menton1

I think there ARE great restaurants here, they just don't get any publicity. Hopefully, Miguel will start to change that right on this thread!!

Unlike in the US, in France the availablilty of fresh produce depends on the time of year. They don't store apples, for example, like we do so that you can buy apples in March; Beets are generally available fresh from June-November.

After all the talk about Tenafly being a restaurant graveyard, it seems a new place is opening in the restored RR station building. This was a hair salon before, and now it is being renovated inside and it looks promising. Does anyone have any word as to whether this will be a restaurant, cafe, coffee bar, or just salads and sandwiches? What about an opening date?

That is odd in November, but it probably is from the tail end of the season. Beginning in late May, you should see fresh raw beets at most outdoor markets.

I respectfully disagree. While this area doesn't get the publicity of Provence or the Dordogne, it very quietly has its own great identity, as do most regions of France. L'Ollada is a terrific hearty peasant soup in the wintertime, reminiscent of Cassoulet but without the beans; Rouge de Rousillon Apricots are used throughout the region to create fabulous desserts and sweets; Colliure is quite acclaimed for its seafood, and, of course, my favorite, Catalan Crème!! Just because the restaurant reviewers and tourist guides have missed this area, it is still wonderful and still undiscovered!!

Cabro D'Or is nice, but Domaine de Valmouriane is story-book heaven!! We absolutely loved the place! Their grounds would be perfect for an outdoor wedding. Check the web site link above, and see what you think! Bonne chance avec votre mariage!!

Far nicer than either the Cabro D'Or and the Oustau de Beaumaniere is the Domaine de Valmouriane in St Remy, A gorgeous olf farmhouse (mas) that has been restored perfectly inside. A bargain for the quality you are getting as well. Only 12 rooms, try to get the largest one, with a huge bath, and fabulous antique furnishings. Domaine de Valmouriane Petit Route des Baux St Remy Domaine de Valmouriane Web Site

Wow! Great news that you are re-opening! I thought that high prices and rent closed you up, but it is very good to hear that you will reopen soon!! Will that great smoked chicken and homemade soup still be on the menu? Welcome back!!

An educated guess would be Fattal's on Main Street. One of the best pita breads in NJ, and usually right out of the oven there.

For ordering any publications available in France, I second Amazon.fr They are terrifically efficient, a French clone of the American Amazon.com, and the shipping is reasonable. Some great "2005 Calendriers" available here if you like looking at France all year round!!

I don't know why you assume that the French prefer red beets pre-cooked... I've always seen raw red beets for sale at the wonderful outdoor markets in the summertime, starting in June. Of course, like all vegetables, they are available processed in the supermarkets, but the raw variety is readily available as well, and I would bet that the French do prefer the raw ones, if they have the time to prepare them.

So it's basically impossible, it seems, for this restaurant to claim "kosher" fish if he obtains them from a purveyor that handles shellfish, swordfish, and the like!! (Should we start a protest line outside?)

Thank you, Gifted Gourmet! Could you also please address this Kosher fish issue-- it seems that to be absolutely kosher, the tables as well as the implements where fish are handled have to be kosher. How, then, could a purveyor of all types of fish, including shellfish and swordfish be considered a source of kosher fish?

Miguel-- Please say hello to Mme. Barthélemy for us-- she is a lovely hostess, and I'm sure you will love everything about the Chjateau de Riell!! Bon voyage!! (Our favorite room is Magnolia)

I guess I meant to say "Orthodox" or "highly observant" instead of "Glatt"; I spoke briefly with a friend who has some contact with the Orthodox, and they indicated that even the tables where fish are handled have to be kosher, even if the fish has not been cut up or scales removed. So I don't know how you can go to a regular purveyor of fish who is also selling shellfish and even swordfish is not kosher... N.B. I've also noticed an irony about some kosher foods-- I saw a kosher brand of yogurt from Israel, and it had about 6 unpronounceable chemicals in it; right next to it was a non-kosher, all-natural, organic yogurt with all lovely ingredients-- (it only had 4 ingredients anyway.) Which one will promote health and long life?

I must take issue with this statement, Jason. The people I know who are "Glatt Kosher" would NEVER buy regular fish. the fish must also be labeled "Kosher" and pass muster from a rabbi or organization. Now, I can't fill you in on the whys or hows of this custom nor what is wrong with going to a regular fish market; Perhaps someone on Eg can give us all the details about "Kosher" fish.

