tbwenzlau's Profile
Il Ridotto: The Best Place to Eat in Venice
Thanks for the update. I could be mistaken, but the old man who was serving you was likely Gianni (the chef) himself. Not that it would have made a huge difference to your experience, but it is certainly a place where patience is rewarded. When I went, there was only hostess, a sous chef, and Gianni. Have things changed?
Rome - Help me narrow my list!
I really like Dal Bolognese on piazza del Popolo. It is a scene, but the food I have had has been very good. Best for dinner, I do not remember if they do lunch. When I have dined there it has been alone and the service has been perfect every time.
1 Piazza del Popolo
Rome
39-06/361-1426
I also have enjoyed La Buca di Ripetta which has a nice atmosphere and the food was good. Great dessert. Great wine list.
If you are obsessed with wine like myself Trimani Wine Bar is worth a visit. I find that the service here is not good, but they have quite a good selection of wine.
For some good gelato I like Giolitti (it is where Gregory Peck and Audrey Hepburn went in Roman Holiday). There is a huge horde of people and a long line, but they have excellent gelato. San Crispino is another spot for some good gelato.
It is hard to find, but Sora Margherita for Lunch is always good. It is loud, but great local place.
Hope this helps.
Il Ridotto: The Best Place to Eat in Venice
Glad to see someone who realizes what a special place this is! I am so jealous, I can not wait to go back.
Downtown (or downtown-convenient) for dinner tomorrow night
Church & State is great. Nic and Stefs is nice, and Cafe Pinot has a nice patio
PLEASE POST YOUR VOTES HERE: Ultimate Los Angeles Restaurants 2009
Over $25
1. Jar
2. Pizzeria Mozza
3. Providence
4. Grace
5. The Little Door
Under $25
1. The Golden State
2. The Little Next Door
3. Daisy Mint
4. Pie 'n Burger
5. Philippe's French Dip
Blair's or Palate for Tomorrow Night?
I have eaten at Blair's but not in a year or so. I have not eaten at Palate. It is kind of a date. Any thoughts?
Are Laduree macarons really special?
I find Laduree macarons to be very special. Spectacular. But macarons are very personal; people have different tastes. A certain sweetness or bitterness can make one love the macaron and the other hate it. If you were alone I would say it is silly to miss them, but with tired kids it is understandable.
Also, in Nice I am convinced they have the best ice cream in the world. Fenocchio's!!!!! By far my favorite ice cream. Make sure to have it. There are three in the old town, one in the center, one closer to the beach, and the other on the outskirt of the old town. Don't miss that. My favorite flavors are fleur d'oranger and jasmine, but I know those flavors don't interest everyone.
Casual dining in the 6th
One of my favorite places that is not in the 6th, but is only like a 15 minute walk down blvd. Saint Germain in the 5 is Le Petit Pontoise. It has absolutely amazing food and is not expensive at all. (Aroung 20 euros for a main course.) It is not too big and always full. I find that it has a casual atmosphere because it is generally loud with people talking. A great place to go.
Casual dining in the 6th
Can definitely say that Le Bon St. Pourcain is great. I love the atmosphere of the place very simple and quiet, but the food is good. I haven't been in a few months so can't give menu recommendations.
Best "local" restaruants in Nice
In Rome you definitely should go to Dal Bolognese on Piazza del Poppolo. It is a chic place where the food actually lives up to the hype. Very very good food. Also if wine is your thing Trimani wine bar is fun and they have good food.
Foodie day trips or weekend trips from Paris//France food festivals
I don't know when you leave so these may be helpful or not. One is in Paris, the other two I know of are in the south of France. My best recommendation would be to choose a city you are interested in visiting and then look to find vineyards or restaurants in or near the city. Also you can look in the Michelin guide and find a restaurant that intrigues you and go visit the town for the night and just go to the restaurant. Most french towns offer something like a festival or cooking/food related events that can be found on the tourism office website.
