menton1

If you liked Jacques Pépin before reading this book, you will love him even more afterward. A charming, lovely person, he is also a great writer and storyteller as well. From his days as a 5 year old in Bourg-en-Bresse to his house in Connecticut of today, you feel that you are living right along with him his adventures of cooking and working in the restaurants in France, and his move to the US almost 40 years ago. The book also gives one a great insight to the workings of restaurants and their staff. The most interesting was La Plaza Athenée in Paris(way before Ducasse) where they rotated the kitchen staff so that eventually everyone would know how to do everything! Jacques sadly says that this practice is almost never practiced anywhere else. He also talks about the Societé in Paris, a type of union hall, where restaurants give job listings and job-seekers show up at this central hiring place to be referred to the restaurants. A delightful read, the book is also sprinkled with recipes relating to the stories he is telling. I love this book! I love Jacques Pépin!! Has anybody else read the book, please share your feelings? Any hope of getting JP here for a Q & A? (Wouldn't that be great!)

The only way to combat smoking in Parisian restaurants is to sit outside or by the open windows. Some restaurants, like the Bistrot d'Opio that I mentioned above, have floor-to-ceiling windows that should be removed in May, unless the weather is very cold. Another lovely bistro/informal place that we love is in the 6th, Bistrot Mazarin. Here they sit outside in all weather and use the famous Parisian pole heaters if it's cold. This will insure you no smoke. Hopefully you will have warmer weather and this bistro is also a really nice Parisian experience, informal, with terrific if not haute cuisine food. This is in the 6th, also, but nearer the quayside. I do not recommend Les Bookinistes, very touristy, a big disappointment for the Guy Savoy lovers... Bistrot D'Opio and Bistrot Mazarin give you a real feel for the city, mostly natives eating here. LE BISTROT MAZARIN 42 RUE MAZARINE 75006 PARIS 0143299903

I think just BYOB is too general a category, probably 85% of the restaurants in NJ are BYOB. Could you narrow the field a bit by location, type of food, or another criterion that won't leave a list of 300 restaurants?

Guess that's what makes horse races-- never liked Ronnie's Bagels-- they are huge, and like pillows. If you are a fan of giant, very soft bagels, the ones at Cresskill Hot Bagels are tastier (Same owners in Dumont) . But for small, crisp. tasty bagels I like Goldberg's Bagels in Closter. (No relation to any other Goldberg's).

Yes, if you click on the web site I pointed to above, there are 6 restaurants in the empire, including Penang, Asiana, and Ching's Table. Penang seems the most fun becuase of its large space and few tables and the menu selections where you choose by the sauce! Penang seems to have the best pricing as well....

I figured I'd ask the same question, got no responses last year....

Damn, Delta doesn't do that non-stop JFK-Lyon anymore!!

After a couple of trips here, I thought it was time to write about the place. Unfortunately, I live about an hour away or I would be here much more often. The food here is Pan-Asian, a fusion of Chinese, Vietnamese, Malaysian, Thai, and Singapore flavors. The atmosphere is wood with a cathedral ceiling, giving the feeling of spaciousness. The place has only 14 tables, but there is a lot of open space in this restaurant so tables are roomy and spread out. They could probably double the # of tables in the place if they wanted to, but mysteriously enough they choose to leave the open space. You need to come early, or be prepared to wait, there are comfortable couches to sit on while waiting. There is a nice little amuse-bouche on the table of an Asian salad, with cabbage and carrots in a nice sweet vinaigrette. The menu is very unique, the most fun section is where you order dishes according to the sauce! Then you decide on meat, whether it be beef, pork, chicken, shrimp, calamari, or tofu. They choose the vegetables appropriate to the sauce, so each dish will have different combinations of veggies. On our visits here, we have had the Sambal sauce (great!) a dried shrimp sauce from Malaysia, a Mango sauce, nice and spicy, and a Ginger glaze sauce with lots of pickled ginger in the mix. Each dish was a delight to the senses, and you are actually sad when you are finished. The Vietnamese salad appetizer was a bit unique, shredded cabbage in a peanut paste that was quite delicious. Sneaking a peek at the next table, we saw great-looking Thai soups served, and wonderful Seafood Curry. The dishes are served in lovely mini-woks, very attractive and pleasant to eat "family style". Service is very cheerful and efficient, the place definitely has their act together. It is a BYOB as well, but they have a long bar in the place with bubble teas as well. Our entire bill for 2 people came to under $40, with tax and tip-- amazing!! Wish they would open a branch in New Jersey! Web Site

You don't mention the area of France that you will be traveling in... Not that much in the way of festivities in April, it is pretty much an "off Month", things start heating up toward the end of May-- However, there is a noteworthy Jazz Festival the entire month of April in LeMans, just 1 hour out of Paris. This is in the direction of the Loire Valley so you could combine it with a trip there. The French love their Jazz, and this is one of the biggest events. Check with the LeMans OT: 02 43 24 81 78. Easter Sunday AND Monday are huge holidays, expect just about EVERYTHING to be shut those days, including Museums, Restaurants, and stores. You need to plan ahead for those days, and the pickings will be slim. Will you be moving permanently to France? What is your métier?

