haapi's Profile
Are There No Good, Inexpensive Places In Paris?
I eat lunch out regularly and I know plenty of places that offer a great lunch menu for under 20 euros. Café des Musées was already mentioned (18 euros, I believe?) but in the same neighborhood: Le Réparate, a charming restaurant at 64 rue Saint Sabin (in the 11th) has a great lunch menu, ditto La Vache Acrobate (St Sabin X rue Amelot), Café de l'Industrie (St Sabin), Le Clown Bar (rue Amelot), Le Progres (rue de Bretagne), Comptoir de Turenne (rue de Turenne), le Petit Fer a Cheval (rue du Temple) and on and on. Another great option for the Marais is the Marché des Enfants Rouge which is a covered market with many takeaway options (wonderful Japanese, Italian, Moroccan, for starters) and most of them have their own tables set up outside, some of which are actually in part of the market that is uncovered. It's a jolly place for lunch and rarely will you have to pay more than 20 euros. On the contrary, it is possible to eat well for 12-15. There's also café Charlot across the street (from the entrance) that is a bit too trendy for my taste but the food is decent and the scene is amusing. Bon appetit!
Emeril in person
I would like to thank everyone for their posts.
His private persona aside, I have no delusions that I am buying into Emeril's public persona. I am also happy to read that many posters have such nice things to say about him. (Frankly, I would never be able to maintain a chipper public persona 24/7 so I can't fault him there....) And Withnail42: you are absolutely right about getting my daughter excited about French chefs but she already has pretty good role models with her parents, aunts, uncles and grandparents, all good cooks. To tell you the truth I think her original idea was to compare Emeril's ratatouille to her grandmother's ratatouille. I explained that we may not find it on the menu and that opened a discussion about Cajun food and what we are bound to eat in nola, so we've already accomplished something.
Cheers
Emeril in person, in NOLA
Thanks so much to both of you. Gives me hope! I will take the advice of another poster who suggested that I call and ask for his personal assistant. I am also happy to read the very favorable things people say about Emeril himself. It is far nice to go through all this effort for a good human being than it is for a mere "product."
cheers
Emeril in person
Thanks ChefJune. I never thought about a "personal assistant" actually. I worked in restaurants in college. The restaurant biz has changed so much but, obviously, my instincts haven't! Great idea.
I have spent time in Lafayette/Cajun country and I definitely want my daughter to know it but probably not on this trip. She'll want to hang out with the adults as we dine and dance into the night...but she's a bit too young yet ;-)
Emeril in person, in NOLA
Hi--I posted this query (below) on this board and got a lot of helpful responses, but then the post was moved to the media board.
Since my query is specifically about the possibility of seeing Emeril at one of his New Orleans restaurants, I am re-posting it here, with the hopes that I am not transgressing any Chow rules!!
Also, there was one poster in particular who was trying to help but now I fear s/he cannot find me, another reason for re-posting. (Note to VodkaWithOlives: I arrive on June 28 and will stay about 5 days.) Thanks all for any help.
+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Hi-I know this may be a pie-in-the-sky quest but I will be taking my 9 y.o. daughter, a budding cook & foodie and, thanks to the Ratatouille DVD, Emeril fan, to NOLA in late June-early July for one week. (We live in France.) Her one request is to see Emeril. And I mean the MAN and not just the restaurant. Does anyone have any idea whether he still puts in an appearance now and then at his nola places (given his multi-media empire) and/or who I could contact for this special request? I appreciate any advice.
Cheers--
haapi
Emeril in person
Hi--I think I will drive up north to Memphis, then Nashville, then over to North Carolina, up to Pennsylvania Dutch country and then NY. Nothing is set in stone yet, except for the trip to nola! I am happy to hear of anyone's suggestions (and will undoubtedly post some queries as I get closer to my departure.) Thanks again.
Emeril in person
Hi--first of all I would like to thank everyone who answered and gave advice. Much appreciated!!
