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-   -   Paris get-together November 11-16 (https://www.fodors.com/community/europe/paris-get-together-november-11-16-a-447992/)

AnselmAdorne Oct 29th, 2008 04:41 AM

I just had a look at www.lafourchette.com and it looks like both La Frégate and Willi's Wine Bar are closed on the 11th. I should have thought to look there before suggesting the latter.

Gallopin and Thoumieux aren't listed on the fourchette website, so one would have to e-mail or call to see if they are open. Margriet and I haven't been to Gallopin, but would certainly be prepared to give it a whirl. We have been to Thoumieux several times, although not in the last five years. It's a big bistro, very traditional (the waiters look like they were installed just before it opened in 1926), with good food and an interesting atmosphere.

If the challenge is to find a place open on the 11th, I also looked at the Flo Brasseries website and noticed that places like Bofinger, La Coupole, and Brasserie Balzar are "ouvert 7 jours sur 7"; we aren't yet dead in the water.

AA

Nikki Oct 29th, 2008 05:35 AM

I just went to www.lafourchette.com to see what restaurants came up in a search for November 11 for 8 people, and one of them was La Regalade, a place that is on my list to try.

What do people think of that option?

AnselmAdorne Oct 29th, 2008 06:03 AM

That would be fine with us, Nikki.

yk Oct 29th, 2008 06:16 AM

Too bad I'm not in Paris during that time, as you guys seem like a cool bunch of people I wouldn't mind attending a GTG with.

grumlin Oct 29th, 2008 07:37 AM

If the restaurants are closed on this day due to Remembrance Day on Nov 11, does this mean the museums and attractions will also be closed?

PatrickLondon Oct 29th, 2008 08:27 AM

Municipal museums, certainly, which includes the Petit Palais, Carnavalet, Cognacq-Jay, Vie Romantique, Victor Hugo, and the modern art museum at the Trocadero.

Thanks for reminding me, I hadn't thought to check this, and one or two are on my little list.

PatrickLondon Oct 29th, 2008 08:27 AM

Oh, and Nikki, that restaurant also looks OK to me.

grumlin Oct 29th, 2008 10:28 AM

Thanks about the museums, we have a paris pass, did not know we could not use it that day, guess will have to find other things to do, from everyones posts about Paris, should be fun.

PatrickLondon Oct 29th, 2008 10:57 AM

That's only the municipal ones, I don't know about the national or private ones.

Nikki Oct 29th, 2008 11:38 AM

OK, back to the drawing board. When I tried to complete the reservation as a test, I got a calendar showing that November 11 was unavailable at La Regalade.

gracejoan3 Oct 29th, 2008 12:17 PM

None of my business as I will not be there..just thought I would toss out a few places for youto consider:
Pasco..www.restaurantpasco.com 01 44 18 33 26

La Cuisine 14, bd La Tour Maubourg...nice place
01 44 18 36 32

Chez les Anges
54, bd de la Tour Maubourg
01 47 05 89 86

The 1010 dialing number are great for calling..and very inexpensive.

I am about to put together a quick trip to PAris before the end of the year. It will probably be in Dec.

Have a good time and enjoy your planning...

Joan




Mahya2 Oct 29th, 2008 03:24 PM

Wish I could be there,

but do ya think maybe you should change the date of November 11 since Paris seems to be closing down for Remembrance Day? I hear they take it very very seriously.

avalon Oct 30th, 2008 05:33 AM

Oh pooh, Le Regalade on our list too. Herhttp://www.parishotels.com/restaurants/prs_list_rest_detail_je_the_me_en.htmle's another that is on my list Je The Me


AnselmAdorne Oct 31st, 2008 04:02 AM

Nikki, avalon, Patrick ... Mayha2 has suggested the idea of shifting the date from the 11th. I was wondering teh same thing myself when I began to see so many places being closed on the 11th.

Would Monday the 10th work for others? It would certainly bring a number of restaurant choices back onto the table.

AA

Nikki Oct 31st, 2008 04:35 AM

It's possible. Not my first choice because my daughter and her boyfriend will be there for three nights and leave November 11, but they might appreciate an evening by themselves.

