jock's Profile
Cork or screw cap ?
originally the capsule was made of lead. rats in the cellar were eating the cork. if they ate the lead they died. now they are not made of lead and and are for appearance only.
I'm no longer recommending Le Cinq for lunch (review)
I give many places where I am disappointed a "do over" if I think there is good reason to do so. However, IMO restaurants of this caliber and price range do not get a "do over."
I'm no longer recommending Le Cinq for lunch (review)
I posted a similarly negative review of my lunch there in December. What I really miss the great value lunch at what IMO was the greatest restaurant in Paris --- Lucas Carton!
Recommendation for one more dinner
I think you would like Dans les Landes. It is great and would be a completely different experience.
Sunday Night in Paris, including a Vegetarian
Tried Semilla in April. I think of it as more of a small plates/tapas type place. Food was very good and IMO a bit more interesting than Fish which I also like. Neither will rock your boat but Fish has always been good and reliable and we have returned to Fish on a regular basis for many years. Wife and I are not vegetarians and do not look for vegetarian options so cannot recall how suitable Semillia might be in that regard.
Steak Tartare in Paris on Sunday Afternoon
Very close by on Blvd de Grenelle toward the next metro stop (Dupliex) is Thai Pacific where they make my favorite steak tartare in all of Paris. Not positive that it is open on Sunday but I think so. Excellent Thai food and you likely will be just fine with no reservation.
Thai Pacific:
110 Boulevard Grenelle,
75015 Paris, France
+33 1 45 78 87 88
Paris Fine-Dining Suggestions & Critique
Bill, can't seem to find my old email list. Call me on the old Backstreet number. I have a few ideas for your trip.
Chef Headed to Scottsdale
As a foodie with only 6 days you can skip O&I. In fact even with a couple of months you can skip O&I.
Top Paris caves à manger?
BR has been thoroughly discussed here already. I think it is great and great fun. The guys (and girls) at Miroir are very wine knowledgeable. Haven't been to the others.
Specific questions about oysters and other fruits de mer
the nine tiny belons were the entree.
kouign aman may be the best pastry i have ever had.
Specific questions about oysters and other fruits de mer
Pleine Mer is excellent and they had belons when we were there in April. When you are there do not miss the Kouign Aman for desert.
l'Ecalier du Bistrot also has belons. Their lunch formule is around 15E and includes 9 #5 belons. They are tiny but very good.
Wine/menu challenge
The whole menu begs for Alsace Pinot Gris. Get a Zind Humbrecht with Indice 1 or 2 for the first four courses and one with Indice 3 or higher for dessert.
Paris- L' Estaminet on Des Enfants de la Marche in the Marais @ 39, rue Bretagne. WARNING.
I have enjoyed good food there and said so in at least one of my posts. I don't think much of the market itself but I rather like l'Estaminet.
Buying champagne/sparkling in Paris
Fleury is one of the best producers in all of Champagne. Most Champagne, including the names you know, is more about the marketing than the wine itself. Not Fleury! The grow the grapes, make the wine and sell the stuff that isn't good enough to Moet or Clicquot or whatever.
With regard to Montorgueil, near where we stay each year, there are three shops. Two are chains; Nicolas and the slightly better Repaire du Bacchus. A few doors up the street from RdB is a Caviste Independent who actually cares about wine. It is the only place on the street I even go into anymore.
To stay in that neighborhood your best bets are in order: Fleury, Juveniles, Caviste Independent and for the high end stuff - Legrand (expensive but very good)
Tim Johnston, owner of Juveniles on Rue de Richelieu, is one of Paris's most knowledgeable wine merchants. He always has one or two really good Champagnes that he personally selects. His selection of Champagne and other wines as well is relatively small but extremely well chosen.
Excellent also if a bit farther away is Le Grande Cave on rue Poncelet. Jerome Huard is very knowledgeable as well. Poncelet is close to Parc Monceau and has a full range of provisions for a picnic. We Picnic at Monceau regularly and have never been hassled. We are discreet and usually find a tranquil spot away from the crowds.
