TarteTatin

D'artagnan, which has a mail order from NY, carries it, I believe.

I heard Kisso closed down? Is that the one in Northern Liberties?

I was really just responding to the "bad food" as opposed to "bad experience" or atmosphere...

We had a horrendous meal in the big antiques center/flea market (Le Puce? North of Paris right on the Peripherique), the (only) restaurant there, right in the middle of the stalls. Can't remember the name. Chez something. The atmosphere was so tacky/kitsch that it was almost fun, accordion player, bad singer, waitresses that give our South Philly Melrose Diner a run for their money! But the food itself was so horrible we couldn't even eat it. Obviously canned food, the only bad lettuce I've had in France, just inedible. And, it was recommended in one of the guides!

Blackberry, so fresh tasting. Chocolate banana was subtle and creamy. The typical but hard to stay away from Dulce De Leche, yum! Just the other night. Sesame Ginger that someone in my party had was good! As was the Coconut, Mascarpone Fig, Niccoleta (sp) -the hazelnut one.... They did get a little testy (for the first time) with our party taking a long time to decide when they were busy. We understand, but we brought newbies and they were so thrilled! There was one very patient French girl there for a long time that went home. Darn.

Whacky things? Well, last Christmas we packed almost 150 euros worth of chocolate into a suitcase and hoped it wouldn't melt! I'm in love with Bernard Castelain's chocolate right outside of Chateau-neuf-de-pape. His dark chocolate covered almonds and chocolate covered ginger are incroyable! (They didn't melt!) Also, the Lavender museum outside of Gordes. We bought a similar amount (125 euros) of lavender items (soap, bath stuff, oils) and carried it back in a big suitcase. ...and we ALWAYS carry as much wine, eau de vie, marc- as we can in our carry on! Sometimes we fill the hard carry on suitcase with it, and like an earlier person says, just hope for the best!

One of the other restaurants at that corner was 'Bonjour'. Georges Hunseck ran the kitchen and Ted Polish(sp?) was the front of the house. I (Mr. Casting) worked there for a short time. It was near the end of the Champignon, Sassafras, Le Panatiere, Garden era. Don't remember what the menu was, because who can remember the 80's?

Yes, thank you for the names of both the restaurants in Gigondas! -- I had the greatest truffle omelet there. Full of big pieces of truffles. I think it is also a cooking school affiliated with someone in Philadelphia (where we are) or NY or something. But we didn't know it when we went....and the tasting room was quite convenient next door! I remember buying there and bringing back a bottle of Marc de Gigondas which lasted a year or more...

Yes, we loved it. It was tough to find but recommended to us by Stephane Bertola who runs Mas de la Regalade, a beautiful gite in Les Imberts near Gordes. This is a gite we highly recommend. Stephane worked for Ducasse in Monte Carlo for 18 years (adminstration) and now he and his charming wife, Rachel (and their son Lorenzo - only 3 yrs old but knows how to serve and taste wine - he doesn't like the taste yet, but swirls the wine, inhales the bouquet and takes a small sip, which he promptly spits out) run this totally gorgeous, classy and comfortable place. Les Florets was the choice for lunch and as it was Christmas week the dining room was decorated with beautiful santons. The view from the terrace, even in December and despite the chilly wind was exhilirating. I was the most adventurous of our party of four and had 'pieds et paquets' and was asked by the waiter if I was sure that that was what I wanted! We drank some very nice Vacqueyras 1998, Domaine La Garrigue. I have some pictures of the view from Les Florets, but have to figure out how to post them.

I agree with Cucina Forte. It's a BYOB like Django, so don't forget the wine! Trescalini was okay recently. But I like Cucina better. Penne up in West Philly is delicious too. They have a wine list! Even though its in a hotel, its good, fresh food. Kind of expensive, though. Ralph's we go to, even though its not super brilliant. We really love it there. Chilled red wine (yes!) and my husband likes their sweetbreads! It's just fun. Does anyone know about Bocca something at 2nd & Girard in Northern Liberties? It's supposed to be homemade pasta and good...

That poor corner! It's been through many different restaurants! We are definite Francophiles, and have to say that as much as we liked the old man/chef, and so wanted to like the bistro....we didn't. Food was always not even basic bistro food. He seemed so tired, all he could do was put a lot of things on puff pastry: Escargot, pissadeliere (sp?), fruit desserts...etc. ...or boil some french lentils with a bit of bacon. We liked his little wine list and enjoyed talking in French with him, but I'm kind of glad he retired. We do have some inside information about the new owners that I really cannot talk about (my husband is a notary and people came to him to get papers signed that are renting the place). What I can say is the people are local and very nice and have been in the restaurant biz previously at some top places, so we're certain it will be good....and, its definitely NOT one of those big time owners of lots of restaurants in the area.

Our favorite two restaurants are in Gigondas. One right on the town square, and the other up in the hill above Gigondas. Beautiful view and good food in an Inn. Can't remember the name of either. If you go to Chateau-neuf-du-pape, go to the chocolate factory outside the village called Bernard Castelain. Better than Valrohna chocolate. Try their dark chocolate covered almonds. Beaumes -de-venise has some good tasting places and a good olive oil/soap shop. Oh, they have a little market too, up on the hill. In Orange, there's a Bib Gourmand that's inexpensive in the Michelin that's good, family run. L'Isle Sur Sorgue has a few good restaurants. We ate at Le Vivier de la Sorgue. Right on the canal. And that town is fun to walk through. Antiques market. For New Year's Eve, we liked Bernard Matthys east of Gordes near Apt. Expensive in an old big house. L'estellan right outside of Gordes is good on the D2/N100. Don't forget to go to the small towns of Menerbes, Lacoste, Bonnieux, etc. to walk around. Very pretty villages, Bonnieux has a small market. Of course, Avignon and Aix and St. Remy have tons of restaurants that we like, ohhhh, try the Cavaillon market on Monday's. I'm sure there are others I'm forgetting. I might write another post later!

