TarteTatin

I've been following this thread over the last several days and hearing a number of people talk about 'sometimes needing' to go into a fast food place. Sorry guys and girls, call me a purist, call me a food fundamentalist, call me crazy (call me a cab and get me outta here! Ba dump bump!) but I've yet to not be able to find a market, buy some bread, a piece of cheese, a hunk of salami and some fruit. That'll do for lunch or dinner. Now as to Rick Bayless: I haven't been a fan or a follower and buy Frontera Salsas cause I like them. I'm not going to stop buying them because he's shilling for Burger King until he sells the brand to BK. I think, despite the contents of the letter just posted, what he did puts him in a bad place ethically. Just my two cents.

We're off to France at the end of December and will be in in Paris from 1-7 January. We're in the planning stages for restaurants and wondered if anyone here has had any experience at La Regalade in the 14th. We've heard various reports in Zagat (whose ratings increasingly require a pinch of salt to read) and on the web that service is surly, seating is too close( though we do understand "Parisian seating") and that the quality of the food has slipped. Has anyone here gone to the restaurant?

That's so funny! That is the first thing my husband and I do every time we go to France. We cannot wait to go to the supermarkets and buy things to take back with us! Last year in Beaune we saw all the touristy food items such as dijon mustards, cassis mustard, Cassis, etc. and went to the supermarket to purchase the same items at about half the cost! We also buy all of our herb de provence in supermarket packages instead of touristy containers and its very inexpensive. I love buying jams and crackers, etc. in supermarkets all throughout France. Even in Paris, we get our water and bisquits and sometimes wine at the supermarkets. But a trip is not the same without going to the local supermarkets, just to see what the locals eat! The same for produce/meat neighborhood markets. You have to go on market day just to look at all the beautiful colors of the fruit and veg and all the cheeses and truffles and....gosh, I'm getting hungry!

Our favorites for lunches tend to stick to old favorites - Bofinger near the Bastille - the one on the right hand side of the street as you're walking toward the Place des Vosges. We love Rotisserie Beaujolais on Quai de Tournelles ( We had New Years Eve there this year and really had a great time - even with the table of loud Brits opposite. Service was attentive and they chilled the bottle of Champagne we had brought to open at midnight on one of the bridges across the Seine). Check out L'Ardoise up near the Louvre - blackboard menu, lunchroom atmosphere and very good food at reasonable prices despite a Michelin rating. And our perennial favorite, Willi's Wine Bar where we've never had a bad meal and they've served us lunch as late as 2:30PM

Well, we found a hotel - (Thanks Accor Hotels) at $110 per night. Right off of the Place de Vosges and tentatively a place in Burgundy via the Gites de France site. We even managed to score a reservation at La Tour D'Argent for New Years Eve, but we don't think we're going to take them up on it. It's 350euros each, servis compris but WITHOUT WINE OK, we understand the whole premium on New Years Eve thing. (We used to work in restaurants). So, we'll be looking around some more. At least the 2002 Guide Rouge Paris now puts web addresses on a lot of the restaurants and hotels. Maybe we'll check out the Jules Verne, but the problem would be getting herself up the Eiffel Tower. Merci encore.

We are food lover's and will be in Burgundy Dec 26-30 (advice on where to stay and eat there would be appreciated as well. We were there last over 10 years ago). ...Traveling back to Paris on the 31st. Still looking for a moderate priced hotel. Also looking for a great place for dinner. We are willing to spend more on dinner than hotel (priorities!). We love wine, so a good list is needed. We go to Paris a lot, but are always looking for good places, especially for a romantic New Year's Eve! Thanks!