Two large markets, Chalon-sur-Saone on Friday and Beaune on Saturday (Wednesday Beaune market in very small). The Sunday market in Chagny is very local and friendly.

SisterEurope,
A couple posts ago you mentioned Volnaysien in where else but Volnay We haven't been there in 8 years, when we went liked the setting, and the food, but since then it has fallen off the Michellin bib list

Have you been there recently and what did you think of the food?
BlueOx

Why drag down Red Cliff...you can still get great fish tacos there..

Looks like you have the “fine dining” down. Start thinking about “casual dining” which is where the I think the discoveries in the Valley are: Mountain Standard, Golden Eagle, Café Milano and Marc’s (also a caterer who does great food (http://www.foodandwinebymarc.com/), plus Kevin Furtado works with him). Kevin is the best wine guy in the Valley, he built the wine cellar at Larkspur.

If you are going to do any outdoor stuff, get a sandwich from Avon Bakery, one sand feeds two. As for the Sonnenalp, their “Bully Ranch” is where I go for a good al fresco lunch.

Ti Amo is a very friendly place in a strip shopping area, I like Zino’s better for Italian. But this Valley does new American well, ethnic not so well.

DD, Maya at the Westin is going to open in June. Their ads say “New York, Dubai & Beaver Creek” (please). Toscanini was supposed to be converted to a Mexico City style place, but hasn't happen, so maybe that deal is off.

OK, I'll try a first pass and hope DDavis jumps in:
Toscanini - Now run by Richard Sandoval of Mayan which he currently installing at the Westin
Beaver Creek Chophouse - OK, I'd do the Golden Eagle instead
Spago - Library quiet
Beano's Cabin - Venue is better than food
Mirabelle - I like a lot for couples dining
La Tour - Very Good
Grouse Mountain - Almost as good as Spendido
Terra Bistro - Sit at bar and do wine & apps
Sweet Basil - Still best in Valley
Elway's - Why?
Juniper - A good upscale and all locals
Zino's - Like everything but the wine list
Dish - Locals fine dining
Food by Marc - Seasons Building (used to be called the Dark Star when Vail Resorts was HQ'ed there) in Avon.

If you are here early in June, things will be slow. Except in Vail during the GoPro (use to be Teva) games.

I visited the Maille shop in Dijon just to see mustard "on draft"...get place to get gifts. I didn't now Grey Poupon was there also.

If you have an Android phone (release 2.3 or higher) you can download Google Translate which now works in off-line mode. It allows you to take a picture of a menu and then does a translate: http://howto.cnet.com/8301-11310_39-5...

JJL, TGV'ing to Avignon makes a lot of sense. If you use the tgv-europe.com site and are willing to print off your ticket at home, check the box for Ireland and you will save an $18 ticket fee.

As for driving back up, lot's of great places to stop, but the scenery from A6 can be fairly industrial. I'd take A6 exit 25, and follow N6 to Chagny (you can checkout Lameloise) and on into Puligny Montrachet, Meursault, Pommard and Beaune. This board has lot's eating of ideas for the towns.

We have had lunch several time at Tres Girard In Morey St. Denis. Was always good and it looks to be a well run Inn. Also, in Morey St Denis is Relais des Grand Crus, a truck stop covered by Anthony Bourdain last year (hope he didn't ruin it).

Actually the TGV goes to Beaune twice a day, once at 6"53 am and again at 16:53 pm and it takes about 2 hours 15 minutes. And there are special deals on the fares (tgv-eurpoe.com) and you can print out the tickets at home.

Dave, How about Roma Deli on Spring Mountain? I went there a couple of years ago, I think on your recommendation and had real Italian sausage sandwich. Good place with a good local vibe.

Melanie,
Do you think that the cheese might have been covered in ashes, not cinders?
Phil

Beat cheese course I've had in Burgundy was at La Montrachet in Puligny, both from the selection and the knowledgeable server.

I really like Grouse Mountain, but wouldn't drive past Sweet Basil, Mountain Standard and Larkspur in Vail to go there. For a "different" experience if staying at Copper think about Quincy's or Tennessee Cookshack in Leadville, an easier drive than Vail. Its a true Colorado Mountain town. Not gourmet or fine dining quality, but can be fun.

The towns that come to mind that meet your requirements are Edwards, Carbondale, Steamboat, Crested Butte, Ouray and Salida. These are all above 7000 feet which means the are fairly cool in the summer. Don't look just in the towns but checkout place close by. The towns close to ski areas have plenty of short term housing available in the summer and lot's of off-season specials at their restaurants.

If you would tell us what kind of biking you are looking to do, mountain, road, path or downhill and what kind of hiking, bagging 14 teeners, multiday, flat or technical it would help. The same is true for food, are you going to cook a lot, go out most nights, want to spend big bucks or do a local thing, that would also help.

