fresh_a

You're talking about Chez Louisette. It is kitchy and fun. And you definitely don't go there for the food. You go to enjoy yourself. I wouldn't call it "bad" at all...

Sorry for you, you're missing out...

No offense taken! No need to apologize!!

When I said "scoop", I didn't mean that I had the scoop that Savoy bought Chiberta-everyone in the business has known that since April-time. I meant that I actually was the first outsider, to my knowledge, to visit, meet all the players,and get a menu, etc. I'll keep you all posted when I try it out.

I did a private visit of Chiberta today. Very modern, purist Wilmotte interior. Nice square-bar are on the right, two dining rooms on the left, with interesting, optic-lit wine storage areas in the wall-space. Private dining room in the back. The walls are all white, table furniture black. The menu is simple, and sligtly creative. Tasting menu at a very correct 60 Euros. They open tomorrow, will report when I've tried it.

It's undoubtedly an underground storage room. I've had this experience many a time in smaller Paris restaurants...

I'm a bit confused by the phrase, "The shock of the new was gone". The last time Allard was "new" was around 1800 (and then again when it was purchased by the original owners of the current Allard in the 1930's). Being "new" has never been one of Allard's main qualities or attraction...

That's "rue Cler" witout the "c" on the end

Details, please, John no1

Pierre Herme apparently just took over control of his company and brand name again. here...

Pim, my sentiments exactly adrian

Of course they're not in the same category: McDonald's doesn't sell mussels, and Leon doesn't sell hamburgers. But they are the same type of chain restaurant. Leon is in the same cast as Buffalo Grill, etc etc

Are you thinking about "Octave", just at the bottm of the rue Mouffetard as you enter the street and start walking uphill?

I avoid chain restaurants normally at all costs, so I wasn't aware of the vast selection on the Leon menu. Many apologies!

I agree with Paul that this is a very interesting and well-informed book. I enjoyed reading it, and believe it was quite successful as I see it in virtually every bookstore in the Paris and Ile de France region.

Leon de Bruxelles, the McDonalds of Moules Frites, has at least 12 locations in Paris, and probably hundreds more in the rest of France. They serve only moules frites (so you'd be hard pressed to get anything else on the menu), and are a chain restaurant in the mold of all the others. Moules Frites are a Belgian dish, first and formost, and although there are many excellent establishments in Paris selling fruits de mers, I don't know of any good Belgiun restaurants. Take the Thalys!

Z, have you actually been to Djoon? Just looking for a little intelligence on it. As for the Crystal Room, I've known this place since (before) it opened. I'm not "looking" for places at all. I'm just trying to get your opinions to see what others think. Believe me, I know ALL of these places.

The new Figaroscope has high hopes for this establishment, as they've just (after only 4 months) changed their chef. "Wait and see", they say.

Regarding the other link, absente is definitely NOT absinthe. Not made according to the same technique, and not made of the same stuff. I always have a bottle at home, of the real stuff either made in France for exportation only, or the Swiss stuff.

Sorry, forgot the (French) link , and the English link

The National Council of the Swiss Parlement accepted Monday to legalize the production of absinthe. 96 Years after its prohibition (falsely accused of making people crazy), it will be produced for the first time since 1908. Exciting stuff!

Anyone???? (Echo, Echo, Echo)

I'd be interested to know what everyone thinks about French meat vs US meat. As I said, I tend to eat mine rarer here, because I think the quality is, in general, much better than in the US (where I always eat it well-done) Then again, I do go to great places here in Paris, but those're my thoughts.

...as said by Miss Chu

I ate at La Famille when it first opened, and enjoyed it, but wasn't blown away. The avocado milkshake was great, though, and this kind of establishment does make a change in the Montmarte area, that doesn't really have a whole lot to offer in terms of good eateries.