Jeff Gustafson asked:


In June of 2007 Mrs. Winer and I retired.

When one achieves a milestone, rewards equal to the accomplishment should be given. So on Sept 9, 2007 Mrs. Winer and I arrived in Paris France. For the next 24 days we enjoyed ourselves more than should be allowed by law. We choose this time of the year mainly because it is the ending of the tourist season but before the nasty winter weather. Instead of getting accommodations in downtown Paris, we chose a small comfortable hotel in Maison-Laffitte (ML). The town is about 20 minutes by the REI A line red train north of Paris.

While at times it was a bit inconvenient since we spent the bulk of our waking hours in Paris, it afforded us what we wanted: a quiet refuge from the hectic Paris life. We also love the interaction that comes from repeated visits to a restaurant. Mrs. Winer and I are food junkies. I am the journaler and have a record of all the food we ate, where we ate it and the wines we drank.

After arriving in ML and getting situated I left Mrs. Winer resting and went to a recon mission. The objective was to find a small restaurant that would reflect the cuisine of this area of France. Found it. L’Olivier on Avenue de Saint Germain. Talk about hitting the jackpot. Olivier the owner was the waiter, the maittredi, the floor sweeper and sommelier. The restaurant was very cozy with tables for about 20 patrons. (At another time I will tell you a couple of wonderful experiences we had in Olivier’s.) Suffice to say that we loved the restaurant. We actually ate our way thru his entire menu during our stay in ML.

The following day, September 10 was Mrs. Winer’s “39th” Birthday. I really can’t remember what anniversary it was of that auspicious day. It is best forgotten. She wanted to go to the Eiffel Tower. Since the Old Winer hadn’t figured out the subway system we disembarked from the REI train at the Arc de Triumph and meandered thru the center of Paris in the general direction of the Eiffel Tower. My navigation skills are quite suspect but since the tower is the tallest item on the horizon we managed to find it. (I’m somewhat of a world traveler.) I’ve seen the Space Needle in Seattle, the arches in the Los Angeles airport, the church of the Blessed Family in Barcelona, and the Grand Canyon so I’m not that easily impressed.

Standing under the Eiffel Tower was impressive. Standing on the top was VERY impressive. Mrs Winer had her birthday lunch in the small caf?estaurant located on the second level overlooking the River Seine with its boat traffic and bridges. We then choose (a very weird choice) to walk down the stairs. Mrs. Winer had heard that some famous people had done this and thought it would be a good idea. By the time we got to the ground it was obvious that they were a bit younger than we were. Having climbed a mountain or two in my day, one has learned that going down is actually more difficult than going up. But we made it. That evening for our dinner we went to the supermarket, bought some wonderful French goat cheese, ham, French (what else) bread, an apple, a bottle of 2005 Chateau du Calvaire St Emilion Grand Cru wine for 6 dollars and a bottle of 2005 Domaine St. Antoine Sablet Cotes du Rhone Village for 5 bucks and chocolate for dessert. Brought our purchases to our hotel room and indulged ourselves.

Happy Birthday Mrs. Winer!

At a later time I will tell you about our wondrous 10 days wondering up from Lyon to Paris thru the Boujourlais, Burgundy wine country. We smote with vigor the most pernicious error perpetrated by disgruntled travelers: “the French are rude to Americans especially if you can’t speak French.” The French are not rude! I can disgorge my total accumulation of the French language in about 45 seconds. My Spanish is quite good. My English, as you know, somewhat suspect. We ate in small cafes and fancy restaurants in downtown Paris; in tiny places in the mountain of the wine country where English was grade school at best; we talked to wine growers, to people on the streets, etc and I can say that we did not experience a single incident where we felt badly treated by a French person. Will we go back?…you betcha. Right after our trip to Tuscany and Spain.



Edgar

Phil Chavanne asked:


When you stay in Paris for a short while only, eating out at a decent, reasonably priced restaurant may become a silly game of trial and error. In this new series of articles, I will recommend several places no traveler will ever regret having tried out!

by Phil Chavanne, Senior Editor Paris-Eiffel-Tower-News.com

Facing the eating-out issue

When it comes eating out in Paris, travelers unfamiliar with the city may have a hard time finding the right place to eat out. Consider it this way: you are to live, breathe and eat for a short while in a city which counts over 1,500 restaurants, in a country internationally known for its exquisite food. Where do you start from? And what guarantee do you have to hit the right spots for lunch and dinner?

