RandyB's Profile
Where to buy seafood?
I've bought my smoked wild King salmon at Flying Fish in the Pike Market for years. It's my regular "bring to friends in Paris" item. Very lightly salted, which I prefer. It's my favorite commercially smoked salmon.
In fairness, I don't remember if I've ever tried Pure Fish. They say on their website their wild smoked is lightly salted, too.
Incidentally, I try to avoid the word "best." It's way overused, and suggests there is some objective scale in taste. For example, anyone who likes more heavily salted smoked salmon probably would not make Flying Fish or (apparently) Pure Food Fish a ' "best" choice.
Some restaurants for Parisss !!
As a poor student in Paris in the 70s, eating mostly at the Restos U (university restaurants for 2.20 francs per meal), I dreamed of going to the Tour d'Argent and having the famous duck..
Many years later, on vacation from a full time job as an attorney, I finally got to go to the Tour. Even then, dinner was too expensive. I went with my companion for lunch. It cost around what a Broadway musical box seat would have cost, and lasted longer.
It was pure theater. Not just the view, but also the raised platform with the two giant duck presses and the maitre d'y acting like a great conductor. Our selection of a modest wine, probably the cheapest on the menu, was nonetheless treated warmly.
Entrées, side dishes, and desserts were excellent. The duck was just very good. (I've had better duck prepared by a Czech chef in Seattle.) But that was of little consequence. The experience was wonderful, romantic, and unforgettable.
reservation by e-mail: how long do i wait for a reply?
I have found that many French businesses do not use email. They have a site with an email contact, but that's because all site designers do that as a matter of course. It doesn't mean the business will read or reply to email.
The best at replying tend to be hotels and tourist offices. Restaurants in Paris pretty good, outside of Paris not so good. Guides are the worst. I've written to mountain guides and ski guides. I can think of two sets of tries (emails to 5 and 6 businesses in different parts of France) where I was 1 for 11. That one one who replied turned out to be a Brit. A few I subsequently telephoned verbally shrugged and said they rarely used email. They expected people to call or text them.
My most recent experience was getting email replies from hotel (actually, a family-run ferme auberge) with a "no availability." Then when I called, there was a room. When I arrived, there were two empty rooms.
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
I am expecting home, farm cooking, not haute cuisine. And the surroundings. So, no worries.
My big choices will be Sunday and Tuesday nights. Or maybe just Tuesday. I could be totally wasted on Sunday, after three days of 10-12 hours/day of intense classes in birding in the Camargue. The woman at Barbegal said there are places in the town close by.
Tuesday night will be at a boring airport hotel with no restaurant. I'll still have a car, so I can go anywhere.
Galleries Lafayette for cheese, my bad.
I hope your "fantastic little cheese shop" was not the Ferme St. Aubin. I've always thought of it as the best in the Ile St. Louis/nearby Marais area. It's where I go when I don't have time to go to my usual favorite, Alléosse, or several others favored by many posters here.
I have even gotten some cheeses sous vide to bring back to the US when I was strapped for time. No bad experiences. Yet?
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
I am staying at the Ferme Auberge Barbegal this Sunday and Monday nights, eating there Monday. (No table d'hote on Sundays)
The booking was a good reminder of why one should not rely completely on email dealings in France. My last exchange was 3 weeks ago, no lodging available. They said they'd put me on a waiting list and contact me if there were openings. Right!
I called this morning from my hotel in Saintes-Maries de la Mer. Yes, Barbegal has space for me, no problem.
I will report back.
Cancale and Mont St Michel
Go during the high tides and be sure your hotel is inside the Mont. The parking lots are emptied and only those staying in the few in-Mont hotels can stay. We had a storm, rain and wind but no lightning. With a good raincoat and hat, it is the most spectacular way to have the ramparts to yourself at night.
My first high-tide visit the weather was good. The ramparts were not empty that night but almost. The near full moon made the view spectacular.
5 days in Brittany--advice on places to eat and stay
I did not make it to the morning market but I did to the oyster beach. You just drive down the main waterfront street to the end.
Four or five vendors selling very (very!) fresh oyster from the farms a few hundred meters away. They all charged around 5€ for a dozen #3 oysters, plus 1€ to shuck them and give you a plate and lemon wedge.
Did I say they were fresh? On the other hand, I personally find the Cancale oysters a bit brinier than I prefer. Still, it was a great treat and the setting was perfect.
Editing my post: As a pastry chef, I just have to add mention of my hotel in Tregastel. We went to Perros-Guirec and stayed at the Beau Séjour. http://www.beausejoursarl.com/. Renovated, comfortable, very reasonably priced. We stayed there because it was close to some very nice walking on the Pink Granite coast and birding at the 7 Îles.
This is a small hotel across from the beach, unfortunately with an ugly rec center in front of it. This does not block the view from the hotel rooms, luckily. Unlike many of the nearby beach areas, this one is relatively quiet, and very quiet at night.
