shortstop's Profile
3 Star Michelin Restaurant Recommendation?
I would go with L'Arpège over Gagnaire.
Gagnaire is really hit or miss. Beautiful room and what one would expect in 3* service, however my dinner there, albeit two years ago, was simply not tasty. I sat there chuckling to myself in disbelief - here I was at Pierre Gagnaire, one of the pantheons of modern cuisine having such a unflavorful meal. Friends whose food taste I trust had similar experiences more recently. That said, FoodSnob very much enjoyed his recent meal there:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/699804
L'Arpège, although minimal in terms of setting and more relaxed service than a typical 3* (yet always incredibly warm and gracious), consistently brings the flavor. And for a splurge, provides a much better chance of a hit than a miss.
***
Just went back and read your original post, that you are looking for the whole 3* package in terms of service, etc. in that case, Gagnaire more closely fills the bill.
Look forward to hearing where you end up and how it was!
3 Star Michelin Restaurant Recommendation?
<>
Go. :) If you love dining, it's really a special experience. Here's a recent post from souphie comparing Ledoyen, L'Astrance and L'Arpege:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/661860?tag=highlight-5126923;post-content-5126923#5126923
3 Star Michelin Restaurant Recommendation?
Welcome to the France Board, whichway2! This question has been addressed in various forms of late. Here are some recent threads on Michelin 3* that might be helpful:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/699388
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/690982
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/684227
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/696625
I'd recommend L'Astrance (lunch menu the same as dinner, both having less expensive options available) and L'Arpège (lunch menu available) as Michelin 3*s that would provide a contrasting experience to Le Cinq.
Please come back to the Board after your trip and let us know how your meals were. :)
Help Needed Please re:Le Bigarrade & other choices in 2 weeks
Just read Meg Z.'s review of Bigarrade mentioned above. Spot on! (not to mention cleverly done...)
La Bigarrade:
http://megzimbeck.com/2010/04/la-bigarrade
Paris dining option - trying to make a final decision
Ledoyen is high on my "to try" list based on this photo set from Souphie:
http://picasaweb.google.com/ZeJulot/Ledoyen02#
I really want that spaghetti dish!
L'Astrance reservations
Congrats and enjoy! Please come back to the Board and let us know how your lunch was. :)
Help Needed Please re:Le Bigarrade & other choices in 2 weeks
I have not yet read Meg's review nor have had a chance to post a full one here, but I was disappointed in my recent lunch at Bigarrade based on all I had read prior. (as well as having tasted a dish of his at an event in NYC that was quite delicious.) The flavors did not come together for me in a way that was particularly tasty. I prefer flavors that run toward the more intense side of the spectrum and these are on the lighter side. Lunch was fish/seafood centric with only one meat course. And similar to the situation recounted in Food Snob's review of Pierre Gagnaire, one of the servers could not describe the dishes at all, which given Pelé's unique combinations of ingredients, took away from the experience for me. Further, the wine service was haphazard and the dessert service rushed. On the plus side, it was a fair amount of food for 45€.
How I know I really enjoyed a restaurant is I find myself thinking about when I can go back. Though Pelé is certainly turning out some interesting dishes and I'm glad I experienced Bigarrade, returning hasn't crossed my mind.
So overwhelmed..please help.. Le Cinq & Taillevant
<> Fab!
Agree with Parigi that Taillevent and Le Cinq are duplicative. Amerasianchic, given your criteria, Guy Savoy is a great choice with one of those two. As to your concern that the menu did not pull you in, fwiw, the dishes at Guy Savoy are more interesting than they read on the menu.
Here's a recent report on Guy Savoy: http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/696625
Michel Cluizel
If you love chocolate, just up the street from Cluizel is Jean-Paul Hévin @ 231, rue Saint-Honoré. Some of my favorite chocolates in Paris. For their individual chocolates, they will offer you prepacked boxes, but put together your own from their selection in the back - the various pralines and their rochers are particularly good. Also a beautiful selection of pâtisserie, most chocolate based. And the staff here is lovely.
Frenchie reservation??!!
Not a silly question at all. It should not be a problem, most places have someone available who speaks English. However, IMHO, it is polite to ask whether anyone speaks English in French --> Parlez-vous anglais s'il vous plaît, pronounced: Par-lay voo an-glay see-voo-play? At that point, either they will converse with you in English, even if only minimally, or you know you need to find someone who speaks French to call for you. :)
Also, if you are staying in a hotel with a concierge desk, you could ask them to reserve for you.
Suggestions for 1st night in Paris
As to Bigarrade, my meal was fish/seafood-centric with the exception of the last course. Not to mention that at this point, I imagine a Saturday evening dinner reservation for late April is next to impossible, given its popularity and small number of tables.
Have not yet posted a report, but I was not smitten with Bigarrade. Interesting, yes, but not the deliciousness I had hoped for.
Sunday is Market Day in Paris - which one?
AGM, thanks for the galette rec. Look forward to trying!