A large number of my American friends select to follow their favorite travel guide’s recommendations. Good thinking. But there’s a downside to it: travelers tend use the same travel guides. And too many tourists kill authenticity.

The so-called ‘French cuisine’

Being born and having lived in France for 30 some years before I found my true home in America, I have an in-bred tendency to be extremely picky when it comes to food. When I travel back to Paris, I especially dislike being served so-so cuisine at over-inflated prices.

By the same token I find it very hard to accept that any of my American friends touring Paris be served run-of-the-mill food posing as ‘French cuisine’. Hence this new series of articles.

In the course of several recent trips to the French capital, I was introduced by local friends to a few restaurants I found to be absolutely noteworthy. My first stop will be ‘Chez Georges’.

The set

‘Chez Georges’ stands out tall amongst my recent discoveries.

I had received an invitation for lunch from Philippe H., an attorney-at-law who specializes in brokering deals in record time. Philippe has been lunching at ‘Chez Georges’ for the last 20 years or so, he is a fixture of the place. He even has his own table there. A very practical state of affairs, mind you, as ‘Chez Georges’ always operates at full capacity, and one needs to book at least 48 hours in advance to get a table.

The decor is typical French 1920-30, with a mosaic floor, large mirrors on the walls, dark brown wood panels, and sandish paint. The restaurant is divided in two rooms, both very narrow. The first room features a bar and a row of small square tables. Being close to the door and window panes, it is well lit. The room in the back is larger, with two rows of tables. It’s also darker, without any windows. The (small) kitchen is situated at the back of this room, and the restrooms another step behind.

The place is obviously packed, and very busy. It smells good food, and though guests are allowed to smoke I didn’t find cigarette smoke to be an issue. The whole atmosphere is congenial, vibrant and lively. No elevator music to bother you, but your neighbors’ voices may cover yours. Very Parisian, no doubt, but I saw several American folks having lunch there.

The feat

Our party of six was soon tended by Zoe the waitress, a sight for sore eyes. This smiling brunette is married to the restaurant manager, a friendly fellow who tends the bar and the cash register. Zoe has a nice word for everyone, can explain the menu in details, recommends what’s right for you, and moves about diligently.

The menu at ‘Chez Georges’ is as varied as appetizing. Everything on it spells French tradition. We decided to order a large selection of appetizers to share, including rillettes (a sort of pate made with pork, duck or goose), pink radish, herrings, museau (beef head pate), potato salad, and other delicacies.

The goods came in generous portions, and a couple of bottles of white Sancerre helped us gulp all this down. (Sancerre is a light red or white wine. It is made from black pinot or white sauvignon, and is grown in the Touraine region.) We were served two different types of fresh bread, including a delicious Poilane bread

We then attacked the entrees: duck filet with potatoes for me, please, served pink. (In my book, duck cooked to ‘done’ is unpalatable.) Soon came the plates, full up. My duck filet was perfectly cooked, and thick and tender as it should be. A wonderful abundance of gorgeous food! We accompanied the main fares with a bottle of red Chinon, a wine grown in my hometown. Things to get damned for!

All is well that ends well

The dessert was as succulent as the rest of this hearty meal. I had a Tarte Tatin, an caramelized apple pie baked ‘upside-down’. Apple slices are first baked on sugar, then covered with dough, and put in the oven again for a short while. When baked, the pie is turned over so that the dough now supports the apples. The result is a very tender pie, with a sweet but not overpowering taste of caramel. It is served with vanilla ice.

We all finished the meal on a good espresso. The check was very reasonable: it came to about 60 USD per person, for an unforgettable meal that included a ton of appetizers, six main fares, seven servings of dessert, 3 bottles of wine, and espressos for everyone. Expect to pay USD 30 on a lighter fare and less wine.

Though very hearty, my meal was easy to digest. I didn’t feel bloated afterwards, just slightly tipsy thanks to multiple servings of light wine. The products used were of very good quality, the bread freshly baked. The service we received was diligent and friendly.

