frist dinner in Paris ever-cast a vote!
May 5th, 2001, 02:32 AM
#41
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Patti -- my apologies for a. mistaking one Pat[ti] for another and b. for being snippy. No excuse there. [Maybe what I need is some French food?] <BR>The thing about French cuisine is the way the flavors mingle over a long cooking process. When made right many dishes take a couple of days. AND there are things that the French eat that we will gag on. For example: pig's knuckle [watch out for that at Thoumieux] On the other hand some things are *so* delicious as to be a direct road to perdition -- one example at Thoumieux was the roasted "pintade", or guinea hen on a bed of red cabbage and chestnuts. I'm still atoning for that one! <BR>As for Margaret's comment -- of course she is right. But what the books and this board do is take some of the chance outr of what is around the corner. Less adventure perhaps, but a little more certainty when you only have a few days. I agree about Thoumieux. Although your need for French is directly proportional to how they feel about you. They had it "in" for our table of 7 where I spoke SOME French. We were not loud, we were polite, we were well dressed etc... The American mother/daughter at the next table were treated much more kindly with more English by the same waiter who was unhelpful to us. We just chalked up to "local color" and enjoyed our meal immensely
May 5th, 2001, 02:54 AM
#42
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Patti, <BR> <BR>L'Affriole Menu: <BR>Rabbit with ginger and lemon <BR>lamb with thyme <BR>grilled breast of duck <BR>sseared tuna with cannelloni stuffed with eggplant <BR>Puff pastry escargots <BR>scallops pan-fried with wild balck berries <BR>dinner 190f=$27 each with out wine <BR> <BR>Also, <BR>Aux Charpentiers is a neat place on the left bank near the Seine, which makes for a nice walk after dinner. It is an old bistro for Paris terms, 1865, and used to be where the Parisian guild of carpenters and cabinet makers used to meet. The current owners Pierre and Colette kept the decor with memorabilia from the history in its past. Photographs of carpetners at work, a beautiful 'zinc' bar, bare wood floors, Elegant Victorian light fixtures... <BR>Menu: <BR>Homemade duck pate accompanied with a glass of Sauternes (mmm) <BR>Escargots <BR>Roast Bresse chicken in a white flour based cream sauce <BR>Rack of lamb with garlic <BR>Roast beef tied with string and poached in broth <BR>Roast sea bass with fennel, flamed at the table <BR>Roast duckling in a port sauce with olives <BR>dinner 158 f wine included <BR> <BR>Bon Appetit! <BR>
May 5th, 2001, 06:38 AM
#43
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When I was in Paris about 2 years ago we ate at "Bistro de la Sorbonne". It was a very small cozy restaurant on the Left Bank. The food was great, and after ordering we kept noticing the wonderful meals passing by to the other patrons. The decor was simple yet very pleasant.
May 5th, 2001, 10:19 PM
#44
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So many places but so little time!! Story of my life! But, I am lucky to have even this time! <BR>Wendy-you are so helpful! This gives me an idea of what to expect. Food sounds wonderful!!! <BR>s. fowler-apology accepted! We will try the wandering around and finding a nice place on the other (3) nights-I just want something "special" for the first night-we don't have enough time to experiment too much but will the other nights. And, thank you too for all your help! <BR>Margaret-you can rest easy-we don't plan on being offensive. We are a bible-study group (for the most part) of 30 year olds-60 year olds who are just happy, excited, regular people on a trip of a lifetime. <BR>Thank you all for taking the time to share your favorites with me. It will be a hard choice. <BR>Patti
Jun 30th, 2001, 02:17 PM
#47
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We've been to Paris many times and always stay in the 7th. Therefore we have eaten in P'tit Troquet, Florimond, Nuit de St. Jean, La Fontaine de Mars and Le Bistrot du 7eme. <BR><BR>For 10 people make sure you have a reservation preferably made before you leave the US since many of these places are small. This is important. <BR><BR>You are not going to go wrong with any of the above places to eat. If forced to make a choice our first pick would be Florimond based on food, service and ambience. Since the menus changes all the time in all these places it will be vitually impossible to make sure the food will fit the tastes of 10 (perhaps with quite different palates) people. Good luck and enjoy. Sorry I saw this post so late. I repeat that you can't really go wrong in any one of them but you could as with all places to eat hit an off night.
Feb 5th, 2002, 12:45 AM
#49
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I was surprised to see this thread again<BR>(brought back good memories for me). So, since its back up I thought I'd mention (even though my trip report was done after the trip) that we did indeed have that First Ever Paris Dinner (all 10 of us) at La Fontaine De Mars. I faxed a reservation request to L'Affriole and never heard back so off to Paris we went-with no reservation. We were walking around the Rue Cler area that first afternoon and I checked into L'Affriole and they were fully booked. So, as we were walking around we came upon La Fontaine de Mars and they were able to get us in! And, we were not disappointed! It was wonderful. They put us upstairs and it is just adorable up there! We all found something we wanted and it was all fabulous. Our waiter was over the top nice to us! So, my research and all<BR>your help payed off-we had a "First Dinner in Paris" to remember!<BR>Thanks again for the memories....<BR>Shadow (Patti Suttle)
