menton1

I don't know what area you will be staying in, but, all that you need to do is take a stroll around the neighborhood, check the menus, check the ambience, and pop in. The casual/bistro/brasserie places won't require a reservation, and Paris is unlike the counrtyside-- therre are always restaurants open! Also, all restaurants have their menus prominently posted, so that you can make your choice after seeing the menu. There are some wonderful gems to be found, even if they are not well-known!

Thanks for resurrecting this thread--I missed it the first time-- yes, a few years ago we buzzed through Gourdon, and left after 10 minutes of seeing the tourist-trap type little shoppes. The view was spectacular, but we got right out of there. The Chateau does sound quite worthwhile, as well as a nice little secret. We did enjoy riding through some other towns in the Arriere-Pays, including Peille, Peillon, and Sospel. Any news on Auberge de la Madone in Luceram? Is it worth all those hairpins, switchbacks and slow roads? Sounds like lunch would be a better idea, since I would hate to get back on those roads after dinner at 11PM!

It's kind of both. Menu changes seasonally, check the web site above. It will be a magnificent experience, anyway. Another great place in the area, a little friendlier on the wallet is La Regalido in Fontvieille. Also a Hotel-Restaurant, this is a restored olive mill. http://www.laregalido-provence.com/defaut.htm

Just about 10 miles up the road from Arles is Oustau de Baumaniere an institution for over 40 years. The original owner, Raymond Thulier, is gone now, but it has been passed down to the capable hands of his grandson, Jean-Andre Chariol. The garden setting where dinner is served is spectacular, with the cliffs of Les Baux as a backdrop. Its also a lovely place to stay-- rooms will be less costly for one night than dinner. http://www.oustaudebaumaniere.com/

Found this wonderful website with the entire route and a gastronomic description of the departure and arrival towns at every stage. Great descriptions of the "terroir" as well. Makes me hungry and wishing I was there to see the Tour!! http://www.theworldwidegourmet.com/countri.../tour/north.htm

I believe I was once in a Cracker Barrel and they serve real Maple Syrup. (In a portion-control little container) (Or so they say) The stuff is probably too expensive to just lay out on a table and let the customers pour away. Colored sugar-water with artificial flavor is about 2 cents/gallon, so that's about 1000 times cheaper. I think there are some Cracker Barrels in South Jersey. And yes, I think Cracker Barrel would be universally accepted as a "Chain". Now as for Alain Ducasse, better tell Michelin to get it out of their listings!

No takers on Zagara's?

It's about 1 mile WEST of 23, look for it on your left going west and take the next U Turn. As far as suggestions, check out the other thread, lots of ideas as to what to order here.

Sure, and Peanuts are beans, but you won't find ANY peanuts in the beans section of the supermarket!!

I think that making this viewpoint known in a more public form would have quite a deleterious effect on your reputation as a food discussion guru... Also, since Michelin has a policy against listing chain restos, you might have to move to get Louis XV expunged from their listings!! ANOYONE FOR REAL MAPLE SYRUP?

It doesn't have to be that way at every chain -- the ones you mentioned conform that way and certainly that is true of franchise fast food restaurants, but not -every- chain. Certainly, the 5 Les Halles restaurants ( http://www.leshalles.net ) have individual differences about them and under no way would I consider them "chain food". The Fort Lee Original Pancake House, for example, has specials on its menu and the Rentzis family has creative control over their particular franchises. So while they do serve dishes on the chain menu, they also have things that are not -- such as the specialty crepes they make there and the burgers they have at the other two OPH's they own. ← Still doesn't make Ducasse's empire a "chain"...

Well, it's time to revive this thread... Already 5 days along, today was Chambord-Montargis in the Loire Valley. I believe it's on to Alsace later in the week. It would seem that the reataurants in the arrival and departure towns would have a 1 day boon, it seems that there are hundreds and hundreds of support people to feed on the route. Do any of these restaurants do special menus?