You should really try and get to Aix en Provence just for the sake of going. It is absolutely beautiful and have some of the best open air markets in France. They also have some really good options for wine tastings. At some of the nicer vineyards they probably have wine tasting with meals. The meals are often very very very good at nice vineyards. For some general information you can check out the tourist office website: http://www.aixenprovencetourism.com/uk/aix-sejour.htm
Also, not to far away is Chateauneuf-le-Rouge which has had a food festival for like 17 years and a few friends have gone in the past and said it was fun. It is called Festival de la Gastronomie Provençale du Pays d’Aix and is in July. I don't think they have announced the dates yet. http://www.chateauneuf-le-rouge.fr/pageLibre00011935.php
Le festival international de la gastronomie in Mougins is supposed to be great, but that is always in September. They haven't announced the dates for that yet. It is in a really cool small town near Cannes. They have a great photography museum.
http://www.lesetoilesdemougins.com/index.html
Food festival I know of in Paris is Gastronomy by the Seine which will take place June 8th. It is not that expensive and I have heard some good things, it is only in its second year.
http://www.gastronomyfestivals.org/anglais/Events/paris-2009/article/program
And one that you missed that was in February in Deauville is OFF. Omnivore Food Festival. They have an amazing website and I really wanted to go, but I was traveling in Italy that week.
http://www.omnivore.fr/
Anyways hope this helps.
Macaroon questions
Go to Laduree. Get as many or as little as you want. My favorite flavor is Fleur d'Oranger others prefer the Pistache. Laduree keeps there macarons a maximum of 4 days they are generally put out on there 2nd day to have the right texture and consistency. If you get some fresh ones and put them in a box they should travel fine. Friends have come and taken them back home plenty of times.
New Yorker living in Paris for 8 months: Where to eat in the 6th?
Hey there, I am a student from Los Angeles who has lived in Paris's 6th since August. I think I can definitely be of service to you. I should note that I generally go over my budget for food because I like good food.
Right now my favorite is Le Petit Pontoise. It is actually in the 5th but only around a 20 minute walk from where you live and between Boulevard Saint Germain and the Seine. Nice atmosphere, the food is excellent, and they have great wine (They have a great Chateauneuf du Pape though a little cher). Starters are between 10-15 euros, main dishes are between 20-28 euros, desserts around 8 euros. I have had a lot of things on the menu and have taken many people there it is a must.
Another favorite of mine is Au Bon Saint Pourcain. It is on a tiny street near saint sulpice. They bring you a glass of their house wine when you sit down. They have a single board that hangs from the wall as the menu. All main dishes are 20 euros and starters and desserts very. It is a classic french cuisine restaurant with nothing fancy. Very small only about 8 tables with a max of about 20 people I would say. Always the same woman and man serving. A great place.
Rue de Buci is amazing and fun to walk down. At the begining or end of rue de buci but near boulevard saint germain is an italian restaurant Del Papa. The prices are good and the food is great. It is simple and easy and you can always count on it for good food. I have probably visited here most frequently. There is one server who is an *sshole if your french isn't that great, but he has improved since my first visit.
Right off Rue de Buci on Rue de Seine is Cosi Cafe which has amazing sandwiches. Really great variety and all delicious.
Also great Paninis at Pane e Vino Right near the corner of rue de Buci and Rue de Seine. They also have really fresh pastas you can buy to cook and other Italian goodies.
Carton on Rue de Buci has the best pastries I think in Paris (Except for LaDuree macarons which are terribly perfect).
Eric Kayser on rue de l'Ancienne Comedie again next to rue de buci has the best baguettes. Their baguette de malsherbes tends to be always hot and amazing.
For some cheese with the best baguette head over to Fromagerie 31 on the lower side of rue de seine (below rue de Buci). They have an amazing selection and the staff is very helpful.
I know I did not really respond to your topic but thought I would give you some tips for the area. Anytime you want to do a foodie night or bring me food that you made at school I can be made available. If you have any questions you can run them by me.
Late-night dining near South Pasadena/Pasadena area
Shiro is amazing! Amazing and the service is great. There apple tart dessert is my absolute favorite. For most special occasions staying close to home I dine here.
Il Ridotto: The Best Place to Eat in Venice
I do not know its hours. I know that I went for dinner on a Friday night and tried to make reservations for 930 and they requested 830. If you are going to have dinner there that is the time they prefer. They do not open before then I am sure as I was early and they werent open until just before 830. For lunch it is by far the best deal in town. I went around 1pm but I think they open at 1230. He is a great guy and he has the presentations of an artist. (If you speak french or italian it is best because his english is not perfect.) I truly can say that it was a great food experience. I live in Paris and Joel Robuchon is my favorite chef. This came pretty darn close if it did not pass it because of the interaction you have with the chef.
