Geepsie

Let's not get into the old flame about kids vs no kids in restaurants. Erlowest is what it is, and they obviously don't feel that is about kids. I am very happy that Other People's Children will not ruin my dining experience. Most people can't judge what is annoying to other diners when it comes to evaluating their kids' behaviour. I'm sure you don't fall into that category. However once they let you in, they have to let everyone in. Show them what you think by not eating there. Oops. I guess I've gotten into it. Vaguely sorry. Geepsie

My husband and I met Matt Secich in Jackson Hole, Wyoming in January, 2004. We were riding up the small elevator to our room, and happened to glance at the restaurant's blurb on the wall. The Alpenhof Inn featured the Alpenrose Restaurant. The menu had en eyecatching font that said "tasting menu, look at me!" And the tasting menu looked wonderful. Can't beat walking downstairs for dinner, so we made reservations for that evening. What a meal! It was as memorable as Docsonz notes. We ate there twice more (every night we were there, except one). Matt sources unusual and superb ingredients: shot chuckar from Louisiana, deckel from prime steak dry aged, pheasants that he hung himself in his walk-in refrigerator. He even had an 80 pound lamb hanging for aging. Crystal, his wife, is gracious and knowledgeable. She matches wine to Matt's dishes, and does an excellent job of anticipating the taste synergies and conflicts in the food. She substituted out other wines in a twinkling, if we had already had it in combination with a dish on another night. Never been to Lake George. We're going up there this winter to XC ski, because Matt is there, and we want to eat his food again. (The third night we were in Jackson Hole, he did a tasting menu just for us. The man knows how to handle sweetbreads.)

Troquet is excellent. The wine list is extensive, full of unique and hard-to-find bottles with excellent pricing (comparing with similar restaurants). The chef worked at Veritas in NYC before Troquet. The food is excellent. I've been there numerous times with never an off dish. It's probably THE wine friendliest restaurant in town, with dishes and wines matched with forethought. The owner is knowledgeable, honest and accessible. He offers a great cheese course, cheeses sourced from Formaggio's, and serves them at their ripe best. My husband and I coincidently were at Excelsior Friday night. He had the foie gras "steak" appetizer. $25, small piece of liver, not particularly creative, just okay per his experienced foie gras palate. I had the butternut squash soup - smooth, creamy, with creme fraiche garnish, nicely done except for a sweetness that wasn't the squash, and wasn't perfect for me. (I tend to not mix sweet with my savouries.) Husband had duck for main course, and he said it was excellent. Perfectly cooked, well spiced. Lydia Shire is putting a large number of elements on the plate, which tend to confuse rather than enhance the main dish. I had a PEFECTLY cooked pigeon, charred crust on the outside, meltingly rare on the inside. Polenta side was good (I ignored the vegetable garnishes). The reduction sauce was too salty. We shared dessert: lemon mousseline. Forgettable texture, lemon not intense enough, crust under the lemon was puzzling....was it really graham based? Why was it there? Wine service was excellent. They did not have the bottle I ordered. The wine guy (actually the Gen Manager) suggested a less expensive wine that fit exactly what I was looking for. Minus points for trying to double charge us for the bottle when the check came. I think Troquet does it better at this point. Summer Shack: good old New England food, nicely done, simple, informal, somewhat expensive. I can justify the expense based on good ingredients, treated well. The place is convenient. You can stop by for beer and raw bar, or take the kids there, or meet friends, and not worry that they show up 15 minutes late (no rezzies for small parties, not sure about larger parties). I'm sure it is becoming entouristed, but not to the detriment of the experience. Laurie

Dewars in Newton Center is it. Savenors has similar products, but attitude, and not much customer service. If I call Dewars to order Moulard legs, they get them. If I call Savenors, they tell me, nope, haven't seen them for awhile, can't get them. I haven't done a head-to-head comparison, but my impression is that Dewars has slightly lower prices than Savenors. The guys at Dewars chat you up if you appear amenable, and will offer spontaneous recipes. Harry once spent five minutes giving me directions to a knife sharpener in Boston who would not stab me in the back with pricing. Geepsie

I'd be curious to hear how your French acquaintances respond. They do not laugh at themselves with any skill whatsoever. (Cousin Julien from Paris was raised by French parents who spent much time in the USA.) Geepsie

I asked my husband's Parisian cousin about the French Paradox. He tilted his head, let out that sardonic Parisian snigger, and noted that the only French Paradox is how many people actually DON'T get killed in motor vehicle accidents. He didn't think the Paradoxers' research had a statistically significant number of people to work with. Folks died on the highways en masse, therefore nobody got old enough to have developed coronary disease. Geepsie

Thanks, eGulleteers! I'll report when I get back. Geepsie

JG is one of my favorite restaurants. I brought my in-laws there, and on a return visit to NYC, they demanded a return visit! The dishes are always inventive, surprising and delicious. Why has no one mentioned the Jordan almonds as a L'Arpege knockoff? It is one of Passard's signature tasting menu dishes (he uses squab). It was quirky, and "interesting" there (our table of four didn't think it worked all that well, but one forgives the chef for such flights of fancy). I don't think I would be patient with it as a copycat invention. Geepsie

I will be in the city soon for a conference. We have reservations at L'Atelier, Felidia (truffle menu, yum!), and Gotham Bar and Grill. After having rediscovered the city several years ago (it helped to have an income), I've dragged my willing husband to Jean-Georges ****, Daniel (old location)***, Aquavit***1/2, Gotham***(welcoming, satisfying on a visceral level), Picholine***1/2(good cheese, best wine-by-the-glass with tasting menu experience in several cities), Lespinasse***(under Kunz, average wine-by-the-glass experience), Veritas****+, March***, dbBistro**, and Patria**. Looking for a Tuesday evening reservation. It's been hard to find reviews of L'Absinthe. Is it not on the foodie map? Other choices on the cheat sheet are Rhone, Montrachet, Park Avenue Cafe, ILO, Cafe Boulud. We are staying in midtown. Geepsie