Definitely a place I recommend you, my traveling friends!

Where?

Chez Georges

1 rue du Mail

75002 Paris

Tel: 33 (0)1 42 60 07 11

Lunch and dinner

Closed on week-ends and holidays

Book a table at least 48h in advance



John

Hart Bochner asked:


In UK newspaper Daily Express, which is considered a serious right-wing newspaper, yesterday, an article was written by a columnist calling them self Hickey stating the American diet is, perhaps, not the most sophisticated but pity former child popstar, Jimmy Osmond, right, when confronted with a very English dish, cockles, for never having heard of it.
Does this mean anyone who hasn’t heard of an English dish called cockles is ignorant? I was under the impression while French cuisine for example, was viewed as sophisticated, English cuisine wasn’t exactly.
please no more English answerers!

Bruno

Marty Davis asked:


Gastronomy is taken very seriously in France and with the rich history for fine French cuisine, Paris is a city where you will find some of the Worlds finest chefs serving remarkable cuisine and you will find thousands of cafes and restaurants in Paris alone, ranging from the small bistro such as the Allard Bistro through to exceedingly plush restaurants.

Even at a small traditional restaurant like the Boeuf sur le Toit or at a fancy restaurant setting such as the Train Bleu, the quality of food is of the utmost of importance, but many places have to be booked prior and some require reservations weeks or even months in advance, like the Jules Verne at the Eiffel Tower!

When it comes to the type of cuisine, you have choices from all over the world such as the Blue Elephant which serves Thai dishes in beautiful surroundings, Brazilian food at the Brasil Tropical Cabaret and restaurant, Le Curieux Spaghetti Bar for true Italian delights, or the Tokyo Eat restaurant serving adventurous fusion cuisine.

There is so much variety to tempt your taste buds, yet obviously, it is the French food that really stands out in so many restaurants in Paris and some are in unusual surroundings like L’Atelier de Joel Robuchon, 1970’s style Korova, the family restaurant Apollo or Altitude 95 in the Eiffel Tower and they vary in cost from only a few Euros to hundreds per person.

But if you want to splash out for that special occasion, the finest way of dining in Paris is with Haute cuisine, which is elaborate food preparation and presentation, and just some of the Michelin star rated Haute cuisine restaurants include the Le Grande Cascade close to the Longchamps horse racing, Guy Savoy, Taillevent, Le Grand Vefour and La Tour d’Argent, where you could be paying upwards of 250 Euros per person, but even the most expensive restaurants are cheaper for lunch than in the evening.

Now forgetting Haute cuisine, you will find most restaurants in Paris serving French cuisine have a Menu du Jour or a set menu of the day and this normally means the most reasonably priced meals, which change frequently depending upon what fresh produce is available.

Also, if you want to eat breakfast out it is likely to be at a Patisserie or Tea Salon where you can get croissants, bread, fillings like cold meats and cheeses, pastries and a nice cup of coffee and numerous places such as Angelina’s or Laduree, offer a choice of eating on the premises, or items to take away, but just one point worth mentioning is that many establishments add an additional charge to your bill if you decide to sit outside on their terrace, rather than inside.

When it comes to lunch, you will be able to find numerous different cafes and bistros whilst walking around Paris such as the Cafe Marly with a great view of the famous Louvre museum, and it may be an idea to mark these on a map so that you can find your next fuelling station!

As for the evening, meals are usually served from around 7.30pm and restaurants get far busier from around 9pm onwards.  Plus we would like to point out that Parisians do tend to dress up for an evening out and in most restaurants it is expected that you have a glass of wine or two with your meal, but bear in mind that a table wine can be just as expensive as many others on the wine list, as they are still of excellent quality.

And numerous different options are available for an evening meal like the cosy intimate setting of Au Bon Accueil, or perhaps you have been to a nightclub and need to eat in the early hours of the morning, then Au Pied de Cochon that is open 24/7 is a good choice, or you could choose the friendly atmosphere and smells of food cooking on a spit at the Atelier Maitre Albert or contemporary cuisine at Spoon Food and Wine, but you also have cabaret venues where you can enjoy a meal and watch a cabaret show such as at the World famous Moulin Rouge.