Wow, I guess you WERE serious-- "Chain" in terms of restaurants means a clone. When you walk into a chain restaurant, the menu is identical, the decor is similar, and if you closed your eyes, you could be in any one of the chain's outlets. An Outback in NJ is just like an Outback in Texas. Olive Garden is the same menu in all of their 100+ places. It has nothing to do with who actually owns the restaurant. It basically means a void of creativity. Strict guidelines. But just because the same proprietor owns more than one place, doesn't make them a "chain". You will certianly know which of these Ducasse restos you are in, they are DIFFERENT!! It's not who owns the place, it's the "formula". Chains are clones! Now, WHAT ABOUT REAL MAPLE SYRUP?!

Still waiting to hear if anyone else feels as I do about the syrup issue. There is nothing better than real maple syrup, pure, no ingredients other than reduced-down maple sap. Putting colored sugar-water on great pancakes is like putting lousy mustard on a great hot dog. How can we get real maple syrup at these "designer" pancake places? Wow, that's quite a reach. Somebody must have spiked your syrup!!

Thanks for your input-- sounds like I would stick with Country Pancake House-- it's also the usual scenario that an individually-owned place is superior to a chain, anyway. As far as the syrup, that is a pet peeve of mine. I long for REAL maple syrup at these places!! Those fake syrups can ruin the best of pancakes! The syrups provided are sugar, water, color, and artificial flavor-- ugh! They should invent a BYOMS Pancake house (Bring your own Maple Syrup!) ( What about sneaking some in?)

How does this place compare to Country Pancazke House in Ridgewood? That place has been thriving for almost 10 years now.

Any more details on Dasti's? Just loved the whole way Celebrated Foods was situated, down the pedestrian path and then down some stairs to find the restaurant. Is it in the same quarters as Celebrated? What type of cuisine?

It's not a matter of being "people food", it's more a matter that corn is relatively new to the resistant-to-change European cultures. The first European to discover corn, or more correctly, maize was, yes, that's right, Christopher Columbus. Maize had been used by the native Americans for thousands of years. It has made a very very slow trip across the atlantic, and is barely cultivated by farmers because it's just not a widely used food in the culture. It is interesting, though, that maize has been widely accepted in Nepal and severay Himalayan folk as a staple in their diet. But they are probably very culturally similar to the Native Americans. Great corn is still only found in North America. We'll just have to "settle" for those great haricots verts to compensate!!

This is generally a restaurant wasteland area, but if Chinese is acceptable Hunan Cottage, even though it is nothing to look at, has authentic and unusual Chinese dishes. Make sure to ask for the Chinese menu (in English) and be adventurous! We also have a couple of threads here touting the place: Hunan Cottage Egullet Discussion Hunan Cottage Route 46 Eastbound Fairfield

If you've already ruled out the 3 I mentioned above, I also thought of Taste of Everything on Oak Street in Ridgewood. I only have a 3rd party report, but everything I heard about the place is excellent. They also try to be very "Ridgewood-y", so it probably will pass your "elegant" requirement. Don't know the exact address, but it's just down the street from Brooklyn Pizza. The only thing I can't swear to is if they will set up and serve the food as well.

Not sure exactly what you are looking for, and what type of event-- there are so many catering possibilities; I suppose you want something more than the neighborhood deli that caters. Off the top of my head, without more details from you, I thought of Jerry's in Englewood, Natalie's in Ridgewood, and Pourquoi Pas in Westwood...

This is the place I thought of when I saw this topic-- hands down one of our favorite places in Rome!! You make a meal of appetizers, which are awesome. Not to mention the ambience, where there are about 20,000 bottles of wine lining the walls, a wine list that weighs 10 pounds, and bench-style seats. Don't miss Cul-de-Sac!!

There is a terrific seafood place right before the SH bridge in Highlands; not gourmet, but really fresh crabs, lobster and the like. Order inside, and sit on the deck while they prepare it. Eat on the deck and watch the boats go by on the serene river. Name of the place escapes me, but it's just next to Bahr's.

A couple of years ago I stumbled on a terrific large Gourmet market called Zagara's on Route 73 in Marlton. Is it still there? It seemed to be head and shoulders above Whole Foods.

Well, just in Westchester County there are 1 million people and several hundred restaurants, many of them quite noteworthy. Rarely a whisper of them here.