We are flying into nola on June 28 and staying for roughly 5-7 days before leaving on a leisurely drive through the south.
Cheers-
haapi
Emeril in person
Hi-I know this may be a pie-in-the-sky quest but I will be taking my 9 y.o. daughter, a budding cook & foodie and, thanks to the Ratatouille DVD, Emeril fan, to NOLA in late June-early July for one week. (We live in France.) Her one request is to see Emeril. And I mean the MAN and not just the restaurant. Does anyone have any idea whether he still puts in an appearance now and then at his nola places (given his multi-media empire) and/or who I could contact for this special request? I appreciate any advice.
Cheers--
haapi
Cream cheese sub for baking (in France)
Hi-
I am looking for a good sub for cream cheese for a cheesecake. I have heard about strained yogurt but I'm not sure about its use in baking. Then there is neufchatel, petit suisse and co, but I've never actually tried them. I figure someone out there already has, and can advise accordingly. Many thanks in advance.
fried clams
see yesterday's NY Times for a fun story about fried clams, as well as the answer to your question.
cheers-
haapi
What do Chowhounds do for a living (besides eat of course)?
Education consultant. I live in a temple of chow: Paris. Grew up in a temple of chow: Chicago. Lived in other temples of chow: New York. Montreal. Starting with both grandmothers, the women in my family are all great cooks. The grannies both grew/cooked/canned/put up their own food. My mother never fed us a burger...but she would spend hours experimenting with swedish meatballs and keftedes instead. My sisters and I are all dedicated CHs. Now I am raising the next generation of chowhound. By the time she was about 6 my daughter had developed a taste for foie gras, oysters and chevre. She knows the difference between chateaubriand and an entrecote. Hates MacDo. And she can put away more sushi than me. I don't make big bux but I have always done what it takes to be able to afford good, clean, mostly organic food. And our splurges go to the occasional meal at a real restaurant rather than a visit to a mall. (Well, OK, there are very few malls in Paris.)
Kurowycky's RIP??
Oy was I sad to hear. I grew up on their meats. Whenever I took a bus to my sister's house in NJ I used to have to triple-wrap the garlic sausage (kovbasa) that she would inevitably beg me to bring and stick in way in the back of the bus...and then sat way up front ;-) I read the article in the NY Times and the owner mentioned that he is "exploring options." Has anyone heard anything about him doing any kind of mail order business or wholesaling to retail markets? --haapi
July trip to Paris
re: the 2 chez georges...there is also restaurant georges on top of the centre pompidou. splendid view, yes, but a real tourist scene/trap.
BIG BIRTHDAY BASH IN PARIS
Alanatty--there are sooooo many places that would fit the bill, honestly. Maybe if you mention a neighborhood, a price range, a regional style and/or an "image" of the type of place you are dreaming of, then I'm sure we will all pitch in to make your dream a reality!!
404 Information please
Roxie- I have not eaten at l'homme bleu even though it is right up the street from me (it's often full) but I have eaten at the 404 often. It's much more of a scene, lots of trendy people because it's in a trendy neighborhood. The owner also made a splash when he opened some restaurants in London (Momo). You have to factor all this in. L'Homme bleu has been around for a long time, well before the surrounding neighborhood became fashionable. It has a stellar reputation, even after all these years. I suspect it's more of a home-cooking kind of place. (It's also the fave of some of my North African friends.) It's also on the exact opposite end of the Marais from 404. So you may just be spoiled by having two great North African addresses within walking distance!
Paris Mid-Afternoon Dining?
I would avoid Chez Jenny. Concur with Dodo but would also add Balzar to the "yes" list. Also depends on where you will be. Le Congres has stunning shellfish (as does Terminus Nord) Flo/Vaudeville are high on the decor, Pied de Cochon is quirky but very good, especially if you like pig. And so on....
Disciple of Pierre Hermes in Marais?