And after all this eating out in Paris enjoying the fabulous cuisine on offer, it just may not be the same when you get home!



Winston

Justin Pretorius asked:


In today’s modern fast paced world dinning out isn’t just about eating and leaving. There are many things involved in your experience. Today a restaurant must have a good ambiance, quality food, a good range of wines and drinks on their menu but is this enough. Today’s individual is exactly that, an individual with personal tastes and expectations, this person goes out to spend their hard earned money at a restaurant of their choice because it offers them the things that they want the most at that particular time. If I go out it is always about good service, fast but not rushed service, a good choice of different things, such as a nice choice of aperitifs, good tasting but not overdone food, a good wine and beer choice as well as a good choice of hard tack if I’m in the mood for that, a peaceful and relaxed atmosphere and most importantly “simplicity.” A restaurant that over does things by trying to be too extravagant, in their menu’s, their décor and service tends to be a restaurant that will rarely, if ever, see me.

The Wine magazine has a top 100 list that comes out every year and to be on this list is a highly coveted thing. The list for 2008 is as follows:

Eastern Cape

Smokey Swallows in East London with a trendy atmosphere and fine dinning food range including a touch of Indian and oriental foods.

Free State

De Oude Kraal in Bloemfontein, offering an incredible variety with Free State Farm style cooking with a touch of French Flair.

Seven on Kellner in Bloemfontein with a hip and happening atmosphere and Mediterranean African style foods.

Gauteng

Al Amin in Pretoria. Pakistani style food with flair of its own.

Amsale in Johannesburg.

Assagi in Johannesburg with its comfortable casual ambience and Italian style cooking.

Auberge Michel in Johannesburg is an elegant restaurant with French style cuisine and is the 1st restaurant to achieve a 5 star rating from the Tourism Grading Council of South Africa

Le Canard in Johannesburg is an incredible upmarket restaurant set in a Georgian House. Visited by dignitaries, royalty, and a host of the famous and the not so famous, Le canard is famous for its ambiance and Old French style cooking.

The Green Truffle in Johannesburg is a mix of classic elegance meets contemporary cool. If you enjoy truffles (the chocolate or mushroom varieties) or anything with truffle as an ingredient then this would definitely be the place to go. The type of food served is contemporary mixed with fusion.

De Hoek in Mogale City.

Linger Longer in Johannesburg is a fine dining restaurant with its own special brand of elegance. Food served is fine dining with a South African Flair.

La Madeleine in Pretoria is an upmarket restaurant with French Mediterranean flair

Mosaic in Crocodile River valley is a sublime setting with an amalgamation of modern European and slightly spiced oriental cooking it is definitely worth coming.

Osteria Tre Nonni in Johannesburg with it’s relaxed atmosphere and Italian style cuisine.

Pomodoro in Johannesburg. Italian style cooking with hints of Spanish and French.

Ritrovo Ristorante in Tswane is Authentic Italian fine dinning.

Roots in Muldersdrift has African and Asian Cooking combined with French roots.

Sai Thai in Johannesburg. Meaning connected to Thailand lives up to its name as this restaurant serves some of the most authentic Thai food to be found around.

The Saxon in Johannesburg is a beautiful fine dinning restaurant with contemporary modern cuisine.

Sel et Poivre in Johannesburg has French Cuisine at its heart with undertones of African flavour in classical surroundings.

Le Soufflé in Johannesburg

Villa Francesca in Pretoria is an Intimate restaurant with beautiful surrounds serving choice Italian dishes.

Yamato

In Johannesburg is an upmarket Japanese style restaurant serving seafood, sushi and health foods.

Zemara in Pretoria is a Family friendly restaurant serving halaal African cuisine.

Kwazulu Natal

9th Avenue Bistro in Durban, an upmarket feel with fine dining elegance.

Aubergine in Hillcrest, Durban has a wonderfully relaxed ambience serving French cuisine.

Cleopatra in Kamberg Valley is A haven for food lovers with a style that is eclectic, contemporary Country cuisine.

Granny Mouse in Lidgetton has an Elegant ambiance with South African and International cuisine.

Hartford House in Mooi River is an elegant fine dining experience.

