TarteTatin

We have a new Asian supermarket that opened this week at 5th & Spring Garden. Right opposite Silk City Diner. (not exactly opposite) Parking at meters on street, or, parking lot behind. Very large, very impressive. Huge section with extremely fresh looking fish in tanks, even a butcher with different cuts of meat. The produce area is nice as well. Probably 6 different types of bok choy alone! Check out aisles at both the front and the back of the supermarket. Even had some (other) basics, like Tropicana OJ, which I needed for a bad cold. And, a medicinal area for Chinese herbal remedies. Talking to a NoLib neighborhood guy that went to all the meetings about the opening of this place; he said it's owned by a similar large place in the Northeast Philly area. Concerns were that place wasn't kept very clean, and he hopes this place doesn't go in that direction. So far (of course its brand new), everything looks extremely clean and fresh and large. How fun to have a grocery store in our 'hood! And, an Asian one at that! Edited to add that it isn't exactly opposite the diner...

Trust me, they're not the real thing, those baguettes. I REALLY wanted them to be. The owner is French, we spoke together, he's a nice guy. That old saying about "the water" is true, I guess. Neither the baguettes, nor the croissants from Versailles- have the crumb right. And I know, he knows what he's doing... The closest we've found is Fork, Etc.'s baguettes. For awhile, Almanac, in NoLib, carried the artisinal guy's baguettes from South Philly, but I heard that he closed down? I'm not sure where Almanac's is getting there's now. It's still pretty good, probably a close second to Fork's.

Anyone been to Pumpkin lately? Some friends want to go on Monday night. (have to check if they are open)

We are headed to Cassis the middle of January. Everyone says to stay and eat- at the Jardin D'Emilie. Everywhere we search on Google- also says Jardin D'Emilie. They are, of course, like most everything else, closed during that time. Other suggestions for eating and lodging? We are used to apartments/gites- and investigated numerous places. They are either huge- and need to be rented Sat to Sat, no leniency, even for January. Or, they don't return our emails. Hopefully, it will not be the same for eating out? We are traveling with a Chef friend from Philly, and the three of us will be treated well in Marseille. However, we're looking for 4-5 days in Cassis, on the water... Any suggestions? Markets? Lodging? Restaurants? Good food shops?

Whoa! That's not right! Do you think it was "age discrimination", since you are young and cute, and maybe they think you couldn't afford it or wouldn't appreciate it? Wow. Tres bizarre. Not right at all. I'd be really irate. They can't be worth it.

Oh, I'm so disappointed. The Rose Tattoo? Ugh. I worked there over 20 years ago (didn't you also, Katie?) when it was only the right side of the building as you walked in. Ugh. I guess he wanted to go someplace right next to where he was. A block away, literally.

Great pics, as usual, Jeff! One girl in the audience commented, "I'm over 50, and I think you're sexy, Tony!" Loved that. He is. It's not just his looks, it's his point of view. Enthusiasm. Passion. About food. About life.

This Tarte Tatin is an Apple only (Mac) family! It's:

Bourdain was really bothered by the question from the girl going to New England Culinary School -that wanted to get into "food media". Being in the industry, I was really bothered by that question too. Do you want to cook, or do you want to be a personality? He's got a great sense of "all around guy" and brought up the fact that Julia Child never ever endorsed a product. I think he perhaps, looked up to her and her dealing with the media, as opposed to what he sees on TV today. He's very funny and quick and smart, and gives very honest opinions, although he knows they are his, and he won't win Mr. Congeniality for it all. He doesn't care. He's having fun, and I like his point of view. We enjoyed ourselves. There were a few other great lines, I have to try to remember some... His agenda was to get home to his new daughter. Which is totally understandable! However, he could have been anywhere in the US, giving a talk, being in Philadelphia meant nothing to him. I felt the same way when we saw him at the Book & The Cook, years ago at Bleu Angel.

Yes, humor. He's a brilliant writer, having a fantastic time - eating his way through Paris. I laugh and enjoy every morsel (if I could figure out how to cross that out I would)- I mean I laugh and enjoy every word (no, cross that out too)- I mean I laugh and enjoy chaque chose!

Went to Headhouse the Sunday before Thanksgiving, and also the Wednesday (day before). Hendrick's didn't show up either time. Shame, that. I knew it was their last weekend there, and I was going to spend lots of money and stock up. Rumor had it that Hendrick's and Good Earth Farm were offered space at Reading Terminal. But, someone said it was a five year contract, which is awfully long for a small farm to realize if they can handle that kind of volume.