Most people think that these Food Banks are a handout for people too lazy to work. As a matter of fact, most of the hungry people today are working folks. But with their pay of $5.15/hr or maybe a bit higher, no health care, and the high cost of living in New Jersey, they cannot afford to eat! These are the working poor that need the food today. Please give!

If you are near Englewood, another very worthy group is the Center for Food Action, behind the Presbyterian Church on Knickerbocker Rd. It is quite easy to get your free turkey in the Shoprite and go 3 blocks to the CFA. Here is their web site: Center for Food Action Website

Citrus Grille, in Airmont, NY is on a dark road that goes nowhere, just a local outlet. And it's been there over 10 years. I actually highly recommend it to all the Northern NJ Eg-ers. I did talk about it in NY about a year ago, but nobody there is interested in Rockland. It's only about 2 miles over the NJ border, maybe we can now expound on it here in the NJ Forum. A VERY GOOD restaurant!! Web Site

I'm still of the thought that the first time in Nice does not require the 1-hour drive to Italy. I do agree that the Ventimiglia market is unmatched, maybe overwhelming-- about 400 vendors. Some good deals, some not so good. Parking is extremely difficult. Without the car, you can't buy much. Choose your poison. Italy does look different-- this part of Western Liguria, as Robert says, is like a grade-B movie set. A little tattered, a littly dirty, a little rusty. A big sea change from clean, perfect gardens, well manicured Southeast France. Jonathan, what are the names of and directions to those 2 places we discovered in Rimiez?

I don't know that I agree with this.... two towns away, in the middle of nowhere, is Andiamo in Haworth, a place that has been there over 15 years. (And the food is quite undistinguished!) Just north of Upper Saddle River, in Airmont, is the Citrus Grille, again, the absolute middle of nowhere. This is actually quite a good restaurant with very creative food. It is there over 10 years. It has escaped talk on Egullet because it is 2 miles over the NY border, and in the NY forum nobody talks much about anything but Manhattan. More details, please-- the prices seemed quite high for dinner for an 8-table former salad-sandwich place. Thanks. (Would it be OK for men to have lunch there? )

The Pyrenées-Orientales is one of our favorite regions of France. Stunningly beautiful, it is still, amazingly enough "off the beaten track" for most tourists so you will have a really great experience traveling in this area. We stayed in a fabulous hotel in Molitg-les-Bains, near Prades. The hotel is Chateau de Riell, a 14th century chateau completely modernized on the inside but quite enthralling on the outside. The rooms have feminine names, and the bathrooms are all copper. Pricning is actually quite reasonable for such a high end experience. Do not listen to Michelin, the restaurant is still terrific, even though they lost their star. Prades is a wonderful town nearby that dedicates a lot of itself to its native son, the cellist Pablo Casals. Casals fled here from Spain to get away from Franco. You will love this area!! Chateau de Riell web site P.S. The owner, Biche Barthélemy, is quite gracious and lovely; you will be getting a hand-made Christmas card from her every year for many years to come after your stay here!!

Unquestionably the best St-Rémy has to offer is the Hostellerie du Vallon de Valrugues. (quite a mouthful) Headed up by Laurent Chouviat, this place is a home-run. Beautiful venue, and carefully prepared local specialties. Caramelized Duck Confit and Pistou L'Agneau are some of the terrific dishes here. Do not miss! Vallon de Valrugues Chemin de Canto Cigalo (3 minutes from St-Rémy centre) 04 90 92 04 40

You could apparently write in American Grill 1000 times and it still would not make the list in the published issue. Zagat does not use a credible independent auditing firm so they can come up with any result they desire. After the pages and pages of agreement about the non-credibility of Zagat on Egullet on many forums, I am amazed that some continue to discuss Zagat like it is a serious guide to restaurant-goers' opinions It is quite doubtful that one's vote is counted they way they say it is....

No fewer than 3 restaurants are sitting closed for many months and growing weeds on their respective buildings: America, a high-end, beautiful place that may have spent 7 figures on their interior design and fixtures; Jerry's Osteria, discussed here recently, Stancato, a pretty place that had pizza parlor red-sauce Italian food next to the Clinton Inn. Is Tenafly a curse to a restaurateur? On the positive side, Café Café, a little place on Highwood Ave that started life as a salad-sandwich bar, has now turned upscale (as have their prices) and the word is that it is quite good. Only 8 tables. Has anybody been to Café Café?