I can't think of many places where you probably would want to spend time that would try to "sell" you on the idea of visiting for 2 months.

I seem to remember seeing some other things on the chicken spits besides chicken, such as; pork roasts and duck. Was I imagining this or has anyone else noticed the same.

The potatoes at the bottom are killer and when they ask if you want drippings added to the bag, how could you say no?

I just looked in the one published in 2002 and its not there either.

The best deals (not saying good deals) for eating on mountain at BC is soups and chilli. The 2 places I frequent are Mamie's Deck at the top of the Bachelor Gulch lift for grill it yourself burgers and the other is the bar at the Ritz. At the Ritz, the nachos plate can feed 4 and they have good craft beers on tap.

Spago is very expensive usually "quiet", not a lot of energy in the place. Cima in the Westin at the bottom of the Mountain does new Latin and has good happy hour deals. Northside is jammed up to 10 am and rightfully so. And I think Agave is better than Fiesta's now, but don't go after 8 pm, they try become a nightclub (nightmare). Mirabelle is the best couples atmosphere place in the Valley with good food and "dial-a-ride" will take you there, more importantly, bring you back after dinner and beverages.

I would venture a guess that a tax hating Frenchman is not a lot different than a tax hating USA restaurant owner. Bringing to mind the old US habit of "skimming", cash in the pocket and a few missing "le additions".

Are you staying in Beaver Creek Village and will you have a vehicle? Having a car would make Vail and Edwards accessible. Taking the Eagle County bus at night in the winter is not fun.

And DD, since the new owner of Gore Range took over about a year ago, the food has gotten a lot better. He used to be the chef at Grouse Mountain Grill in the Beav.

Also, pizza and BBQ are not foods that excel on the Colorado Western Slope. That said, about the best pizza we have to offer is the new Zino's in Edwards. A new local brewery, Crazy Mountain, has a big local following, but their beers are not to my taste. As far as I'm concerned O'Dells 90 Shilling is one of the best beers Colorado has to offer. The Dusty Boot has many good craft beers on tap, but the food is nothing special and the families that frequent it in the winter can get out of hand..

We did a lot of tastings a year ago in September, had wonderful Grand Cru's from small producers and stayed at a B&B outside of Epernay that was also a producer. We never paid more than 22 E for a terrific bottle of sparkling. However, we did see lot's of places trying to make a big deal out of the tasting process for more money than I would want to pay. If any have still wines, try some, they are different than anything else I have found.

How about this tab for 16.

Dan,
Thanks for the response. I really like all the foodie stuff in Boulder, but its getting to the point where trying to anticipate the parking crap has gone past the point of wanting to go there. Thanks for the parking garage comment, its the same one my wife gave me after we both got parking tickets. From now on, I'll stay in North Boulder, not the Town, but in the County in the future.
BlueOx

The deal we found last week was the "happy hour' goodies at 1010. The pate and mussels were good and the prices even better. I just hate trying to find a place to park and no matter where I end up, I still get a ticket. The Boulder metermaids are a real negative when trying to enjoy the place.

We would be if we lived on the lived on the front range. When I first saw this I thought it would be over subscribed in the first couple of hours. What a great opportunity to connect with people of a like mind and where you live.

If going via i70 to CO 9, try Food Hedz (www.foodhedzcafe.com/) in Frisco or for "deck dining" the Boatyard also in Frisco. In Leadville, a very informal "Carta Blanca" for family Mexican. Twin Lakes Lodge has been OK in the past.

C&C,
The Wolcott Yacht Club is open again. I'm hearing that its better then ever and may stay open year round. Will check it out next week and update.
BlueOx

On or cycling trips to France, we stay in a gite for the extra space, but even more so to take advantage of the markets in the surrounding villages. The "kit" we bring includes dried herbs and spices (mainly ground peppers and sage), poultry shears, corkscrew (double jointed waiters friend), ground espresso coffee and a whetstone for sharpening knifes.

Dinner at either a B&B or restaurant usually involves doing a 3 course (or more) prix fixe, a commitment of 2 to 3 hours and the consumption of much food at night-time. Not to mention having to meet a schedule and the hassle of having to get "cleaned up" for dinner. All this interferes with late afternoon activities; short rides, reading, cellar tasting or a nap. Staying in a house, we stock up on rotisserie chicken and produce at markets and can have a cold buffet at home. Its more assembly than cooking. This way evening repas just becomes a continuation of a late afternoon sampling of our daily wine and food purchases.

A comment on the posts about "making" dinner in Paris. I don't make it, I assemble it from all the great food I purchased at the markets and cheese, bread and wine from a shop, This way I get to experience it during the day and again in the evening. It also allows time to reflect on the days adventures. Lunch is when we enjoy sit down meals.

Get down to Puligny Montrachet and see Julian at Caveau right on the bike trail. Sit on the sidewalk/patio and enjoy his selections: http://caveau-puligny.com/anglais/hom...