Rlibkind: At our house we have: Quetsch (purple plum) Framboise Mirabelle (yellow plum) Marc de Gewurtraminer Poire- and a few others... including a tiny bottle of Sapin (pine tree). We bring some back every time we go to France. Guess you have to come over and taste sometime!

We went to La Tour D'Argent last April and Le Grand Vefour a few weeks ago. Honestly, I was not over impressed with either. I think they were 77 and 88 euros, but we order a lot of wine, and I think we paid about 350 or so euros for lunch for two. My husband loved both places. I understand the grand view of La Tour, and the history of both. Yes, both were good, but I think I long for something more. Not in a foamy molecular way, but... Not with five million desserts and mignardies, but... I do remember two meals at Georges Blanc in Vonnas, years ago. They both surpassed all the great meals we've had all over France and other countries.

It was Monday night, November 5th.

La Grand Vefour. Yes, the history and the room are exquisite. The tables are, as said before, too close together. There are too many waiters and not enough space, they keep bumping into each other. The Sommelier scowled when I asked to look at the Carte de vin first. He also scowled when I ordered. He then proceeded to show the wine and give the tasting to my husband after I ordered. I didn't say anything. He was very old school. Granted, my menu didn't have the 88euro price on it for lunch-only the man's has it. So, they are trying to be old school still. However, the kitchen is very contemporary, as are some of the younger waiters. So? How to make the two mix? We ordered 2 glasses of Taillevant, not knowing it was 22euros per glass. Oh, well. Still good. The Amuse was cep soup cold and mustard and veal mousse with a -mustard blossom. I had Tourteau sucrine with green gelee and yellow squash. Wish we had taken pictures. Very pretty. The consistency of the crab with the bits of hard squash really worked. He had Presse de foie gras mousse de potiron... interesting texture. Dried black mushroom granules sprinkled on the side. Very interesting. I liked it. They looked like miniature black mustard seeds. We had a half bottle of Saint Joseph blanc 05 33 euros. Then, with lunch, we had a Crozes Hermitage 01 Rubin, delicious. Sam had Tete au veau, round, pretty, with a perfect little quail egg, how did they stuff it with a perfect yolk and I guess inject it with parsley? Delicious. Side salad of Frisee with tarragon - persil ball that popped when cut, and also little bits of fried beetroot chips. There was a huge serving of brains next to the tete au veau. I had a Pork chop with sweet potato and walnut? Served with teeny gorgeous beets-lovely- with carrots and purslane and beet molecule like a grape, but it erupted with beet. I ordered 6 cheeses, Sam five. Huge cheese cart. I know I had a soft goat similar to epoisses, a very old compte-ohhh! great..., savoie (that’s where the chef is from) bleu de petit basque, Livarot, tomme. Sam had a Beaufort...the cheese waiter wasn't very patient either. (As a matter of fact, the wait staff in general seemed too rushed, or impatient, or something) The amuse dessert was ananas with coriander and coconut milk. Sam had some amazing gorgeous chocolate fondant for dessert, I had mandarin pieces and other things served in a glass that wasn’t a glass, it was edible. They were both soooo pretty! Sommelier (who still hated me, and his crossed eye got even more crossed when he looked at me), served mas Amiel grenache noir from Roullsillon- similar to Banyuls family-for Sam’s dessert 10 euros-tasty, and a Sauternes for mine 24euros. Sam had asked for "medium" priced -to go with our desserts; I rather think 24 euros is high... Then mignardises. Then marshmallows-pink, or chocolate and white, and a slice of gateau de Savoie. Then chocolates. One with almond. One with spice. One with cardomon. Take as many as you like. By the time you get this far, you can’t remember anything because you’re either too drunk or too sugar shocked. I think there were other offerings of little bites of things. I really think that they should lower the dejeuner from 88 euros back to 75 euros and offer less desserts. The pastry chef was incredible, but needn't have shown off to that extreme, as the body can only handle so much food. Three courses, including a dessert, and a cheese course, and then followed by a million other sweet delights---is overkill. You can't remember anything (not only from too much alcohol, but the taste buds are gone!) It's not just at this restaurant. It's like this at all the 3 stars we've eaten at. Maybe not quite to this extreme. But, I do remember the most recent-at La Tour D'argent (no longer a 3 star), last April served numerous desserts that were simply, "just one more little mint, monsieur?". Just my humble opinion. Sam had a wonderful time and, besides being a bit rushed out, enjoyed everything immensely. (We sat down at 1:00 and left at 3:40, the last ones there)