"whatever" as my teenaged niece would say ;-) The place is still great. Most people go for the pastries but their breads are very good and they have some fabulous little savory buns. My fave is a pear/chevre combo and the one with pork bits (lardons), red peppers and olives. You can practically make a lunch of them (and they are far cheaper than the pastries.)
Going to Paris for my 1st time in May - What do you think of my "food itinerary"?
telichte-- absolutely, sub 404 for Chez Omar. Omar used to be a fabulous scene because they were cheap and in the middle of a trendy neighborhood. Then they doubled the prices and the crowds moved on. The food is fine but the food at 404 can be stupendous. Their brunch is a personal favorite. The difference, too, is that Omar is Algerian and the food at 404 is Moroccan, which I find far tastier, sophisticated and varied. (Lots of sucré/salé play.) Since I am here let me give my .02 on Chez Denise. The fact that it was closed was probably for personal reasons. It's a great place and whether you eat at 9 pm or midnight or 2 pm makes little difference, other than the clientele. The later the hour, the more colorful. In other words, at 9pm you will see a lot of cop types (the place is heavy on the testosterone) and at 2 am you will see lots of nightbirds...of every sex. And the occasional cop in drag, perhaps ;-) Cheers.
Disciple of Pierre Hermes in Marais?
I think you may be referring to Pain de Sucre at 14 rue Rambuteau (metro of same name.) Not sure if the couple behind this place are disciples of Hermé but they did work for a big name before and the place is incredibly popular, especially with tourists snapping photos of everything ;-) Well worth a visit.
Dallas Jones BBQ Best in the City
I second jb2000 on the ingredients list. I asked once to visit the kitchen and was amazed. They do pretty much everything by themselves, from scratch. The kitchen help is obviously happy and treated well. There is a lot of care put into the food, the surroundings and the overall ambiance. It's a fabulously non-pretentious neighborhood joint owned by a lovely couple who really aim to please.
Classic Bistro ideas in Paris
Oh, for the street markets, the Sunday market at Richard Lenoir/Bastille is very, very good. A wide and excellent range of products, no attitude, amiable vendors, a couple of very good specialists. Rue Monge in the 5th is good but small. The one in the 17th is great. There is also an organic market on bd. Raspail on Sundays but it is very expensive. Good people-watching, though, as this is a very high-profile neighborhood.
Classic Bistro ideas in Paris
Cassoulet=La Fontaine de Mars in the 7th on rue St. Dominique. Cozy, neighborhoodish --but this is an expensive neighborhood so the service, quality (and prices) match. Fabulous cassoulet. Thoumieux is in the same neighborhood and same type of restaurant (very traditional, family-owned) and their cassoulet is decent. This is a better known restaurant and a bit rowdier, jollier and more touristic but an awful lot of fun. Have fun!
Cheap and cheerful in the 5th
Hi all-- I remember running across a posting a few months ago raving about a C&C bistro in the 5th, near Censier Daubenton, I think. Can't find it now when I need it...Does anyone have any suggestions for that neighborhood, or something between there and rue Mouffetard that is off the guidebook path? Cheap, cheerful and, as they say "honnete." Many thanks in advance.
Dining w/pregnant wife in paris on a budget? Any recommendations?
As a longtime Parisian, I had my baby in Paris and most of my friends have had their kids here too. I think we all ate and drank normally throughout our pregnancies although I did abstain from my beloved steak tartare, sushi and oysters. Unless you go to a farm, you can bet that the milk will be pasteurized or --horrors-- UHT. So, all in all, the only thing you might have to keep an eye on is the raw milk cheese. Honestly I never heard of the raw veggies/salad thing. Never. But that might date back some time when tap water was not always safe to drink. Enjoy your trip.
substitution for cheddar cheese
all good ideas, thanks, but maybe lacking that sharp bite of aged cheddar (I should have specified sharp!)
