cigalechanta

Coutanceau's son has a great place on the port, called "Les Flots "The grilled lobster is fabulous. Something not done well or often her in New England. Another fan of the Moulin De L'Abbaye here.

We stayed at St-Paul-de-Vence and loved the food at our place, The Colombe D'Or and also the nearby auberge de Tourette

Re: Lac annecy, We stayed at Pere Brise and the food was very good.

We like Chez FonFon in Marseille.

We ate at his Auberge de Eriden on Lac Annecy. It was fabulous and sitting on that deck for drinks before hand, makes you feel you are on a luxury yacht. When you enter, you are taken by the guide down an elevator that barely holds the three of us. They were kind enough to give me the menu. Be warned. It is TRES CHER!

I did that one year and enjoyed the ride but it was a spur of the moment idea so didn't have a place in mind so on the main street, I sat at a cafe and had a great beer and snack. Rudy Maxa, on his Tv show(and Vid) mentions a restaurant there, I forget the name and saw his show long after I was there. But he raved about it. Unfortunately for me it was a monday and lots of places like galleries were closed.

We stayed at the Auberge de Ruats in Avallon where I had for the first time the Truite bleu. This is the same place that MFK Fisher wrote about.

Next time, try Heily Luccalus, tho I like sitting outside on the terrace at Etainne overlooking the pope's palace.

La Regalade is one of my favorite bistros. The first time I was there because Pierre Franney said it was his favorite and the chefs from other restaurants ate there on their days off.

Hi returned last night from France. At my Provence friends' recommendations, we settled on FonFon and it was great. They kindly gave me my menu, Worth the fuss! Also had a spectacular meal in Cucuron at the Petite Maison, but tres cher!!!!. Outside of Paris the Fournaisse was wonderful and back at St Paul-de-Vence, our stay and meals at the Colombe DÓr were everything we hoped it would be. In the Camargue, The Telline was a surprising charming little place with a fine owner/chef. The Grand Bleu in Beaune I liked very much. mimi

I like Al Forno, as the best of all.

"THE BEST RESTO in Maine is ARROWS in Ogunquit. They grow all their vegetables and herbs and you can walk around to see this before dinner. Reservations a must.

A wonderful, fairly new small resto on Boyslston Street across from the Boston Common, is the best new restaurant. "Troquet

The book is wonderful but I think Jacques knows that often the top star restos fail and the smaller ones can do better food. At Ducasse's Bastide de Moustiers, I had to send back my lamb, fat , grizzle. so tough. I can't think of any other place I sent back a dish.

I have eaten at the Grande Cascade and everything was lovely but the food though very good could not beat Veyrat, plus the unusual setting. You are escoted down in a tiny elevator where only a couple and the escot fit. Then you are led to the deck that faces Lake Annecy and feels like you are on a yacht. You have your apertifs and amuse bouche and later, table by table you are taken into the many leval dining areas, country decor.

The owner is very old but he goes from table to table at the river bank where you have your apertifs to greet you. I think a special touch. But, Alas I was disapponted we could not eat outside in that beautiful setting.

Nothing compared with the auberge dI'll

Has anyone had the B. at Le Lunch? I leave next week. Any high recommendations?

Crillon le Brave has a beautiful terrace for dining, and also a "pub"with a rerrace and the swimming pool below on another terrace. one of our fav places, for view, food. Florets is good, In Isle-su-sorgue, Mas de cure Burse. In Avignon, heily Luccalus. C. neETien was very good also as mention above. Chez Bu in Eygalieres, In Les Baux, the Lóusteau de Baumaniére and La Ribota de Tavern, And one of the best woman chefs, 2 actually, Mas de toureton in Les Imberts outside Les Baux, and in Isle, Mas cure Bourse Fontville, Le Rigalido. Off to the Colombe D'Or in St-paul-de-Vence in a week.

I don't remember the name of the rest in St Tropez , it's the hight point overlooking the harbor, that we had a great Bourride.

I leave in a week and want a place near the water at Marseille to try an authentic Bouilliabaisse. The best restaurant in Aix where we dined was "Clos des Violettes Ïn Cassis it was Monsieur Brun

I love the oil and stop at the moulin every year and buy a three bottle carry on.

A variation on Mrs B,'s salad. I like Tomatoes, mozzarella. red onion, fresh basil, drizzled with vi rgin olive oil and balsamic vinegar and a sliced clove of garlic, a provencal rosé and a great bread..heaven! This horrible spring, constant rain flooded my plants to death and causes me to drink and eat more than I usually do.

I pick up pieces wherever I find them. I have two square and three round baking dishes purchased here ( Boston ) at various shops. My cassole, that is what the dish is called for making the cassolet, I bought at the potters when I was in France. Sometimes, Crate and Barrel, Smith and Hawkins will have things in their catalog. A few years ago, I bought my french scalloped edge yellow dinner plates from S&H. Often the back of these books will give the source.

If you have no children, how about hiring her as hostess?..hatcheck, something so you don't drift apart and fall into the hands of chef groupies.