How far in advance to make reservations in Venice and when to eat dinner
I ate the first night at Da Ivo. Very good dark and cosy atmosphere and food was great and had great wine. It is near St. Marcos Square. I ate lunch the next day at Naranzaria it is a sushi place by Rialto Bridge. Very good sushi; nice and refreshing. It is a very hip night place and walking by in the evening it is bustling with young people. That night was Il Ridotto and if you read that link I put before you will see how I feel about that. It is also near St. Marcos. The other meals I just scrounged and nothing was too special.
How far in advance to make reservations in Venice and when to eat dinner
I am telling you I just got back from Venice and you need to eat at Il Ridotto:
http://chowhound.chow.com/topics/602734
Also, I was making 9:30 reservations and the restaurants said it was too late and preferred reservations at 8:30.
-Tommy
Il Ridotto: The Best Place to Eat in Venice
Just got back from Venice and a trip through other cities in Italy. I will not write much, but I had to write to let everyone know about this amazing place.
Il Ridotto is a small restaurant run by master chef Gianni Bonaccorsi. The restaurant has 4 2 person tables and 2 3 person tables. Gianni himself acts as waiter which makes this small restaurant even more personal. When giving the menu he goes through it to explain the changes because of what he could or couldn't get at the markets that day. His dishes are works of art and created from the freshest of foods. My meal which included an amuse bouche, antipasta, primi, secondi, and dessert totaled 75 euros (without wine (I had wine to and he has an amazing wine list). Now I know that is a lot (actually not a lot in Venice), but I got everything and that is not needed to recognize how special this place is. He brings you each dish and explains everything in it and how it was prepared. An artist explaining his work. I was there from open to close on a Friday night and there was one couple there before me and one tourist couple who came in quickly had some pasta (with coke and spoke on their cell phone (I wanted to kill them)). Shocked at how empty the restaurant was, before ordering dessert I asked him why he was in Venice and not in a food city of Europe or NYC or LA etc. We then had an amazing 20 minute conversation all about food and the nature of his restaurant and his desires for cuisine culture to hit Venice. He explained his love of cuisine and passion that came with his cooking. He said that he is always thinking of different combinations of vegetables, spices, meats, sauces...etc. It is his love. I can't tell you what an experience this was and how memorable it was for this man and amazing chef to speak so easily with an infatuated customer and be so grateful for the praise. I then had dessert and he brought a bottle of 15 year old port to my table and gave me a few glasses for free. He is a great man.
I was so impressed that I returned the next day for lunch. If the dinner is too expensive for you then the lunch is a steal! He has a menu for just 18 euros! You get a primi and a secondi and mineral water. And remember this is not cheap thrown together food these are artisitic amazing dishes. The price for lunch is an unbelievable bargain. I got a Fettuccine Ragu Piemonte style and then Sea Bass. He was again pleased to see me and I was grateful for the perfect cuisine and sanctuary his restaurant is.
This is a link to the website which is hard to navigate, but here it is: www.ilridotto.com/
I can not stress it enough...go to Il Ridotto.
Dinner & Wine in Rome, Naples, and Venice
Thanks I do enjoy people watching. Again thanks for the recs.
Dinner & Wine in Rome, Naples, and Venice
Thanks Katie,
Your site is great. Anything for Venice?
Dinner & Wine in Rome, Naples, and Venice
I will be arriving in Rome this Friday and staying 4 nights. I am then going to Naples for two nights followed by two nights in Venice. I am going alone so the food and wine must be very good company. It will be my first time visiting each place. I love Italian food and Italian wine. My dinner budget maxes out at about 50 euros. I don't like touristy places but genuine and great food.
In Rome I will be staying at a hotel near Piazza Navona. Again 4 nights there. Looking for places close to me but really I will walk anywhere for great food. I have had recommendations for the following places:
San Crispino for Gelato
Sora Margherita for Lunch
In Naples I will be staying in the Toledo neighborhood. I hear the pizza is great, but is anything else? Have the following recommendations:
Attanasia for their sfogliatelle
Da Michele for the best pizza
Venice is small and I am staying in the San Polo neighborhood and will walk anywhere. I have no recommendations. Help with restaurants here would be greatly appreciated.
Thank you in advance for your help.
-Tommy