The food aspect was first seen at breakfast. For the usual 9€, there are all kinds of fresh baked goodies. Croissants, pains au chocolat, 4 kinds of bread, far (a sort of Breton custard cake), and Kouigh-Aman. The baked goods were outstanding. La patronne is a baker. She has a full-scale (if tiny) bakery in the basement. She makes some of the best croissants I've had in France, and excellent breads. Although I find Kouigh-Aman way too sweet, at least hers was made with really good puff pastry. There was also fresh fruit and homemade yoghurt and jams. Finally, eggs and bacon or a crêpe, all included in the price.
The lobster dinner that night for 44€ should be the topic of a separate posting or thread.
Cancale and Mont St Michel
I did fine having dinner at that crêperie two weeks ago. I should add that while I did not try the restaurant in my hotel, their dining room was quite full and people seemed to be enjoying their meals.
This was the hôtel du Guesclin. As a hotel inside the Mont, it was a real bargain. Very comfortable, renovated room with a spectacular bay view for 79€.
http://www.hotelduguesclin.com/
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
Can you confirm that one can eat at Les Tellines without staying there?
Whirlpool Four Encastrable Pyrolase - Broiler setting?
The manual is available here: http://docs.whirlpool.eu/_doc/501931056780F.pdf
I could not find one in English. Without having one or the time to go through the whole manual, here's what I get.
The touch on the left with a vertical line is the on/off. You've probably figured that out. You may be able to hit Menu and use arrows to scroll up and down to change the language.
Anyway, if you futz with the on/off and arrows, look for Traditional. Select that with the key that looks like a check mark, then use arrows to scroll to Grill. Check that. You may also have a temperature choice between Elevé (high) and Moyen (medium). Again, use arrow keys and check mark.
Ok, that's my best guessing. No guaranty of accuracy.
Looking for a one day cooking lesson in Normandy or Paris
Please say whether you speak French. There are many possibilities in French that are often much cheaper than schools teaching in English.
Cancale and Mont St Michel
Funny coincidence seeing this thread revive. I am going to Mont St. Michel on Monday and staying the night in the Mont. If by some miracle I find a place good to eat dinner, I will certainly report it. But having done this before, I am not expecting it. I am going because it is close to the full moon and a day of very high spring tides. That closes the parking areas and makes the Mont magical at night, with many fewer tourists than usual.
Dinner before the opera (Bastille) - where's good?
I really like Ma Bourgogne for the classic, old ambiance and the convenience of it being continuously open. I took some first-time visitors there a couple of years ago. They loved how it looked. The young waiter did a fine job flirting with their teenage daughter.
The food was another story. Perhaps one would be safe sticking with simple preparations, like grilled meats. Two of us made the mistake of ordering saumon coulibiac, salmon in puff pastry with some other things I don't remember. The salmon didn't taste particularly fresh, but not clearly bad. The pastry was soggy. The overall taste and textures were unpleasant, to be generous.
Lighter lunches in Paris
"Tong Palace on Clement" -- Couldn't find any sign of this via google. Parigi??
It appears that New Nioullaville closed last summer, after somewhat of a downhill slide. So much for dim sum. Maybe one day I'll try your lady at the marché St. Quentin.
is the confiserie le Furet Tanrade gone?
I have not tried Milliat confiture. Right now I am overstocked with jam, given all the ones I have been trying. Can one have a garage sale in Paris?
is the confiserie le Furet Tanrade gone?
I still have not forgiven Pierre Herrmé for dropping his superb almond croissants in favor of ispahan croissants. So I'm not the person to ask anything about ispahan.
It was suggested to me that Ferber has expanded so much that she has to be using frozen fruit and cutting other corners that reduce quality. Her locally sold product could be different than what is sold in Paris. Or her lower volume products could be better (more traditionally prepared) than her high volume products. I have no idea if any of this is correct.
Dinner before the opera (Bastille) - where's good?
Neither Bofinger nor the Petit Bofinger open before 6:30 pm. Time for a quick bite at best, but barely.
I do like the choucroute at Bofinger, especially cheap as a takeout. It's all I've ever eaten from there, other than oysters.
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
Barbegal is 67€ per night for one or two. Telline rooms are 110€ for one or two. I might eat there, but that price breaks the budget for me for rural travel. My first four nights I'm staying in a chambre d'hotes at 46€/night. Barbegal is the splurge.
Since this is a birding trip, maybe I should just wing it for my last night or two.
is the confiserie le Furet Tanrade gone?
YES!!!!! Le Furet-Tanrade is indeed back. As of a week ago. I spoke at length with M. Furet today. In principle, he will only have Easter sweets until early May, when confiture will reappear. But perhaps sooner. Right now there is not much in the store at 1, rue des Méssageries, 10ème.
The website was just updated with the new address, but that page is well hidden. Neither the address, phone number, nor email address are on the home page nor the boutique link. They (except for email) are under CDG (Conditions Générales de Vente):
http://www.lefuret-tanrade.com/#/cgv/vente-au-magasin-1
I hope to report soon on the confiture. Meanwhile, thank you vielleanglaise!
