menton1

This type of meal is more often found at a "Ferme Auberge" rather than a Chambre d'Hote, I believe. The Fermes Auberges are regulated by the government, all the food they serve must be grown on the premises. I've also had some fabulous meals at these, but never stayed at the rooms overnight. Also, these FAs vary by region. I have found them to be most ubiquitous in the Southwest as well. I suppose Provence is too "uppity" to have very many of the Fermes Auberges or the Chambres d'Hotes.

The restaurant building on Forest Avenue just south of Ridgewood Avenue in Paramus has been torn down, making way for a Senior Residence. It's a shame nothing ever made it here. Seems like a good location, busy road, lots of parking-- but it seems that this place had 6 different owners and 6 different names in 12 years. I think the building is only about 20 years old. It was renovated about 8 years ago as well. The names I remember were Martire's and Spasso. Anybody remember some of the other names? In an area needing good restaurant choices, it was sad to see the bulldozers at this spot....

Does that make you above-average or below average?

Bux, you have missed quite a bit, IMHO, by not staying at a chambre d'hote in France. As a tourist in a hotel there is really limited contact with the actual culture of a country. You meet only people in the business of catering to tourists. At a Chambre d'hote there is somewhat more of an immersion into the culture. You have the feeling of staying at someone's house, they cook you a meal, and the "Family style" meal is truly a great experience in itself. In the places we have stayed, one time there were 10 guests at the table, 6 were French. The conversation that ensued (they tried to speak English and we tried to speak French) can give one a real feel for the lives of the natives in France. A little politics, a lot of movies, schools, roads, taxes, etc. As well as participating in basically a home-cooked meal. Of course, these Chambres d'Hotes can be quite different-- sometimes you have to be lucky, sometimes you need a recommendation. Also they vary by region-- the Southwest abounds in these B & B types, in Provence they are much more rare and not as good. A good starting point is the "Gites de France"guides, in the bookstores or on the web. Make sure you go to one with a "Table d'Hote" , or the communal meal, an important element of the experience. N.B. The Moulin de Fresquet that I have recommended on a previous thread is the best one I have ever stayed at in terms of the historic building, comfort level, food, and hospitality of the proprietors. It was great fun!!

Wow, that takes a lot of fortitute (or is it craziness) to dine while inhaling this odor. Hope your lunch digested well......

Patricia Brooks raves about the place Here

Plenty of rigmarole. Trenton has to approve any transaction involving liquor licenses, the new owner would have to be approved, so I'm sure she cannot buy it and then resell it. The old owner kept the license, and sold it to someone else.

It seems they use this stuff on tomatoes, cucumbers, bell peppers, zucchini, etc. Are there any veggies NOT subject to these old decomposed dinosaurs? Can you buff this stuff to a really good shine? (Just another way for Halliburton to make out!)

How could anything made from motor oil be safe to consume?

Got a package of tomatoes at the supermarket yesterday, I needed some and winter tomatoes are fairly horrible anyway. On the label of the package were the words "coated with petroleum-based wax". Somehow that resonated with me; I just don't know if I should be eating tomatoes coated with a "Vaseline" type substance-- I thought they used a resin-type wax instead of something they make motor oil out of-- any comments?

The Nedick's dog tasted different, it seemed to have pork in it as well as beef; I also remember the mustard mixed together with relish in a glass bowl, and I loved the old "hand pump" dispensers for the orange drink!! (Zum-Zum, anyone?)

My favorite restaurant in the area is a place called "No. 9" in Lambertville, NJ. A lovely little place with ceramic bowls of fresh vegetables adorning the window sills and a hard working chef who really cares about his food, this is a great place to dine. Don't miss the goat cheese and potato tart, also the short ribs and the rack of lamb are particularly good. A moderately priced, terrific New American. Got 3 stars in NJ Monthly. Menu and Photos Here

Well, Comfort Me, I thought that you might have been a recent ex-pat; and yes, Steve KLC on the Baking thread would be better suited to deal with this topic than folks here on the France thread. Bon chance!

Is this going to be in the same location they used to have on Abbot Ave near Café Boulevard?

Vous ne devez pas utiliser un casserole unique pour cuire des "Langues de Chat." Mais peut-etre vous devez poser cette question sur le "Baking" thread avec Steve KLC. Il sait toutes des choses de la cuisson!! N.B. Est-ce que vous habitez en France?

A/ K.T.'s B/ Ho Chi Minh Trail C/ Hanoi Republic D/ Saigon Republic II Does the one whose name was used get a free dinner?

The 4th Arr. (Marais) is our favorite place to stay in Paris. The lively but not overcrowded, eclectic environment makes for a great experience. Two places from our last visit: L'Alivi, on a corner, is a cute little bistro that specializes in Corsican cuisine, and all things Corsican, from the artwork on the walls to the spring water, to a very interesting selection of Corsican wines. The seafood selections are lovely, and a couple of interesting meat dishes as well. The ambience is very bistro-like, with about 20 tables. L'ALIVI 27 RUE DU ROI DE SICILE 75004 PARIS 01 48 87 18 99 On Sunday night, the choices will be much fewer, but a very cute place open Sundays is the Café du Trésor on the dead end rue du Trésor. For those wishing to sit outside with the pole heaters, you could brave it, but the inside is cozy and warm. The menu is small and selective but the food is terrific and simple. A very popular place with the natives. LE TRESOR 5 RUE DU TRESOR 75004 PARIS 01 42 71 78 35

Sorry, duplicate, see below.

Yes, it's a breathtakingly gorgeous looking person, dressed in a chartreuse cocktail glass and olive!!

Michael, I think one of the major areas of editor's discretion is on the ballot itself. The editor must decide what names to put on the ballot. If a restaurant is not on the ballot, the chances of a "write-in" vote are probably a fraction of someone voting for a name on the ballot. And for an established restaurant to be absent from the ballot year after year does raise some eyebrows.

3 pages on an Egullet thread, 10 Million guides/year, and an Egullet member who contributed this response on June 7 on this very thread:

Kudos to Michael Klein for his response on the Pennsylvania Forum to some of the questions swirling around about the Zagat Guides. He is the editor of the Philly Zagat, and he has also offered there to answer any and all questions about Zagat Philadelphia. Perhaps Andrea Klurfeld can take a lead from Mr Klein and come aboard the NJ Egullet and answer some of the unfinished business discussed in the last 3 pages here?

Any talk about the Zagat Guides should also include the negatives. As has been discussed at length on the NJ Forum, the Zagat guides have many problems, including prominent restaurants conspicuous by their non-inclusion in the guides, the mysterious methods used to arrived at their scoring numbers, and a general secrecy and unwillingness to openly discuss their guides. The Zagats are celebrities, and also are more than willing to accept VIP status at restaurants they are invited to. A full discussion here: Zagat NJ Egullet Discussion Caveat Emptor!!

Looking for a good, fresh retail fish place in Westchester. Seems these places are few and far between. Heard some decent things about Eastchester Fish in Scarsdale. Any recommendations or thoughts? Thanks!

Two more names on the endless list of Italian restaurants: DiMora, Piermont Road, Norwood La Casa Vecchia, Closter Dock Road, Closter. Anybody been? N.B. Thought the food at Andiamo's was a bit tired, and a bit overpriced. They should also try dusting those old basket-type wine bottles as well. The place could use a makeover.