My father and I are planning a trip to Paris in October. His fourth trip, my first. High on his priority list is eating cassaulet (sp?). Any suggestions for the best? the worst? most authentic?

Megan, <BR> <BR>The best places for cassulet are going to be traditional french restaurants. I lived in Paris and found, the higher the price, the better the food. <BR> <BR>Taillevent ($$$$) <BR>Lutece ($$$$) <BR> <BR>Less expensive alternatives: <BR> <BR>Rue du Dragon (5e arrondissement) right off of St. Germain du Pres has authentic french cuisine for under 200FF/pp. <BR> <BR>If eating le miellieur cassulet is de plusieur importance, forget the price, and recommend your dad take you to Taillevent. Make sure to order the sampler dessert. The service is de miellieur qualite and the cuisine is magnifique. <BR> <BR>Bon Voyage! <BR> <BR>Meredith

Sometime since the publication of Julia Child's great French cooking book (30 yrs ago?), cassoulet has taken on a "peasant chic" aura. But it's worthwhile to remember that is WAS/IS peasant food, concocted to make a lot of beans, and a little bit of meat (goose, duck, sausage - - there are regioonal variations) go a long way. <BR> <BR>When prepared right, it can smell like heaven and taste wonderful (hint: high in fat). On the other hand, it is also sold on the grocery store shelves - - both in fancy glass jars (probably for us Americans who want to take it home) and also in very ordinary looking cans that are scarcely a step up from say, our beans'n'franks (or is it franks'n'beans - - oh, no, that's aisle 7, according to the American Express/Seinfeld commercial). <BR> <BR>Anyhow, I thought the cassoulet served at Thoumieux - - 79 Rue Saint Dominique, 33.1.45.78.29.29 - - was very good. Short walk from Champs de Mars (Tour Eiffel). They kind of pack you in there, but it seems to be fairly "authentic" French food at reasonable prices. <BR> <BR>Best wishes, <BR> <BR>Rex

Had a wonderful cassoulet at a small <BR>neighborhood bistro called L'Avant <BR>Gout. In a neighborhood called Place D'Italie, metro goes right close, but a cab isn't that expensive. Extremely popular, the best we could come up with was a 10p.m. reservation. So call as soon as you get into Paris, if you're <BR>interested. <BR>Have a wonderful trip <BR>Bill

Benoit has excellent cassoulet. i portion is enough to feed 4! Enjoy. <BR>Edna

Cafe Lipp, absolutely!! Not only is the cassoulet to die for (but don't do that, of course), but the atmosphere, service, and rest of menu are unbeatable. The restaurant has an interesting history too, which I'm sure you can find out about on these forums. Bon appetit!

I have searched for a decent cassoulet (this is the correct spelling) off and on in Paris for over 20 years. I have concluded that regional dishes such as cassoulet are only well done in their region, in this case SW France. Even the aforementioned Michelin 3 star restaurant cannot do cassoulet correctly, yet any corner restaurant within a 50 km radius of, say, Carcassonne, has an excellent cassoulet. The thing is that the parisien cassoulet is very tasty but the parisiens think that they can improve on anything so they tinker. So I suggest you take the train to the SW and dine to your heart's delight.