PatrickLondon Oct 31st, 2008 05:17 AM

I'm adaptable - I arrive on the 7th and leave on the 12th, and have no particular commitments. Likewise, I wouldn't want my presence or otherwise to limit others' choices!

AnselmAdorne Oct 31st, 2008 08:35 AM

I am getting through my pre-departure check list at a great rate of knots; I just mowed the cats and took the lawn mower to the cat boarding place. Had a devil of a time trying to get it into its cage.

I wouldn't want to disrupt your family time, Nikki. If we stick with the 11th I am sure we can find a nice brasserie that is open.

AA

kerouac Oct 31st, 2008 10:55 AM

There is no problem whatsoever finding a place to eat on Armistice Day.

Leburta Oct 31st, 2008 11:41 AM

My husband and I will be in France at that time, but I'm not sure if we will be in Paris on the evening of the GTG. We look forward to hearing what date it will be on and where, and hope to join in if we are able.

Nikki Oct 31st, 2008 12:21 PM

We just seem to be checking the wrong places then, I guess. I do want to get this settled in the next day or two though, because people are leaving.

The idea of a brasserie sounds fine; there is Gallopin, suggested earlier, although I haven't been able to check their availability on line. And I haven't been to Bofinger, which apparently can be reserved on line.

Nikki Nov 2nd, 2008 06:12 AM

These are the tentative plans: We will meet at Gallopin, 40 rue Notre Dame des Victoires, in the 2nd arrondissement, on Tuesday, November 11 at 8 PM. Anselm is confirming by phone; he has already left for France and will let me know when the reservation is final.

Keep checking this spot and I will post any changes. Additionally, you may send me an e-mail (NKermish at hotmail) if you are planning to attend and I will reply with contact information.

Really looking forward to meeting everyone.

Nikki Nov 4th, 2008 08:51 AM

Reservations have been made for eight people at Gallopin on Tuesday, November 11 at 8 PM in the name of Lucy.

This includes Anselm Adorne and wife, Avalon and husband, Mel J and husband, Patrick London, and me.

Leburta, please let me know whether you are going to be able to attend. We have arranged to call the restaurant and tell them if there will be more people joining us.

Leburta Nov 4th, 2008 11:51 AM

Nikki:

We'll be in Strasbourg by then, so we'll miss this one. Raise a glass for me and enjoy!

Leburta

tedgale Nov 4th, 2008 02:44 PM

Wish I could join you, esp after reading a review of Gallopin, which sounds like my sort of place.

....Though I remain faithful to the Bistro du Peintre, site of our March 2008 GTG.

Say hello to Anselm for me.

Onward and upward, Fodorites!

Nikki Nov 11th, 2008 01:55 PM

We had our small gathering tonight at the brasserie Gallopin in Paris, across the street from the Bourse. Anselm Adorne, his wife Margriet, Avalon and her husband, Patrick London and I were in attendance.

We solved the world's problems and gossiped about those of you who weren't there. More faces added to more names and the world once again is a smaller place. Great moelleux au chocolat, and I even learned how to pronounce it. A success all around.

tedgale Nov 11th, 2008 03:11 PM

Congratulations. Wish I had been there. Wd have been preferable to a freezing cold day in Canada's capital, Remembrance Day pageantry notwithstanding.

The saviour of my sanity is the fact that in 6 weeks, we will be off to NYC for a family Xmas, then Washington DC (more family), then Savannah GA for Jan. 09 and TO HELL with Canadian snowfalls.

I'm staying away until "the White Stuff", as it is so playfully known, is ALL gone.

Padraig Nov 11th, 2008 03:15 PM

Nikki wrote: "We solved the world's problems and gossiped about those of you who weren't there."

I hope, given that my possible availability was a trigger for this event, that I got included in an "absent friends" toast. Even though I am not absent here.

Leely2 Nov 11th, 2008 06:59 PM

Sounds wonderful--how fun for you all. I'd like the full menu and the gossip.

