cigalechanta

I had a raw mussel in Aigues-Mortes, didn't like it but I'm a huge oyster fan and visited Belon only because of the famed oysters. I love the tellines, those tiny clams of the Camargue.

Fromaggio in cambridge sells it. It's from The Vermont Butter and..

I don't care about the test kitchen, I just want Roger to keep up the standards that are high in Chestnut hill. I wish I lived closer but I must settle for Harvard Sq. and Kendall. I've been going there since they were a fish market and a small restaurant in Cambridge when you had to pay in advance because all the MIT and Harvard students stiffed them!!!

Recently returned from France. We had a reservation at L'Atelier de Jean-Luc Rabenel. As much as I enjoy Rabanel's cooking, I was disappointed. When he was at the Chassagnette, following the chefs from Chez Juju, he served everything in organic inspired serving dishes and you sat at wooden tables facing the organic garden, with the herbs growing in the foreground where butterflies danced overhead. In Arles the servings were on white pottery and inside modern-zen atmosphere, as he calls it and the tables are set on the street with passing by folk glaring at your food and neighbors going in and out of their home. I missed the bucolic setting of Chassagnette, and like the chef at El Buli, he had the trendy foam in two of the dishes.We were to encounter this at two other places. Most of the combinations he served tasted fine. Two were not for me but his verbina and lemon grass ice cream was superb! Another trend besides the foam, were the salads that combined tomatoes with melon, apple and other fruits.

Your selections are fine but try to dine where there will be some locals like the bistro du paradou.

Our favorite the the legal at Chestnut hill, love sitting at the bar. Always consistant. We also like the Harvard Square one where you can dine outside. Legal was favorite of R.W Apple Jr who wrote fondly of it in his book, "Apple's America."

some bakeries http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris...langeries.shtml

Here's a list that a friend passed on to me for cheese shops http://www.discoverfrance.net/France/Paris...omageries.shtml

In Ogunquit Maine, DinnerArrows for great food or their less expensive facing the ocean, Amaerican bistro, for lunch. Sitting outside at Hamersly's in the south end.

No view, but the Ritz terrace is lovely, a view in itself.

I usually ask for a taste for all the chevres. But I must tell you, years ago at the old Regalade, that paté that is passed to tables, I had to remind my dear one that it was not his alone.

After visiting the New ICA yesterday, we stopped at the Daily Catch and ordered abottle of wine, and cherrystones for each of us. after a 45 minute wait, the clams arrived and the wine almost finished so we decided not to order anything else and asked for the check. It was given to us with 15% tip added. Is that legal, nowhere was it posted?

In Arles, L'Atelier*** or Affenag"*

I serve a cheese before with apertifs or wine but to my local friends who do not travel to France. When my French friends visit, I serve it after the salad. Myself, I love chese especially chevre and manage to try to fit it in all meals, omelets at breakfast, sandwiches. salades, Goats are my folks

I remeber reading about that and it fell through when Alice had disagreements.

We stayed at Le Castallas one year. Gianni is a charmer. He entertained us on night playing his drum along with few other musicians.

Jan, it was quite awhile ago I sat on the terrace that faces the Pope's Palace. I read they are doing an all tomato menu these days. I also liked Hiely Luccalus ans Le Bain Marie.(sp?) I like all of Sue's recommendations. She's going to love Chz Bru. Alas they closed their less expensive, Petite bru.

There is no typical meal and each area of France has different cooking. Lyon is the Second city of France. She will experience great Lyonnais dishes. such as blanquette de veau. Lyon is famous for its buchons, a type of working man's café serving fantastic sausages, lentil dishes.. There's plenty on this site to explore or you can google, better yet have HER familiarize herself so she knows what to expect. Lucky girl!

Just outside of Gordes in Les emberts and there a restaurant that has a woman considered to be the best woman chef in Provence, Le Mas Tourteron. http://www.mastourteron.com/

Th food looks more like still lifes, rather than tasty dishes. I guess I'm the only one who appricites the old time ambiance of Auberge DE 'ILL

an old article but still good: http://www.paris.org/Kiosque/jun98/321picnc.html

Petite Bru is no longer. There is in its place, an Italian restaurant.

Here's one for those who can't cook outdoors: http://www.nicerendezvous.com/EN/BD_cooking.php?debut=23

I make my own creme fraiche and use it instead of cheese in some dishes.

Hi Chef,where in France are you going. In paris, there's a shop in the Marais, called, "Thanksgiving" that sells American products.