cigalechanta

I've only seen fresh beets at the markets but I don't shop in indoor places when there once a year. And here we only buy fresh that are in our markets.

My last visit to the Camargue restaurent La Chassagnette was not so enjoyable because a guy at the table in Front of us was smoking cigarillo after cigarillo through each course and here we are seated on a terrace in front of an herb garden. But it figures, he didn't seem to like all the great dishes presented. The waiters seemed to be annoyed by him, yet nothing was said to make him put out his cigars.

This must be Donald Trump because i know Howard Hughes is dead.....or...is he?

We had wonderful Belons in Belon at Chez Jacky's and also the best grilled lobster I have ever tasted. They rarely grill them here in New England and when they do they are too dry.

Ok, vilmor, not affording great wines but what village is chez Jonathan?

We stayed at the Hotel Ithurria and loved the food and wine there. The staff couldn't be nicer and the location wonderful. In St Jean-De -Luz we ate in Ciboure at a fisherman's shack, "Arrantzaleak."And dinner at the lovely "Le Parc Victoria."

There's an article on it in "France"magazine (not the excellant British one)

This month's Food & Wine has Michel Bras' recipe for stuffed onion.

There's the Anciente Hotel Baudy, museum/restaurant( this is where the American Impressionists stayed to be near Monet. It's no longer a hotel) and The Jardin of Giverny, A hotel/restaurant. Both minutes walk from Monet's House and Gardens.

I brought back a jar of pickled salicornes along with my fleur de sel from the Guerande in Brittany. Pickled, they are used as a condiment, fresh use like green beans thanks for the suggestions.

Does anyone know where I can buy them on line?

We'll try the Jardin next time in that area. We made the mistake of dining in the Guiganette(spellin?)The location by the water was lovely, the food forgetable. I read a blurb in a French magazine that made it sound special.

The menu looked good at the Nid D'Aigle in Gourdon but we only had pastis on the terrace for the view. otherwise the few days we ate at our hotel and the food very good(the Auberge du Loup)

Duncan, I have eaten twice at the jarden, the menu changes and I think I had stuffed squash flowers the last time(a favorite dish of mine)

Our car broke down on the Route de Napoleon so we were towed and without a car, so we taxied from our hotel to the village of Rouret(see my full trip report on fodors.com)We arrived aa half hour early, not knowing how long a taxi drive would be. I buzzed in at the gate and explained our situation so she opened the gate and let us wander their grounds with one of their cats and two english setters following us. There were six tables on the terrace, two Germans, two Brits, one French. Chef Silva comes to each table with each course to explain to you what it is. There is no choice. This is what I could make out what he said: The amuse bouche was a lentil spread, toast ansd salami, cherry tomato. A pate of duck liver, gingerbread and corgette, rockette with parmasan with a balsamic vinegar dressing, a rare spanish Morue from Bilboa, coca beans with honey, Lamb with potato gnocci with pistou juice, and a green peppersauce timbali. I'll never know what the dessert or cheese was because the taxi was picking us up at 2:30 so J. could taxi to Nice to pick up another rented car. But Mme did serve us a plum and marebelle with a sugered ginger stick. A few comments: the napkins were the biggest, prettiest embroidered ever seen at a resto. The dinnerwar is lovely and commisioned by madame in nearby Valbone. The reason I know this. I was the only one at six tables who orderd for an apero, a pastis. It arrived with a beatiful hand craftet pitcher, a desigh on it of grass and insects. I found it lovely and asked where I could purchase one (much to the chagrin of J. who thought it too heavy.) I'd love to have a place like that, old and simple. We saw one room that had a billiard table and statues of bird dogs as well as lots of photos on the wall. ( chef Silva is a bird hunter with his dogs.) I try to be the person, my dog thinks I am.

Tonight, Larry King on CNN repeats the interview with Julia.

I also will agree about Le fournil, a yearly stop because of local interests. La Regalido in Fontveille, Mas de Touteron, in Les Imberts, outside of Gordes, if I could afford it, i'd go back again to Le Bain Marie, The less expensive, Cafe des Artistes in Avignon. I also had great meals there that were special at Christian Etainne, Hely-Lucullus, La Veille Fontaine ( at thee Hotel L'Europe_ Crillon La Brave in Crillon...,in Isle-sur-sorge, Le jardindu Quai, in Lourmarin ,i Moulin de Lourmarin, In Sugeret, Le Mesclun. And where I stayed in Villeneuve-lez- Avignon at th Prieuré.

This is the only piece on Julia that has upset me. I hope, those of you who are chefs, write the editor. To think this is one of out popular food writere! Heaven help us! http://www.bostonphoenix.com/boston/news_f...ts/04066382.asp

Russ, I posted your LA Times tribute to Julia to friends. My feedback was overwhelming.

Today's New York times has a long article on the editorial page by Alex Prud'homme, Julias grand newphew. http://www.nytimes.com/2004/08/20/opinion/20prudhomme.html

If PBS in Boston didnt broadcast it, we would stop donating. And I agree with you, all they show now, is dribble, years are, you could learn French, see cooking from Cornwall, England, The River, Cafe, Italy, now it's not much.

Casting, the one on the hill is Les Florets, with the nice terrace!

I suspect the marine de loup is seawolf, a fish related to catfish.

Ann, try to go there next time. Elizebeth Bourgeois is consdered one of the top Provençal chefs. Her cookbook is not in English but I have heard it is very good. The dining terrace is charming.

La Chassagnatte in the Camargue has a tapas like menu and is an organic farm. Wonderful things(like my favorite) stuffed squash flowers and tomato sorbet.