Another great park for a picnic where we have never been hassled is Buttes Chaumont. It is very large and far more picturesque than Luxembourg (we find Luxembourg the least appealing pack in Paris). I shop on Montorgueil and take the picnic with us when when we go to Buttes Chaumont. I am sure you could buy your picnic near there but I do not know the area well enough to suggest where.
Small Plates Recommendations??
Newly opened Semilla has very good small plates and is also open on Sunday. 54 Rue de Seine. There was no name of the place on the building. Two doors up from Cosi.
Small Plates Recommendations??
Was there yesterday and i thought the blackboard said 7 jours 7 - 12h a 23h. Did I misinterpret something?
Small Plates Recommendations??
DLL is absolutely great and it is open every day. The small plates aren't exactly small either.
Paris Lunch Challenge
Two thoughts.
ONE: Always tell the restaurant about the vegetarians when you make the reservation. The kitchen will be much better prepared.
TWO: Baby sitter.
A few specific questions about œufmayonaise, bœuf tartare, huîtres, le Baron Rouge, Le Quincy and marche d'alilgre/beauvau
Been there twice this trip and BR is still the most fun place to hang out in Paris on a Sunday afternoon. Don't miss the Loire rose. It is perfect with both the charcutrie and the fromage and it's good enough to guzzle! We always wind up getting a second pot for the two of us.
Don't miss Dan les Landes either. Food is terrific the Irouleguy Blanc and Rouge are a treat. Open every day. The waiters were efficient but they did nothing for me ;). The two charming servers at Verjus on the other hand .....................
June in Paris - Pls help comment/critique
I'd skip Bistronomes. Mediocre at best. Nothing made me even think about wanting to return. Juveniles across the street is much better, if less fancy, and it is less expensive.
Frederic Simonin vs JF Piege vs Passage 53 vs Verjus vs Agape Substance
Went to Verjus again last night. Food was superb. Last trip it was the best meal of the trip including lunch at Le Cinq. It will likely be the best meal of this trip also; certainly the best so far. The food is like going to a two or three star in the late 80s, early 90s before all the deconstructed this and that. Before foam and molecular lunacy. They only do two menus each night; a seven course chef's menu and a five course that omits two courses. the portions are just right; you can eat everything and not feel overstuffed or hungry. Flavors are clean and well balanced without being overly complicated. Very sophisticated. Excellent wines are reasonably priced.
What is not two or three star is the room and the service. The room is small and bistro-like but quite charming. There is no army of sommeliers, bussers, servers and hovering maitre 'ds. Instead the service is very professionally handled by two charming young ladies.
One seven course, one five course and five glasses of very good wine was 167 euros. Plan on spending 3 hours.
Frederic Simonin vs JF Piege vs Passage 53 vs Verjus vs Agape Substance
Had an excellent meal with great wine pairing at Verjus the week it opened in December. Report is somewhere on this site. Going again on Tuesday. Will report back.
Cured meats and wine... what wines do you drink?
put me in the rose camp. especially a really good Bandol.
Chez L'Ami Jean
"A question I’d like to pose to ‘chowhounders’ is…Is there a restaurant out there that is universally loved? My vote goes to Troisgros, expectations are high from diners and they are usually met or exceeded. "
Have to agree even though there are several I like better I have never heard anyone trash the place and everyone including me raves about it.
One night, one restaurant.....where would you go?
Have to agree on Le Cinq. Tho many on this board love it IMO it may have one too many.
A few specific questions about œufmayonaise, bœuf tartare, huîtres, le Baron Rouge, Le Quincy and marche d'alilgre/beauvau
Don't over think things. Mangeur gives the best advice anyone could give in that regard. "The only people who get in trouble at restaurants are those who try to show how much they already know, and in the process only show how little they know. Just be yourself and ask for the help you need."
Very finicky teen in Paris
Better yet, leave the daughter home. Paris is too good for her.
