fresh_a

McDo?

Yannick Alleno of l'Hôtel Meurice, Eric Fréchon of the Bristol, as well as Michel Trama from Loges de L'Aubergade in Puymirol are the highest rated chefs for the year 2004 according to the Pudlo guide. Gilles Pudlowski promted Alleno and Fréchon to three plates each, saying the French capitol was faring well, and was certainly the best in the world for dining. Les Ambassadeurs at the Crillon Hotel, and La Table de Joel Robuchon both received two plates each.

Gastronomie.com reports that the new director of the Michelin guide prioritizes what's "on the plate", and downgrades the importance of decor. Could this be a new direction?

Flo was running the Coupole before.Now they own it.

But surely by that time everyone will be onto the next "in" Parisian bistro...

God, everyone is jumping on the bandwagon...

http://www.gastronomie.com/afp/gastronomie...04.4vcp1f6n.asp

In the 15th.

Tighe- was that before or after the departure of Flora Mikula?

Thanks, Jonathan, you're a star, I've already ordered it!

Funny, I already tried alapage, but found nothing - do you have the link?

Did you read the French version? Where did you obtain it? (I have an eight-week backorder for a used copy on amazon.fr)..

Almost forgot, Pierre au Palais Royale, simply for the fact that chef/owner Jean-Paul Arabian is a rather disagreeable person (in every way), in my (and many others) opinion. I for one won't be going to his new Russian restaurant when it opens...

A pintarde is actually a mentally-handicapped pintade...

I don't think New Yorkers stress as much for no apparent reason...then again, you know the kind of high-contact, mega-stress-level job I work at!!

They probably stay slim because they're running around and getting stressed all day long (please don't take this as a generality, but simply my own daily experience)

It's not cheap, but then again, top quality never is. The tasting menu is 60 Euros, drinks not included. It's more expensive than a Savoy bistro, but less expensive than the gastro. I'd probably guess 100 Euros per head, eating very well, and drinking a good wine.

I was talking about how they charged us for items we never ordered, and then when we remaked upon this, made sexual comments to the female members of our party..

Strange I just posted something about the disgusting Ma Bourgogne in the Marais, and the post just disappeared...

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Ma Bourgogne, place des Vosges is bad enough that I wrote the Office de Tourisme about them. They overcharged us, and then the owner made sexual remarks to the female members of my party. I'm a concierge in Paris, so you can image how I was doubly shocked by their behavior.

Bath's is excellent, as is the family who runs it, Mr. Bath (chef) and his son, Stephane, the manager. I had a very memorable Velouté de Lentilles au Bonbons de Foie Gras - a sort of potato pastry injected with hot foie gras and truffle oil! Memorable! Unfortunately, they have replaced the "bonbons" with maigret de canard (which is actually just about as good). Great Salers steak, and red wine selection as well...

A little update to my August 24th post. After work that same day, after having been invited to drink a glass of champagne at Chiberta after-hours by Franck Savoy, I happily obliged. I briefly met Guy Savoy, who had been entertaining opening-day guests, and looked exhausted. I had a good talk with Franck about lots of things, and met Jean-Paul the restaurant manager, and Laurent, the chef (Guy Savoy's second at his gastro) as well as the former Chiberta chef, Eric Coiseuil (sic?). I also briefly met the other top chef, having come from Les Bouquinistes. I had a great time, a good chat with a friend I hadn't seen for awhile (Franck), and left, after having promised to come for lunch the next day. When I arrived the next day, the decor had been considerably updated, especially with the addition of a large red canvas from Savoy's private collection, as well as paintings in the other rooms, and wine bottles filling the "daily cellar" filling both wall-spaces leading to the back dining room. Everything looked much less minimalist than I previously posted. Jean-Paul greeted me and asked where I would like to dine, at a table, or in the bar area. My decision was made much easier by the fact that Guy Savoy himself was at the bar having lunch with friends (later I discovered is one of France's most well-known gourmet critics). At this moment Franck showed up, and escorted me to a seat just across from his father, and next to the gourmet critic. I'd love to go into all of the conversation we had, on the future of gastronomy, the new Savoy gastro at Caeser's Palace, produce, truffles, cigars, Hester Blumenthal, how Thomas Keller was when he staged in his kitchen, as well as El Bulli's pastry chef, etc etc, and maybe I will in a future post. The food, simple and creative, with not a few Savoy classics was excellent. I started with Foie Gras with Asparagus and Supreme de Volaille with a Truffled Butter Sauce, then proceded with an almost grandmotherly like cocotte of Lemon Confit Lamb Shoulder and assorted vegetables. I finished with the Fondant au Chocolat. I really enjoyed everything and would highly reccomend this establishment. It has a great atmosphere, friendly service, and a family-run attention, and pedigree. Look for a lot of buzz soon.

Bux, Speaking of Savoy, did you get my mail?

This is a pretty decent article as well (although a little outdated)