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Derek Speaks Out: !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!WARNING - THIS LINK IS IN FRENCH!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!NON-FRENCH SPEAKERS BE ADVISED!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Check out this interesting link (in French) : Comment Michelin note les chefs

Have you even tasted it? I've done a great deal of research on absinthe, and just wanted to counteract the position of some former posters who said it only had an alcohol kick. Not that I'm contre, concerning modern-day absinthe... I think during that part of the 19th century, there seemed to be some sort of paranoid, prohibition scare (like the American prohibition), and I don't believe that absinthe was as bad as it was purported. Of course drinking pure wormwood will make you sick or kill you, but wormwood concentrate is NOT absinthe. And I'd be willing to bet, that out of the 10's of million of absinthe drinkers in the late 19th century, only a handfull of people died and went mad...

It's huge here in France. Everyone buys packaged salads.

Thanks, Craig, my sentiments exactly.

Gingerbread- I would be interested in your reponse to this: What would you consider non pedestrian food?

Gingerbread-have you eaten there? I have, and I don't believe the food or the restaurant are by any means ordinary. And Robuchon quite clearly doesn't give a damn about getting stars at L'Atelier. I mean, he already has two two-starred Michelin chefs in the kitchen, without counting him... Could you explain for us what you mean by ordinary?

There are two Chez Paul's in Paris, one in the 11th on the rue de Charonne and the second in the Butte aux Cailles neighborhood near the place d'Italie, both are pleasant, traditional Parisian bistros. The chain of bakers previously mentionned is called "Paul", not "Chez Paul".

As an interesting aside, I just came back from shopping at my local grocery store, which sells a line of microwavable food from a brand called "Fleury Michon"for whom Joel Robuchon has created his own line of "gourmet" food. On each and every package is marked " Win a trip to Paris, and discover the ATELIER restaurant!". Scary.

"Man on the Train" is a hit movie??? Since when? It even bombed over here in France, so I can't imagine Americans liking it much!

They open at 6h30 pm. When I went, we showed up qround 6h15 pm, and got in as soon as the doors opened. The clients after us waited about 1-1 1/2 hours for a seat. But none of them seemed too bitter.

I gave Atelier a chance, and I enjoyed it. I didn't find it outrageously expensive, and I found the staff to be charming. I had no preconceived ideas, and just took the experience at face-value. Good food from good produce, created by experienced chefs, in agreeable surroundings. I'm sorry others had a less-than-satisfactory experience, but L'Atelier is something new in Paris, and I'm all the better for it...

I've finally done it. The eternal procrastinator and coolest of concierges finally eats at Robuchon's eatery. I guess there's not much to add to the quality reportage that we've had so far. Suffice to say that I enjoyed myself, found this to be a fun gastronomic experience, and wasn't looking for the culinary Holy Grail. We showed up early, around 6h20 pm, and were seated almost immediately. We were four. My wife, Austin (my gastronomic sidekick, and evil twin), and his mother. The women took a few dishes, while A. and I devoured practically the entire menu. Robuchon wasn't present, apparently opening another Aterlier in Tokyo, or something, but Philippe Braun (ex-Laurent), and Eric Le Cerre ? (Astor) were in full effect. The staff was young and friendly, and although the seating was not as confortable as, say, a standard restaurant table, the barstools were by no means unconfortable. The staff was friendly and relaxed. In the kitchen (from what we could see), there seemed to be no rush or stress, just an ongoing preparation,production,observation, and distribution of dishes. What we ate was fresh, well-prepared, and well-presented. Favorites included the egg and morel mushrooms in the martini glass, the ris de veau, the anchovie millefeuille dish, and the Astrance-like avocado (forgive my not giving the absolute correct menu version of the dish-names). The wine-list was ok, even though we drank copiously from it. What I liked was the fact that we could eat food made from excellent products, by talented chefs in agreeable surroundings, and there was no pressure to do anything else. A. and I ate like pigs, the girls took it easy. Everyone in the restaurant was having a good time, and the only negative point for anyone seemed to be the no-reservation policy. I wouldn't hesitate to return, and some of my fellow diners (who all seemed to be discerning, and relatively knowledgable on gastronomy) were returning for second and third times. I'll write more when I have time to check out my notes...

I went to Craft a year ago, and had a less than satisfactory experience. Despite a confirmed reservation, we waited at the bar for an hour for our table, with no apologies, just "We're busy tonight". Granted I live in paris, and shouldn't compare, but I thought that the food was the equivalent of any one of many contemporary bistros here in Paris, but much more expensive. The service was really slow, and we seemed to have lost our waiter half-way through the meal, and then were served by two different other servers. One told us our foie-gras was French, another said it was from New York. I probably wouldn't give it another try, though I'm pleased to see others had a more positive experience..

The good Chez Jean is in the 9th, and is run by a former Taillevent employee

Le Georges is a modern,trendy eatery in the Pompidou Center..Chez Georges is a classic bistro at 2 rue de Mail, near the place des Victoires

It's in the fridge! Amen!

Chow.

Why would you want to?

It's a hot Parisian evening, and I'm sipping a cool Kronenbourg...

The continuing trend of homogeny. Make everything taste the same.

I'm always surprised by the banality of American cheeses on my vacations. It's as if they've been purged of all taste and character, and visibly even seem translucid and unpalatable. They taste good. But nothing special. And no character.

Just wish I could get it here in Paris...

So, Lou, where have you found exceptional cocktails in Paris? I suppose you know the Bar Montaigne at the Plaza, and the Hemingway.. both have great bartenders and fab cocktails

I've met Tim and Nina at my place of work on several occasions, and am convinced they are bent on total world domination!