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Margaret Pilgrim

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Posts posted by Margaret Pilgrim

  1. .... We were particularly lucky in the Pont Audemer area because we stayed at a farmhouse called Le Manoir de L’Aufragere and ate there every evening.  Unfortunately, this is not a restaurant, but a table d’hote for people staying at the house....We found them, just by chance,  in the Alastair Sawday Special Places to Stay guide, but there’s also an interesting piece on them here in the Telegraph.

    The website indicates that this place is for sale therefore no longer operating as a chambre d'hote. A pity but understandable.

  2. While the shops mentioned above are all excellent, we greatly enjoyed Ferme St. Hubert's Rochechouart, no. 36, location: magnificent old marble fixtures, fine assortment of cheeses and dairy and wonderful attention and instruction from the maitre.

    I will add that there is great food presence on this section of Rochechouart: the deliriously fanciful bakery/tea seller, Aurore-Capucine at no. 3; amazing Epicerie Gourmandes aux Pipalottes at no.49, which combines deli take-out choices, floor to ceiling shelves of fine food products and a few tables where you can choose from a short menu a light lunch or shopping respite.

    Edited to add this website that features restaurants, shops and events in this (9e) quartier.

  3. Perhaps a dessert phenomenon? Rice pudding grandmere at Chez Michel was recently brought in a large (1.5-2L) serving dish to be served as you wish, and the baba at Astier was the size of half a batard, albeit dry as cardboard and accompanied by something that resembled hydromiel more than rum or rum syrup. Totally inedible. No calories wasted that night.

    Actually, I remember that Roellinger served an enormous dessert (a large serving of hot orange mousse and an equally large bowl of chocolate mousse). I couldn't dent either.

  4. Because the water isn't muddy enough, I'll add our two cents. While the setting is extraordinary, we were terribly disappointed with our evening at Le Vieux Pont. The welcome, in fact the entire staff, was more professional than warm. While our room was the largest they offered, it was small and equipped with only one chair, so only one person could read in comfort. Dinner was ordinary at best. A minimal breakfast was served in a perfunctory manner on the ground floor of the hotel building. Our visit was memorable only because of its lack of highpoints. It was one of those rare experiences when my husband looked as me and asked, "Why did you say that we came here? Whose recommendation?" :huh:

  5. Having just returned from Paris, I was just about to post that Paris certainly has a festive air at this time of year. I am not much of a shopper/buyer of quintessential holiday crafts, although I can be had for seasonal foods which are well displayed at all levels from Champion through Bon Marche and Galleries Lafayette. And don't forget G. Detou on Tiquetonne for wall-to-wall floor-to-ceiling holiday foods for pennies.

  6. .... There is no justification for ambroisie's behavior.Specially in a 3  star restaurant.Its pure arrogance on their part.They should have made an effort to clear the misunderstanding ,specially when one is willing to come back .

    Definitely an  unacceptable  and deplorable  attitude .

    The gold standard.
  7. I get to you blog easily enough. I find your Biarritz header showing six photos and the following lead-in text: "Can you imagine I've been living for more than a decade in France, and that I've never been to the Basque region ,and that I've been missing out on this?....." But regardless of what else I do I can't seem to access the rest of your test. Help, please?

  8. Yes, we are very lucky. It's rather easy at most levels of dining rooms in France to interact with one's server to get across one's wants and needs. I've never encountered/entertained a server I would consider patronizing. Maybe the superior level of professional waiters in France is why we continue to return.

  9. Pti's analysis, as a Frenchperson, is telling: the Anglo press has made (and continues to make) such a mecca of this place that it is booked far beyond its merit. When you finally get your reservation, you can be sure that you will be dining with your stateside next-door neighbors rather than locals who tried it early and moved on. If this is your goal, the frustration and wait may be worth it to you.

    That said, a friend has just returned and had good things to say about the lunch she enjoyed there: excellent roast chicken, no wait for a table. Will that suffice?

  10. Question: does anyone have a simple and reliable avenue to subscribe to "Elle a Table", Saveurs" (please note that this is the French periodical, not our 'Saveur'), "Regal", "Vin et Cuisine"?

    Many thanks in advance. These mags are super expensive at my international mag dealer, and super heavy (to hear my husband's rants but worth every effort) to suitcase home from France. :sad:

  11. I am surprised no one mentionned Gaya rive gauche .Gagnaire's restaurant .Its modern cuisine ,some dishes with an inventive twist.

    Also quite reasonable .

    I didn't realize it was that approachable, pierre. What is your take on an average out-the-door for two people, 3 courses, modest bottle of wine, coffees?
  12. Well, er, I like either supermarket wheat or, as an interesting but not everyday alternative, supermarket rye. But then, I'm from California. :hmmm: That said, poached eggs on toast are one of my favorite comfort meals.

    Edited to add that I also love poached egg on salad, poached egg in soup, poached egg on ratatouille, poached egg on... :wub:

  13. This event really can't be described. I have heard it mistakingly described in a food group by someone who hadn't attended as being a collection of middling producers. Nothing can be further from the truth. Note also that the array includes difficult to find wines and liquors: premium vin jaune, extraordinary calvados, bugey de cerdon, unique local aperitifs and digestive as well as fine cognac and armagnac. We actually plan one of our trips around the dates.

  14. Should we have a convention when stating prices? p/p/p? Menu price? Food only price? You name it?

    ....Opinions? Suggestions?

    Please.

    Your suggestion?

    Me? I'd like to know the base menu price, beverage charges and the total. e.g., one menu at 30€, one at 35€, 3 wines by the glass, 2 coffees, totally 99€; or 65€ for food, 6€ for coffee, 28€ for wine. Rough estimates would be fine as long as we got a sense of how the diner ordered in order to arrive at his stated total.

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