Sunday and Monday in the 7th, pas trop cher
Absolutely does. I love your math, too.
My problem is that I'm a lawyer as well as a foodie. I should remember now that I'm retired from the former and not ask those questions any more.
is the confiserie le Furet Tanrade gone?
Anyone want to buy a bunch of jars of confiture, only slightly tasted?
Seriously, I hope this is true. Other than your link, I can't find anything about it. He should try to get his website updated, at least. The address is around the corner from the old place. I have some plans tomorrow, but certainly by Wednesday I can go by.
Thanks.
is the confiserie le Furet Tanrade gone?
I continue my search for a confiture that comes close to le Fûret-Tanrade. Here is my update:
In December, I bought two jams at a monastery shop Parigi took me to and two at Pierre Hermé. I still had some framboise and some marmelade left from Furet-Tanrade to compare.
1. The famous Christine Ferber sold at Pierre Hermé: Framboises à la Violette. The only outstanding aspect to this confiture was the price. Perhaps it is the violet, but it has an almost chemical overtone. Not an intense raspberry flavor. Texture quite liquidy. Not worth buying again, particularly at its high price.
2. Abbaye de Sept-Fons: Framboises, confiture allégée bio. The allégée meant more framboise. It is very good, but alas still not the intense fresh-raspberry-ness of F-T.
3. Monastère de la Compassion: Marmelade aux Trois Agrumes. (orange, pomelos, lemon). This is a very nice, tart marmelade with lots of peel. I can't compare it to my favorite F-T marmelade (Sous le Soleil). They are just two different types.
4. Christine Ferber: Abricot. I sent this to my stepmother. She is addicted to Belle Maman abricot. She says she's tried fancier French brands and not liked them as much. I thought she might like trying a fancy and famous brand. She hasn't opened it yet, or hasn't told me if she has.
Since arriving last Thursday, I`ve picked up a few more jams.
5. Confiture royale de Fraise by L'atelier des Saveurs, run by another "Meilleur Ouvrier de France." It has whole strawberries in it, but not much fresh flavor. Other flavors only available online, which I won't try after this disappointment.
6. Carla's Framboise Fleurs. A large jar, 270 gms, for 9,25€ at Gde Épic, 0,25 € more at Laf Gourm. This one is the winner so far. It has the intense fresh raspberry flavor I've been looking for. It has "samba flowers - 0,6%" according to the label. I can't find any reference to samba flowers, other than it being a generic label for brightly colored summer flowers.
7. Carla's Mango and Passionfruit juice confiture. I love this combination. (See posts about Jacques Genin's caramels.) Like the raspberry, this has a very strong, fresh fruit flavor. I'd like a little more tang, but I wouldn't call it overly sweet. Note there is also a version with rum. I think that could overwhelm the fruit.
The Carla jams come in jars with clamp down lids, and are internally sealed with wax. That's something I only associate with home jamming.
Sunday and Monday in the 7th, pas trop cher
On a scale of 1 to 10, where does "not half bad" fall?
Sunday and Monday in the 7th, pas trop cher
As usual, good advice from Parigi.
Despite a large brunch in the afternoon, I agreed to go to Mirama last night when my friend said she had a craving for canard laqué. While the line outside seemed long, the wait was not. Nor was the wait for food. The canard was very good. I saw many people enjoying the wonton soup, but it would have been too much for me. We shared a simple but fine fried noodle plate.
Be warned that is it quite noisy.
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
La Telline looks very nice and the timing works. Parigi has already convinced me to go to Ferme-Auberge de Barbegal. They don't do their table d'hote on Sunday, while la Telline does serve on Sunday.
Too bad their site isn't very well done. Poor photos, the menu link doesn't work, and no mention of rooms. I guess I'll just have to use . . . what do they call it ? Oh, the telephone.
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
Just looked at the Ferme-Auberge de Barbegal website. It's definitely in the budget, with rooms at 67 euros incl breakfast, and table d'hote for 21 euros. It is a 3 epis gite. It is halfway between where I stay for my course and the Marseille airport, where I depart. Sounds like a neat area to explore.
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
I just arrived in Paris a half hour ago. I guess I can try calling Juju to see if they really are open. Of course, I have a little time before I return in May for the Camargue trip.
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
Sounds wonderful, Parigi. Mangeur, I'll try to track your fish shack down. I was successful in finding a real, old "crab shack" in the Florida panhandle, maybe I'll get as lucky here.
Anything around the Camargue - Saintes Maries de la Mer?
I'll be taking an intensive birding course in the Camargue in mid-May. I'm staying in Saintes Maries de la Mer, a rather large village with a few dozen restaurants on its website. I'll have a little time afterwards to chill out after my course..
Anyone have suggestions around the Camargue that don't involve driving to Marseille?