OH, MY GOD, that's exactly my thought! Kate Hepburn and Julia have been my heroes since I was a little girl! I wanted to say how much PBS and local television meant to Julia. She never needed the celebrity chefdom of recent times. She just wanted to help local TV. She just wanted to help local farmers. Buy fresh, buy local. Watch local, etc. Get my drift? She was real. She was one of us. Not a Hollywood movie star. Not a big celebrity type. We all identified with her. Local TV. Local foods. Fresh.

We go to Chincoteague in the middle of winter every year. It's a ghost town and we love that most everything is closed. I will say, however, that A.J.'s is very good. No, its not gourmet, but consistently good with a good wine list. They have fresh seafood, and their appetizers are creative. The salad is fresh and very good old fashioned chunky blue cheese dressing. Also, we go to Don's upstairs. The bar. Do NOT eat downstairs! But sit upstairs in a very working class, bar where they play darts. Order the fresh seafood bar food that the fisherman have just brought in. They are generally there (some without teeth) at around 3 p.m. after having fished all day. They are drinking cheap beer and eating the fresh oyster, clams and stone crab claws they just brought in. ...and for some reason, their bbq pork sandwich is heavenly! Now, I'm from Philly and haven't experienced much of that pure pulled pork. But I crave Don's! The Landmark was good in that basic seafood non creative way. And the piano bar was really hokey and fun with it. Don't forget your mosquito repellent.

There's a great link in the egullet France section about Bresse chickens also. This is a recent link, still up on the main page. As it says there, we ate at Georges Blanc in Vonnas outside of Macon (twice), and have to say the poulet bresse is the best I've ever, ever tasted. Soooo good! Yes, I guess richer and more flavorful. I believe its from the white chickens we see in that section of France. Really pretty, like the white Charolais cows from the same area.

OK. That's a technique we'll try. The pizza stone we'd forgotten about. And our oven maxes out at 550F. Should be an easy deal. Thanks

Well, that's it. I don't drink Coors, mainly because it's what I class as 'canoe beer', i.e. drinking it is like making love in a boat (Need I explicate?). I suppose that that sensibility will inevitably overtake the Moslon brewers and make their beer lose even more character - I really do like Molson Export.

Yes! I can't believe there are twenty different varieties in the supermarkets in France. Here in the States we are lucky to get Pepperidge Farms. I crave those choices for buttery puff pastry!

Ever since our visit to Alsace, probably about 10 years ago, I've been looking for a good Tarte Flambee... No one in the NY/Philadelphia area makes it. Not even the French chefs. I've posted on NY egullet looking for it. On our recent visits to Paris and other parts of France we've had it, but it isn't the same unless you are right in the heart of Alsace! My husband has tried to make it at home, and although he is a very good cook and it was delicious, it was more of an "onion and bacon pie" than a true Tart Flambee.

It is now possible to find chickens raised in the Bresse style in restaurants in New York, raised in Pennsylvania by a French couple. Here's the link from eGullet NY http://www.post-gazette.com/columnists/200...rubin0810p1.asp

I bet you Kaluystan's (sp?) 123 Lexington Ave. has it. Or maybe that's Marmite.

A pub that we always go back to in London is The Surprise. It's in Chelsea on Christ Church Terrace. It's a bit difficult to find and hence it's still 'Old Chelsea'. Walking down Kings Road from Sloane Square (Bywater St is on your right - the home of George Smiley) turn right onto Flood Street (you'll pass the house that was Margaret Thatchers pied a terre on your left - can't remember the number but I think it was about the fourth house in). Walk down Flood to the third turning on the left (St. Loo is on your right and Chelsea Mansions as well) and you'll be in Christ Church Terrace. Walk around that until you find The Surprise (named after HMS Surprise). Last time we were there was 5 years ago, but it really hadn't changed in the 10 year interval since we were there before. There are two bars, a mural of Chelsea around the bar, and pretty good beer. The menu at last visit was pretty basic pub fare - bangers and mash, fish and chips, cheese salad, basic sandwiches. This is not a place you go to for the food, just the beer and 'the regulars'. I used to see Chelsea Pensioners from Chelsea Barracks just down the road. People bring their dogs, read newspapers, play cards and darts, and talk. It's an oasis from the hustle and bustle of London that I hope hasn't changed. If you go, tell us if it's different now. On the other side of the river at Red Cross Way, Southwark, SE1, is The Boot and Flogger(Red Cross Way runs between Southwark Street and Union Street). This is not a pub, but a wine bar. Again, we haven't been there in over five years, but as the place has been there since the 1950's I'm pretty sure it's still going strong. Great place to see 'City Gents' having a liquid lunch ( most likely bottles of claret) and plates of tongue, roast beef or smoked salmon. They used to sell Champagne by the pint. Sawdust on the floor, cobwebs, and a great atmosphere. Have fun!

Tim, you go! You're doing the right thing. Please know that most of us readers realize it. ...and stay enthusiastic and full of passion!

I know this thread was six months ago. But... Anything by Elizabeth David. She rocks. Also, try Bemelman. and, of course, MFK Fisher.

Timothy Noah needs to get a job where he doesn't have quite so much time on his hands. And, of course, the BIG question is: Is there anyone here who would actually go into Dairy Queen? I know I wouldn't. So I would think that this is moot.