Havana in Durban is a vibrant grill and wine bar in the glamorous Sun Coast casino complex.

Ile Maurice in Umhlanga with its Upmarket feel and French style cuisine.

Lynton Hall is an Upmarket restaurant with fine dinning at heart.

La Petite Normandie in Ramsgate has a classic elegant feel with French cuisine at its core.

Spice on Florida in Durban with a relaxed atmosphere and a fusion style of cooking.

Umami in Salt rock is a fusion of Eastern, Mediterranean and European cuisine.

Limpopo

L’Orange Bleue in Bela Bela is a French Belgium restaurant with 4 star rating.

 

 

Mpumalanga

Artists’ Café in Hendriksdal with a comfortable hip and happening ambiance and Italian style cooking.

Mrs Simpson’s in Dullstroom has a comfortable intimate environment with Local cuisine.

Northern Cape

Die Hantam huis in Calvinia serves traditional fair in comfortable surrounds.

Le Must in Upington with its typical Kalahari warmth and comfortable hospitality.

Northwest

Silver Orange bistro in Hartbeespoort. South African classics with a modern twist.

Villa Del Palazzo at Sun City with its classic regional Italian cuisine.

Western Cape

95 Keeroom in Cape town. Italian with a reasonably priced menu and contemporary cool ambiance.

The Atlantic in Cape town has fine dining with an upmarket feel.

Aubergine in Cape Town is Fine dining at its best with a relaxed atmosphere.

Bahiados Vaqueiros in Mossel bay is A fine dining Portuguese style restaurant with an upmarket feel.

Barnyard Brasserie in Cape Town. Its meals are described as classic French peasant with modern sensibility.

Bibi’s kitchen in Cape Town. Indian style fair with an upmarket feel.

Bon Appétit in Cape Town has French cuisine with an upmarket ambiance.

Bosman’s in Paarl is Apart of the Grand Roche Hotel, the only Relais Gourmand in Africa and has fine dining at its heart with a luxurious upmarket feel.

Bouillabaisse in Franschhoek is a trendy Asian style seafood restaurant set in the heart of Franschhoek.

Bread and Wine in Franschhoek has contemporary style dining with a relaxed atmosphere.

The Cape Colony in Cape Town is apart of the luxurious Mount nelson hotel and of course has fine dining with an upmarket ambiance.

The Cape Malay in Cape Town is a quiet relaxed restaurant with Cape Malayan Cooking at its core.

Cargills in Cape Town is intimate, romantic and sophisticated, with fine dining, and French contemporary cooking.

Castle Hotel in Cape Town has Portuguese style cooking with a comfortable and casual ambiance.

Catharina’s in Cape Town with Fine South African Dining and an upmarket ambiance.

Caveau in Cape Town is a continental Wine bar with a relaxed atmosphere.

The Cedar in Cape Town.

La Colombe in Cape Town offers modern and innovative French cuisine with touches of Asian elements.

Constantia Uitsig in Cape Town a Wine farm atmosphere with Italian cuisine at heart.

Daniela’s in Knysna is an intimate and elegant restaurant at leisure isle lodge.

Emily’s in Cape Town has an upmarket atmosphere with a South African Style Cuisine.

Firefly in Knysna is an intimate restaurant on the lagoon.

The Food Barn in Cape Town French cuisine mixed with South African flavours. Fine dinning to suit every pocket.

Fu.Shi in Plettenburg Bay is a fusion cuisine restaurant.

Ginja in Cape Town. Fine Fusion dining with an upmarket feel.

Grandeprovence in Franschhoek has French cuisine at heart with a special upmarket feel.

The Greenhouse in Cape Town has global international food types with an upmarket ambiance.

Haiku in Cape Town has a Contemporary cool Ambiance with Asian flair.

Haute Cabriere in Franschhoek has an elegant ambiance with continental fusion cooking.

Ile De Pain in Knysna has a comfy and casual ambiance with French Mediterranean cooking.

Jardine in Cape Town has a Contemporary cool atmosphere with Continental, South African cooking.

Jemima’s in Oudtshoorn.

Joostenberg Bistro in Stellenbosch with its casual comfort atmosphere and organic cooking.

Kitma in C ape town.

