9 quart and two smallish Le Creusets, plus two others, totaling 6 pots full. Let's do a Les Halles trip! Maybe not, the bus coming back might not be too pleasant. (27 people in our living room was pretty risky)

We just stayed in the Marais the beginning of January and had two lovely meals at neighborhood bistros: La Baracane Chez Janou Liked them both, La Baracane is southwest French, and despite a review earlier, we liked the Cassoulet... Chez Janou is more good salad, fresh fish, Provencal cuisine. Not a lot of tourists in there either. Also, there's an oyster chain that isn't bad. Les Bars au huitures . Bofinger has good food if you go off hours, sit in the non smoking beautiful room. During busy hours they are extremely snotty if you don't reserve. Don't eat at Ma Bourgogne on the Place Des Vosges, but do try a morning pastry shop around the corner from there for pain au chocolat, the best in the city! It's Levain du Marais, I believe on rue de Tournelle.

How funny! My husband made Cassoulet (again) for an "intimate" party of 27 on Saturday night. It was fantastic! 18 duck confit legs from Assouline, 10 pounds of fresh garlic sausage from Czerw's, 6 huge lamb shanks from B&L Grassland (local farmer; CSA/Winter Harvest/Bob Pierson), 3 big ham hocks from Martin's or Ochs (I get them mixed up), other bacony/fat back whatever stuff that looks like thick pancetta- from D'artagnan, Goose Fat from Rougie, GOSH I can't remember what else! Oh, the beans from Kaufman's Amish in Reading Terminal, since he didn't find the "right" beans that he liked anywhere. It was FAB. He takes his Cassoulet very seriously, researches a million recipes and puts it together in two days. You are all invited to our house next time! Anyway, sorry to go off track of the Restaurants that serve Bistro food, but...the timing was so good! Seriously, we go to France a few times a year and still have yet to find the Philadelphia perfect Bistro. Yes, Caribou, Pif, --Bleu Angel was Disneyland Bistro, Bistro St. Tropez doesn't really do it... Les Halles in NY is good bistro...There's a couple we've been to in D.C. - but I do think Philly is lacking. Gosh, a really good frisee salad with lardon and an egg...yum!

We have at least a bottle between the two of us EVERY SINGLE NIGHT. We take breaks once or twice a year for a week, to see if we have a problem. But, thankfully, I don't think wine is addictive. During those times I still come home and have my seltzer in a wine glass, just for the ceremony of it all. We don't eat junk food or fried food or processed foods, so the wine calories are our indulgence. From a financial point of view, we've found very good Marsanne's for $6 a bottle, some Cariagnne's, etc. The good wines are probably once every week or two. Sometimes, we even have a bottle at the office for lunch-- that lasts us a full week. (We work together and there's no one else in our office) We hardly drink any alcohol besides wine. Maybe a martini once every three months...a cognac/calvados/armagnac once a month... Do we drink too much? Probably in most people's eyes. But we don't drink to get drunk, we just ENJOY THE TASTE of wine! Do I feel guilty? Only when I feel others are judging me because of it. WE LOVE WINE!