Walked thru town to look at our options before visiting the Chateau. It was a Monday, so most everything was closed. Walked thru the Chateau, and then walked through the Chateau gardens to: Hameau, a 1774 little hamlet type place. Aperitif du rhubarb, I liked it. Had a bottle of local poire cider. Gesiers de canard salad-way too many gesiers, with warm potatoes on top of lettuce. Also had a chaud pommes de terre salad. It was the only vegetarian option. Had to have a Creme de Chantilly avec pomme and catre fruis sorbet. Really, just a salad place, nothing special, although they do say that they use regional items. Went back to museum and got a tour of the living areas. Overwhelmed with rooms full of art, they have three Raphael's, the most outside of the Louvre. Walked back to the gare through the forest, nice walk. (Oh! food related things in the above paragraph! There were lots of food paintings that we saw: "The feast of the Huitres", among others...and also saw lots of Cristophle dishes and furniture. Oh, saw the copper serving platters and amazing dishes too!)

La Villa Corse: We went to the one in the 15th last week. I thought it was a very pretty restaurant. Sort of an "old boys club", like the restaurant chain in the States many years ago, called, "The Library", but prettier. The Proprietor greeted us like long lost friends, came close to kiss me, and when I pulled back, he realized he didn't, and I think he was embarrassed. Then, he couldn't figure us out the whole meal. We were the only tourists, everyone spoke French (not a problem as we speak a bit). I also think I was one of about two women in there. A Corsican restaurant, but really, I didn’t taste much difference. 25 euros prix fixe. Delicious homemade tapenade amuse. Rose Gris from Corsica-Clos Landry 06 Corge Calvi. Nice and dry and the lightest pink-almost white-rose I'd ever seen. Really liked it. I had a Mille Feuille of vegetables, so pretty! Many layers, with Corsican cheese, Brocciu. Drizzled with different sauces and topped with basil and side of salad. Chestnut soup with bacon and crouton and veloute pepper back. Canneloni with Brocciu cheese and veg, similar to my appetizer. I had canette with roasted figs and polenta with raisins and maybe pumpkin in it. Very tasty and rare duckling. I really liked this dish. No desserts, coffee was good.

Ate there once again last week. And, once again, at night, it was their "brasserie" menu. I guess because it was a vacation week? We've been there at least half a dozen or more times, two or three of them at night, and have yet to have their dinner menu. Oh, well. Waited outside in line for about 20 minutes. Wasn't too bad. Had a bottle of Rose Petillant Bugey Cerdon 22 euros. Sam thinks its kind of kool aid like, its sweet, but I liked it for a change. 8%. Can't beat that! I like lower alcohol, it allows me to drink more! Lobster soup. Typical, nothing special. I thought last time I had it that there was a big piece of lobster in it. However, this time there wasn't. Foie gras presse with pears (didn’t notice pears?)-very pretty layers. Carre agneau-three or four nice chops, overcooked- over red roasted peppers (they didn’t roast them, I don't think) with vinegar. Definitely over cooked. Selle agneau with peas, carrots, snow peas, artichokes (didn’t see any). Demi of Saumur 10 euros. Terrine agrume avec gelee campari-good! I didn't know what this was. It's basically a few slices of fruit pate, grapefruit and I think maybe pineapple and lemon/lime, citrus flavors. Sam had to taste their tarte tating and glace vanilla. He said it was good. Not like his, of course! The waitress took us next door to the hotel to try and book dinner- for the end of January, for his birthday. This is November, and they turned us down. We tried for 5 different nights to no avail.