De Leeuwen Jagt in Paarl. Good South African cooking in a relaxed atmosphere.

Magica Roma in Cape Town is a warm traditional restaurant with Italian in every nook and cranny.

Manna Epicure in Cape Town, a Trendy ambiance with tapas and Bistro style cuisine.

Manolo in Cape Town is a Trendy restaurant with contemporary fusion style cuisine.

Marc’s in Paarl has Mediterranean style meals with a very relaxed atmosphere.

Megu in Paarl is a chic Japanese style restaurant.

Mon Plaisir in Stellenbosch with its Traditional French recipes and warm, relaxing atmosphere.

Mzoli’s Place in Cape Town lively and full of fun. You buy your meat at the butchery and they offer to braai it for you well worth the visit.

Noon gun in Cape Town is relaxed with traditional Malay meals.

Reuben’s in Franschhoek has contemporary cuisine with a Comfortable and relaxed atmosphere.

Sand in Plettenburg Bay is a sophisticated fine dining, upmarket restaurant.

Serendipity in Wilderness. Fine dinning with definite South African flavours.

The Showroom in Cape Town. Contemporary cool ambiance with contemporary fusion cooking.

Sinn’s in Cape Town. Continental with a relaxed atmosphere.

Stonehill in Little Brak River is an intimate restaurant with French style dining.

The tasting room in Franschhoek.

The Tea Garden in Paternoster.

Terroir in Stellenbosch has French South African cuisine with a touch of elegance.

 Tokara in Stellenbosch.

Topsy and Co in Franschhoek.

Zachary’s in Knysna has a traditional atmosphere with contemporary cooking.

Top 10 everyday restaurants

Bibi’s in Cape Town

Carlton Café in Pretoria

The food barn in Cape Town

Ile De Pain in Knysna

Joostenberg Bistro in Stellenbosch

Le Soufflé in Johannesburg

Mzoli’s place in Cape Town

Sai Thai in Johannesburg

The tea garden in Paternoster

Zemara in Pretoria

Top 10 smart casual

Bon Appétit in Simons Town

Bread and Wine in Franschhoek

Jardine in Cape Town

La Madeleine in Pretoria

Megu in Paarl

Ritrovo in Pretoria

Spice on Florida in Durban

Terroir in Stellenbosch

Umami in Salt rock KZN

Yamato in Johannesburg

Top 10 deluxe

Auberge Michel in Johannesburg

Aubergine in Cape Town

Bosman’s at Grand Roche

Cleopatra Mountain Lodge in Kamberg

Hartford House in Mooi River

Linger Longer in Johannesburg

Roots in Krugersdorp

The Saxon in Johannesburg

Tasting Room at le Quartier in Franschhoek

Zachary’s in Knysna.

Go try them out and enjoy the good life.      



Bond

d.jennifer asked:


I recently asked for ideas on French Cuisine; and now I’d like if someone could help me again.

(I’m of French decent.) But have not been raised with the French culture… but I’d LOVE to learn how… I know a few basics, but I’m not sure how I go about doing so… I’d like to know the proper “French Etiquette”, please… How to prepare, serve, entertain and just bring delight and pleasure French-Style to my dinner table… I have a special partner that I’d love to impress, and I’d feel honored and proud to know that I’m as “Authentic” as my cooking.

Thanks so much in advance.
Well let me address: “Going to France” isn’t an option at the present.

Guy

will w asked:


Like chinese, Japanese, Thai, American, Italian, French,…etc.

i personally think that the asain cuisines such as thai and chinese are because of the mixture of rice and protien they consume. but they tend to consume heavy portions yet still theres something that keeps them skinnier then a twig lol idk what that is but it works.

but i would like to hear your opinion and why?

Percival

kate the great asked:


Or perhaps some *good* cookbooks that offer a lot of vegetarian (but still French) recipes. I would like to become more skilled in the art of French cuisine, but my husband and I are both vegetarian. Good books on wine paring would be welcome too!

Jeremiah

man on the moon asked:


England has herited its language from the french one, is it also true for other other parts of its culture, like, for exemple food and culinary arts?

Dudley

malu asked:


its used to prepare soup,stock,and various stews?

Halsey