Dinner at Guy Savoy Paris
GS is a great first Paris Michelin experience. It was mine, a lunch only a few hours after getting off a flight and it was magical. I swooned at the butter - Bordier, then swooned at the brioche with the truffle butter (and the second portion, offered without my asking), I swooned at the bread service, and at the magnificent service period. And then the parade of desserts. Cegray's post brought back memories of what was a special afternoon. (Thanks, Cegray!) GS Paris' series of special touches create what feels like an "only in Paris" experience. The fact there's a Vegas location should not detract at all from your experience.
Enjoy! And please report back after your trip!
Sunday is Market Day in Paris - which one?
If you go to Raspail, also do not miss pâtisseries Hugo & Victor (40 bd Raspail @ rue Chomel) and Pâtisserie des Reves (93 rue de Bac.) Both open the early part of the day on Sunday and "must visits" as unique pâtisserie experiences.
HIRAMATSU
That lamb looks delicious as does the deconstructed Tatin, save all that cinnamon. :)
Adding this to my "Open Monday" list. Thanks!
Paris Report--Latin Quarter, mostly
Thanks for this report! Both Au Buisson Ardente and Balzar sound interesting.
http://www.lebuissonardent.fr/
http://www.brasseriebalzar.com/
L'Astrance reservations
Le Menu Surprise is definitely available for lunch. As mentioned above, if you're flexible as to dates, as well as lunch in lieu of dinner, you have a much better chance. Good luck!!
Best boulangeries & patisseries in Paris?
Also delicious at Pâtisserie des Rêves - the Tarte Tatin and St. Honoré.
Chocokitty, also in the neighborhood of Pâtisserie des Rêves, is Hugo & Victor, on bd. Raspail and rue Chomel. Accurately described in another thread as like a jewelry store, it's sleek and modern, with beautiful (and unique) pastries in glass cases. Chocolates as well. I preferred what I sampled from Pâtisserie des Rêves, but Hugo & Victor is a must visit for a pâtisserie-buff. (as is Pâtisserie des Rêves.)
Opera Garnier - Pre/Post Meal
Here's a somewhat recent post with suggestions for dining near Opera Garnier:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/654376#5052207
Seeking good markets, specialty shops, boulangeries, patisseries, etc in 3rd...& ? about Easter Candy...
The Easter candy in the Monoprix is much more interesting than what we get in the States. If I had a bigger suitcase I would have brought home one of each item - the stuff was adorable! I did bring home some Kinder eggs I've yet to sample. I imagine I'll regret I did not buy more (like all the candy/chocolate I bring home from Paris! :))
Best boulangeries & patisseries in Paris?
Just in case the 18th turns out to be out of the way for chocokitty to sample Kouign Amann, there's delicious K-A to be had at Ladurée Royale (can't say the same for Ladurée Bonaparte, did not think it was as good there...)
Staying in the 1st and need help choosing restaurants help
For breakfast "to go" there is Eric Kayser on rue Danielle Casanova off rue de la Paix. Best are the rolls (my favorite is the olive), which you can get with salted or unsalted butter for an extra charge. Also croissants, pastries, etc. along with coffee, juices. You can eat there, although it is not as atmospheric as eating in a café.
You could also stroll down rue St. Honoré to the tea room at Ladurée on rue Royale for breakfast. It is not a long walk, and their croissants make for a magnificent breakfast. Note, there are two types: croissant tradition and à l'ancienne. Try them, both, see which you prefer. :) Also great, their pain au chocolat pistache.
Best boulangeries & patisseries in Paris?
Genin: have a freshly-constructed mille feuilles in the tea salon, then take home a bag (or three) of his mango-passionfruit caramels. (his salted butter caramels, in a variety of flavors, are delicious as well.)
Coffee
I had a hard time finding coffee/espresso "to go" in the mornings, so ended up at a Starbucks. I'm open for suggestions for local "to go" coffee in the 1st, 2nd & 8th.
L'Astrance reservations
Congrats! And enjoy! If you can do the extended menu - Le Menu Surprise - do go for it. It is not a crushing amount of food and provides an opportunity to see the breadth of his talent.
L'Astrance reservations
You should be ok calling when they reopen for a late April lunch, especially if you are flexible as to dates. I called late January for March, no problem. Although it requires an early morning wake-up, I've had more success reaching someone during the 10am-noon period than in the evenings.
Need ideas for 2 Over the Top Choices for Paris Lunches
Usually about a month, but I would call and ask when they will begin taking reservations for the week you are interested in. Then Tuesday of that week call at 10am Paris time. It is a tough reservation to come by, easier if you are flexible as to dates. They are open only three days for lunch Wed.-Fri.
L'Astrance: 01 40 50 84 40
Need ideas for 2 Over the Top Choices for Paris Lunches
I wasn't equating "dining bliss" with sexiness in my reply, but come to think of it, I wouldn't say L'Ambroisie is not sexy either. :)