First week of November, 2007. We stayed in La Butte Aux Cailles. Here are three restaurants we ate in there. Other notes: -There's a very pretty artesian well in the Place Verlaine. Super well water, everyone seems to use it to fill their water bottles and even wash up a bit. -Didn't get to Temps des Cerises this time. We've been there before, and walked by it, but they looked like they were "dans la merde", or, "in the weeds". -Went to the Blanqui marche twice and the Tolbiac once. Tolbiac is definitely more working class, and lots of clothes and nick-nacks besides food. Neither are touristy, we noticed some really good cheese stalls and fish as well as produce. Beware, if you are not horse friendly- to eat, like me, that both marches have it. Not only the idea puts me off, but the smell and the look of the meat (bright red), actually makes me gag. L'avant Gout: Hadn't been there before. Very pretty restaurant, we were pleasantly surprised. I'd say it was our second best meal in Paris this trip (besides Le Grand Vefour!-review under different thread). Dejeuner. 31euros fixed price, three courses. Ordered a Charavin Laure Cote de Rhone ‘05 blanc. Really creative food, very tasty. Huitres en geleee with brunoise of carrots and green apple served with a shot glass with a straw of green apple jus. I don't usually like "gelee", this was super, and I really liked the idea. The green apple jus wasn't too sweet or tart, it simply complimented the oyster taste. Krodel de canard nage de daikon au lait de coco et au poivre long. Basically little duck meatballs, delicious. Pot au feu de cochon aux epices et verre de bouillon. Gorgeous served with a warm glass of bouillon. Big Fennel pieces and pumpkin pieces, a few very small fried ginger slices/chips. A winner. Lotte rotie huge and meaty-bisque de homard (not a lot, just a dribble), w/ persil and e.v. olive oil mixed in looking like tamarind, light as a feather gnocchi on the side, and deep fried tiny bits of rosemary- and xocopili-bitter chocolate rounds with cumin and mex oregano and pepper. Very good. Chaud froid moelleux au chocolate, glace vanille, caramel beurre sale. Really delicious. Coing confit aux epices glace aux bares roses. I love coing (quince), wish people used it more in the States. The glace was pink peppercorn, I think...very light and subtle. Really enjoyed this meal. Chef was out and about during service, actually working, delivering some meals. Sam got a brief tour of the kitchen downstairs. Small, but made good use of space. Up-to-date kitchen. Chez Paul: Dejeuner. Ordered a bottle of Jean jean Chardonnary vin d pay d’oc. Tomato confit and chevre and persil pistou, served in a really neat way, in a ball jar/mason jar. Boudin noir with apple and pommes puree. Creme of champignon soup and pate de maison, chunky, with lots of cornichons. Fig roti with fig glace. Okay, not super, a bit of attitude from the waiter and a cigar smoking person two tables away while we were eating. La Bouche a Oreille (pres de la piscine): Dinner. This is a neighborhood bar, with some tables. Very limited menu. What we had was good and basic. I think we ordered right, because others ordered dishes that didn't look good. Had a Pichet of Gewurtztraminer. Really delicious. Large, perfectly fatty Entrecote with frites. Sam said it was better than -or as good as, Relais d'entrecote. I had Foie gras canard. Delicious. It looks like they make both the frites and foie gras there. The foie gras was full of butter pieces to seal it together... Don’t get chevre salad, didn’t look good at next table. But, the huge creme brulee did, and so did the potatoes dauphenois that we saw go by to other tables. Pudlo mentioned their tarte tatin, but it wasn’t on the menu.

We were there (Grand Vefour) on November 6, I wasn't that impressed. Review to come soon.

We're taking a day trip to Chantilly on Monday, just for the heck of it. Has anyone eaten there? We won't have a car, taking the train... Merci!

New Korean opening up: Meju Korean Restaurant 213 Chestnut St. 215-923-1020 (where Mandoline was) BYOB. It is being opened by Steve, the owner of Double Shot Coffee Shop next door. He's a really super guy, hard worker, and he is Korean, so I have a feeling it will be good. Opening "in November 2007". Steve says it will be dinner only for a few weeks, and then he'll open for lunch (so I can bring my clients there!) The card says: Kim Bop, Mandu, Duk Bok Gi, Jap Chae, Haemul Pa Jun, Soon Doo Bu Jigae, Yook Gae Jang, Kimchi Jigae, Mandu Guk, Bibim Bop, Dol-Sot Bibim Bop, Kimchi Bokum Bop, Bulgogi, Galbi (also all of those are listed in Korean on the card)

Ok, I have some green heirlooms from Pa (not Jersey), that I'm bringing to the Butter Tasting on Thursday! If they aren't ripe yet, I'll dole them out to whoever is there. They're from a farm just north of Gettysburg. Got them at our Sunday farmer's market at Headhouse Square. I told them about it a few weeks ago, and they gathered up what they thought would be good to last. We've got a box and lots of tissue paper, wrapping each one carefully and putting it in the luggage. I'd say I have about 10.

Here, here! Great review. We went to your site and looked at the pictures there. Very nice. Edited to say, I'm crazy...I was looking at this thread and thinking about the Guy Savoy review in another topic; and his blog with pictures...Laidback, forgive me. BUT, I do like pictures!

Thinking back on the other night, I wish it were more of a neighborhood, good food place rather than a trendy place. It was the Rittenhouse Square/Main Line trendy people we saw the other night. The reason I say that, is; one of the other people we were with, works for very wealthy people in an artistic way. He said hello to two separate parties, and I deduced that they were "slumming it" in Northern Liberties/Fishtown. He said these are people that could easily afford to eat at the Four Seasons every night, and yet, they were at Modo Mio. Granted, I'm sure they are there for the very good food. I guess I'm just selfishly wanting it to be for ME. The restaurant was also full of what seemed to be a lot older people than we were. Maybe I just still see myself as 35.