Well, we made our first trip to The Smoked Joint. Even though it's a Tuesday night and she wanted to go to Vietnam Palace, I persuaded Mrs Tarte Tatin that I had a bad 'cue jones and the only cure was a trip to the Smoked Joint. After rejecting the wine list as being completely uninspired and overpriced (well, who drinks wine with barbecue anyway?), Mrs TT ordered one of their maragitas and I had a Stella.* We decided on the wings as a first course. What a revelation! These were big meaty wings covered with a dry rub that had a good peppery zing and a nice herbal undertone. We loved the fact that they were grilled and not fried. Perhaps the best either of us have ever had. The housemade blue cheese dressing and celery were a nice accompaniment but we pretty much ignored them. I hate flaccid celery sticks anyway. I had the pulled pork platter with a side of slaw and beans and two slices of toasted bread - looked like a soft brioche and tasted just as good. Loved the pulled pork as it brought back memories of Kings Barbecue on Rt. 13 between Richmond and Colonial Heights, VA back in the 1950's. It was tender, and a huge portion. I will echo other reviewers and say that it was just a touch dry, though the sauce helps a lot. I like their sauce, despite the fact that mine is better. As to the sides: Well, I'm a bit underwhelmed. The slaw is fresh, tasty, crisp, and delicious but with not enough vinegar in the dressing. Mrs TT loved it especially since it was sans mayonnaise. The baked beans were well cooked, with nice little chunks of meat and a good tooth to them, but the sauce? What's that metallic back taste? I know that more than a few folks here love the beans at the Smoked Joint, but next time, I'll choose something else. The root beer thing just doesn't work for me. Mrs TT opted for the Reuben and both of reckon that it's the best pastrami, bar none, that we have ever had. Fabulous smoky richness to the meat and the rye bread was great. Excellent thousand island dressing but where was the promised Gruyere? With the cheese this would be the ultimate Reuben, without it it's a damned good pastrami sandwich. One other small cavil, would it hurt that they could slice the pastrami a little thinner, maybe? As we shared a skillet of the really great jalepeno cornbread we skipped dessert and had the remains packed up for dinner tomorrow. Despite my moaning, we will go back and bring a crowd of friends. (And our own wine) * Wine prices tick me off. Even though I worked in restaurants for many years, I just never got and still don't get the rational behind charging 5 or 6 times retail for a bottle of wine. One would think that if you charge a reasonable markup you'll sell more. That would more than make up for the perceived shortfall in revenue. Friday, Saturday, Sunday has the right idea - $10 over retail.

For expensive, yet delicious (maybe you can get someone to take you out?!), try Pasion. It's walking distance, 15th right off of Walnut. Sit at the Ceviche bar (oh, there's another place I like to sit at the bar and eat at....but that's another topic) and watch them cook. You can order off of the entire menu at the ceviche bar; not just the ceviche... Also, we haven't been there yet, but I think the other egulleters liked the new Smoked Joint on Locust? Spruce? around 15th. Good BBQ I heard.

Had a great time there last night, Katie! It was a pleasure meeting you, finally, and the food and wine were super! You already seem at home, enjoy and keep smiling! Thank you for your hospitality! P.S. The "plateau" was delicious. I think I like Washington oysters better than all others.

Our favorite is Juveniles. Also, Willi's even though its touristy. We were in Tartine a few weeks ago and the barkeep was horribly rude. We tried a wine bar in the new Bercy shopping center that was good. Unfortunately, the Bercy shopping area looks like Disney to me, very fake looking. But the wine bar there was good.

We were in L'ardoise a few weeks ago. It was delicious! Anyway, there were a few diners solo there for lunch. Oh, also there were a few solo diners at Juveniles a few weeks ago too! Wine bar with some good basic plates of food! Both are sort of around Opera, 2nd arr., I think?

We like to eat at the bar. I think Fork is one of our favorite places. It's elegant, we often order a few appetizers and a bottle of wine and relax. Anyone else have any favorites?

Right across the street from my office is a place called, "Aromatic" at 113 Chestnut St. It's Persian cuisine, and Helen, the owner (who used to own Helena's at Front and Chestnut and bartended at Brazil) has Hookah smoking most nights. Her mom cooks there, and the Tuesday Lamb special is delicious. They have your basic Middle Eastern type cuisine, but the specials are homemade and they have a bread oven for the pita. Their Hummus is some of the best I've ever had. Helen keeps inviting me in for Hookah smoking, but I haven't had a chance. No alcohol served, but her tea is so delicious! It's Persian brewed Hot Tea; can't describe the herbal flavor, but its tasty....maybe cinnamony or something?

I think they're better than the "Kermit Lynch" style winos. Listen to Greg Moore talk about wine sometime (and the others, of course, but Greg really does it for me). He's not trying at all to "sell"; he simply enjoys passionately talking about wine. The terroir, the people, everything about it. He's so excited its hard not to share his enthusiasm. He loves to talk about the land, the region, the grape, the love of wine! We knew quite a bit about wine before we ever took a Greg Moore class (which he teaches sometimes in Pa, I believe), but absolutely loved every bit about his Burgundy class, for example. Their were many different levels of student in the class, but he always just talked about wine in its most simplistic sense, which didn't condescend or lack any passion. ...on another note, if you buy from Moore Bros, your name goes into the computer. When a friend goes in, they can look your name up on the computer, see what you like, and buy a gift for you! What a super way to buy someone a present! You know what they like!