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coachboy

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Everything posted by coachboy

  1. coachboy

    Dollar/Euro

    Having been the past three years, and feeling the "relative" pain this past summer (1.16 vs. .92 in 01), I would still go if we weren't expecting child #2 in May. What I noticed this past trip (Paris and Italy) was that there are a lot fewer shopping bargains and temptations. Fortunately, we were there during "sale" season, so the discounts offset the increased currency plus some As for food, I ordered less expensive wine and avoided the higher end restaurants - bistros and trattorias for us. The total cost was not much different in the end. Coachboy
  2. One more thing...I know a fair amount about wine (cellar over 800 bottles), yet when I'm in Europe I like to try obscure, less expensive wines. (Unless I find a bargain, like 83 margaux for 130e two years ago) At Regalade, they have an interesting list, but I hadn't heard of many of the producers. So I asked for a cote du rhone, and they recommended a 2002. I agreed, though I should have known better. 2002 is a total washout year for the rhone - they had torrential floods in September, and these wines, by and large, should be avoided. Sure enough, the wine was thin and weak - like a beaujolais. I made a comment, and they implied that the wine was "proper" but if I wished I could exchange it. As I didn't really know any of the other wines, I decided to just drink it and it was drinkable, no more, no less. Coachboy
  3. We went to La Regalade this past summer...I found it to be solid, very hearty cuisine. Well worth the 30e prix fixe. The desserts were really disappointing, however. In addition, we had to order our desserts at the beginning of the meal - really odd, I thought, as I ordered a cheese plate (which consisted of two slices of a pecorino toscana type cheese) and my wife ordered a chilled sorbet. Better for fall/winter dining than summer eating...but then again, that's how I feel about most french food. Coachboy P.S. Astier was great, if you get a chance
  4. It's a zoo, and the sandwiches are fairly tasty...between $12-18. They include fries and a salad. It's a very starchy meal, as they also give you a bread basket. If you include some decent wine, and split a desert ($8-11), the tab can easily exceed $40 pp w/tax&tip. Which, IMO, is ridiculous for some bar food. Then again, I've always been disappointed with the food and especially the service (incompetent and haughty) at Campanile. Coachboy
  5. I live in LA, and have always enjoyed SB dining. A few: Super Rica: I didn't get it the first few times, but now I'm addicted. Get the #16, spoon it into the warm tortillas, add some guacamole and firey pico di gallo and it's perfect Mexican. The rice and beans are always good, as are specials like Tamale's. Pane e Vino: A solid Italian trattoria in Montecito. Keep it simple, and you'll enjoy sitting outside. Much better than Via Vai, which has nice outdoor seating, but very bland food. It also, for some reason, feels like the Upper East Side meets the Hamptons ...blah Hitching Post: Drive to wine country for the best french fries in the state. The grilled artichoke and steaks are solid too. Brophy Bros. is your standard Wharf restaurant. Wine Cask O.K. Ca Dario has very similar food to Pane e Vino, but in SB central. F.S. Biltmore is your standard five star resort food - overly ambitious and poorly executed. Decent lunch, however. Enjoy. Coachboy
  6. Didn't Jeffrey Steingarten write an article about Tomoe Sushi (I believe he didn't mention it by name) in Vogue a few years back? If I recall correctly, he found it revolting. Coachboy
  7. In my experience, "long lines" and "waits" are a HUGE NEON SIGN to run away...far away. For instance, in LA, restaurants that have long lines/waits: 1. Cheesecake Factory - Huge portions of mediocre or terrible chow. And the cheesecake is worse than Sara Lee. 2. Crazy Fish in BH - stunningly bad sushi in an ugly, uncomfortable enviornment. Last time I went I gagged on a revolting piece of "whitefish". How can any sushi joint with jars of wasabi and ginger on each table be good? The only exceptions to this rule are Dim Sum and Sunday Brunch places (though I really don't get why someone would wait an hour to eat pancakes) Coachboy
  8. RE: Prada. The 30% off is in addition to their already marked down prices. I bought shirts for 40E and shoes for 80E...roughly 60-70% off list price. Did you make it to "The Mall" - featuring Armani, Zegna etc... It had a tasty lunch room, as well as having many bargains in the various stores. I picked up a beautiful Armani sportjacket for 107E and sunglasses for 45E. Better luck next time. Coachboy
  9. Good news is we are going to Paris/Italy next month... Bad news is dollar is falling apart, and we just bought a house and I can feel the money drain just beginning. So, I'm trying to be as frugal as can be, but still want a couple great meals while in Europe. We went to L'Astrance two years ago, had a great lunch, it was 450 ff person w/wine (suprise menu-1/2 portions)...all in, $140 w/aperitifs, coffee, water. Now, with dollar, that would be at least $180. Now I'm thinking Hiramatsu...I believe they have a 50e lunch, however web site only has dinner prices - 130 euros. Anyone been? Also, what is current L'Astrance lunch price. I'd definitely return. Thanks. Coachboy
  10. Going to Paris in late June for three nights, then one night upon return to States in July. Arriving on a Sunday, departing on a Saturday. Will be with well behaved 6 year old and wife. Question: I have perused the board, but am wondering what restaurants people really loved/hated. I went to L'Astrance two years ago and had a superb lunch (also only 140 euros for 2). Taillevent I find stuffy and boring. Generally, I prefer casual bistro type places. I'm not bringing a jacket on my trip. Any food is good. Trendy is OK, if the food's good. Also, my understanding is many places are closed Sunday. Any recos? BTW, we are staying at the intercontinental. Thanks in advance. Coachboy
  11. Valentino isn't even the best restaurant in LA, let alone the US. Valentino has one thing going for it: and INCREDIBLE wine list. The food can be very good, but too often is ordinary. Service is spotty and the ambiance is pretty dull. Angelini Osteria serves up solid, Italian chow in LA. Coachboy
  12. From visits the past two summers: Al Covo: Avoid. Full of tourists (only heard English and Japanese). Food was OK, but not worth tariff. Da Fiore: Great food. Lovely ambiance. Terrific Service. Really EXPENSIVE, though. Entrees between $40-50. Vino al Gigo (sp?) - lovely spot in Canareggio. Superb wine list. Good, simple seafood. For Venice, inexpensive/moderate. Alla Testiere: Tiny, two seatings a night. Friendly, young staff. Superb seafood - among best I've had in Italy. Excellent deserts too. Interesting, well priced wine list. Pricey, about $150 for two with $20 wine. Ponte del Diavolo - Nice restaurant on Torcello. Lovely outdoor area, full of Italian families on a Sunday afternoon. About $45pp. Ciao. Coachboy
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