Bread eaters, take heart! Another high-profile study finds high-complex carb diet is good for you, and Atkins can kill you! Bring on those whole grain rolls! Atkins Diet Can Kill You

More bad news for the Atkins faithful from Reuters Atkins Can Kill You

Yes, and particularly at le Mont. Standing on the ramparts after dinner, totally dark and quiet, watching the tides and listening to the ocean is a fabulous experience. The tides here are reputed to be among the fastest moving of anywhere in the world. And then strolling the car-free streets enjoying the medieval architecture is quite lovely. One is whisked back 1000 years in time. A great place after the tourists leave! A similar quiet sets in, in a different way, after the day trippers are gone in San Gimignano, Italy. Another place where you must stay overnight to get the real feel of the place.

A new little Japanese specialties place has opened in Closter, Pica Pica. A miniature version of Mitsuwa in Edgewater. Nori sheets, dried wasabi, packaged daikon, bonito flakes, and pickled vegetables, lots of types of tofu and panko. Cute little place, worth a visit. Pica Pica 253 Closter Dock Rd Closter, NJ 07624 201-750-0755

Liz, I love the place on the water in the photo of your article. Is that Flanagan's on Lake Mahopac or some other place? (Love places on the water!)

It seems we now have about 6 threads going on this same topic-- However, the title of this one is the closest to my heart. Let me reiterate that this new "low carb" promoting is probably just a fad powered by lots of money and the Atkins logo. Actually, the bulk of the evidence shows that high COMPLEX carbs and low fat are really the way to better health. The Ornish and Cooper programs are geared this way, and have been shown to actually reverse heart disease. Not to mention the USDA Food Pyramid recommending this way of eating. Of course, the high-fat Atkins stuff may seem tastier than the low fat breads, pastas, fruits and veggies, but you really do feel better eating a balanced diet of high complex carbs and low fats. I always believed that (Whole Grain) Bread is the Staff of Life!!

I find the only canned soup to be palatable is by Wolfgang Puck, the best of the lot being the Chicken with Wild Rice. And the only time I would even consider canned soup is when you are desperate, or the temp has gone below 15 degrees outside.

For terrific Spanish delicacies (From Spain) there is Ole Ole Warehouse in Belleville. Their next warehouse sale is Saturday, March 13. Here is the Egullet thread: Ole Ole Thread

I was on that web site a few weeks ago, and it worked a little better than now, but the information on it was about 1 year old... Looks like they need Jason's help on that site! Be advised, though, that the food here has nothing to do with the type of food served at Wondee's; while not particularly authentic, the place is very attractive and the food is quite tasty and interesting-- the flavors are a fusion of French and Thai. Of course, the ambience blows away Wondee's as well. (Referring to the Englewood location).

Not according to the economist who wrote this article. He says that it's Treasury Sec'y Snow and the general policy of the Bush people to favor a weak dollar. They really made a joke of the conference in Boca Raton FL showing the general disdain and arrogance toward the rest of the world that they have continually displayed in this and other matters for the past 3 years. Realize that while this weak dollar may be a boon for Europeans traveling to the US, the article also indicates that the Europeans themselves would like a stronger dollar as a weak one will eventually start to affect the European economy in a strongly negative way.

Although it never makes the nightly news, apparently Washington has a lot of choices available to them to strengthen the dollar. But they LIKE the weak dollar. Not to inject politics, but this is just another example of the economic policies of our current administration. Here's an article from a well-respected economist: Cheapening the Dollar

Jackal10, A really sweet bistro on the left bank is the Bistrot d'Opio, a couple of blocks off the Blvd St-Germain. A charming little place, informal, lovely service, and wonderful food with a Provencal touch. It is on 2 levels, with a center staircase going up to the mezzanine. I always marvel at the French wait staff running undeterred up and down the stairs carrying loads of plates in their arms. Seems like just what you are looking for. As far as hotels, we usually stay in the 4th, our favorite area, but Paris is a great hotel town (Unlike Rome or London) so you should find myriads of choices at all price levels. In the 4th, our favorite is the Hotel de la Bretonnerie, largest rooms I have ever seen in Paris at any price, average price is €150. Le Bistrot d'Opio 9 rue Guisarde 75006 PARIS Telephone: 01 43 29 01 84 Web Site

Last time I visited SC and Georgia I was introduced to boiled peanuts. Sold on pushcarts and in little groceries, they are the stuff dreams are made of. They were hot, unique, and the shells were nice and soggy. The nuts, though, have a unique flavor that is sooo much better than roasted peanuts. They gave me a recipe, but of course, it failed miserably, and I;m left with just a memory of those boiled peanuts. I'd love to hear some boiled peanut stories and if anybody makes them for shipping (Do they ship well?) Thanks!

Apparently, "Above reproach" is not an issue for Zagat; their only issue seems to be how many guides they can sell, and how many decals they can get on restaurant windows (which in turn sell their guides) (Who's promoting whom?!!) The really sad part of all this is that the major media has not called Zagat on the carpet or raised any challenges at all-- Egullet, it seems, is about the ONLY place where Zagat gets even a peep of a negative review!! I must add, though, that the fellow who is the editor of the Philly Zagat seems to have been fairly forthcoming on the Eg Philly forum....

Yes, Monte's, Martire's, Spasso, and about 3 more. Can anyone add the rest to the list?

Bux, Thanks for putting this on the France forum; I never would have seen it on the General Foods because that forum has so much activity that good things like this tend to get "lost". And thanks, Bleu, for the wonderful photos of the market. Gives me pangs to get back to France ASAP!!