PatrickLondon Nov 11th, 2008 10:37 PM

I see I was beaten to the punch, but let me just add how nice it was to put some faces to names (and learn where Anselmadorne came from), together with sundry interesting observations on French apartment design, reflections on the date, decaffeinated coffee and duck. Thanks, Nikki, for making it happen. As for the gossip, well, wouldn't you like to know......

Here are some photos of the restaurant:

http://www.guides-restaurants.fr/gui...opin-paris.php

Menu: Most of us went first for a sort of galette of ceps (came with a piece of pork crackling which I don't particularly care for), David had oysters, I know, and there was a duck foie gras and salad. For mains, I had paleron de boeuf, which was a sort of slow-cooked cut that simply melted on the fork, with some potatoes; someone had fish, I think. Delicious fondant chocolate cake for afters for me, and some strong coffee and wine. Final cost (apart from aperitif drinks) €36 including set service charge.

LouisaH Nov 12th, 2008 06:21 AM

Thanks for the update as I was experiencing it vicariously through you. My friend Monica arranged a similar GTG last year in May at Bistrot de l' Oulette and it was great. Hope to do something similar when I return next year.
No pictures? Surely someone had a camera.

AnselmAdorne Nov 12th, 2008 06:26 AM

It was indeed a pleasure to meet others last evening. Good conversation in a very nice setting.

Gossip? I will mention that some people think colduphere is very funny, but they may have him mixed up with Dutch. Or is it the other way around?

Leely, mine was lentilles de Puy en gelée avec mousse de foie gras et magret de canard fumé. (You did once mention that I like duck.) That was followed by pintade ... I've forgotten the description, but some raisins were involved in the preparation.

On a more serious note, having been to a couple of GTGs in Toronto and now one in Paris, I should no longer be amazed that a group of people who scarcely know each other can find so much to talk about. Travelling is a great bridge to friendship.

AA

kerouac Nov 12th, 2008 12:28 PM

Well, I'm glad you are all enjoying my little town. As for me, I am in Laredo, Texas.

Nikki Nov 12th, 2008 02:15 PM

Laredo, Bangkok, Detroit. Decisions, decisions.

111op Nov 12th, 2008 04:36 PM

How was the food at Gallopin? It's been around for a long time and I think the reviews are generally good.

Glad to hear that you guys had a good time!

LouisaH Nov 12th, 2008 06:19 PM

Kerouac, wow Laredo. Talk about juxtaposition. I've been to both places and it's really hard to put both cities in the same sentence much less attempt to conjure up the image.

Leely2 Nov 12th, 2008 08:08 PM

Quack quack, Anselm. Sounds delicious. I'm glad you all had fun, and what a charming, erudite group of Fodorites. Will we see photos or at least a scanned sketch?

Nikki Nov 12th, 2008 10:36 PM

I give mixed reviews to the food at Gallopin. I wasn't thrilled with the choices available on the menu (only three main courses for the fixed price) but I did stick to it to make it easier to divide the check. I think mine was the only bad choice however, a "tandoor de volaille" that was neither Indian nor particularly French. I did like my appetizer of wild mushroom cake with pork crackling and dessert of molten chocolate cake quite a lot. The choices on the carte, while more expensive, did look more appealing.

LouisaH Nov 13th, 2008 04:21 AM

Kerouac, I apologize if my comment sounded snarky. I didn't mean it to it's just that Laredo is so different from Paris. Will you also go to Neuvo Laredo?

Mahya2 Nov 13th, 2008 05:00 AM

It really is nice to meet and get together with other Fodorites you've been talking to for years online

Any photos of participants to follow?

AnselmAdorne Nov 13th, 2008 06:47 AM

Leely and Mahya, there may be photos. Avalon took some, but I recollect that she and her husband have still have some travelling to do, so we'll have to see what happens.

Kerouac, I suppose Laredo has a certain pull (like Moncton or Sudbury, perhaps?), but I hope you can make it to a Paris GTG some day. There are a lot of us who would like to meet you.

111op, I think Nikki makes a very good point about the food. I liked the decor and the service, and I would add that it was a good location for a GTG. The food was perfectly acceptable (my wife and I were just talking about the lentilles a couple of hours ago) and the prices reasonable. However, if quality of food is your most important consideration, I think Paris offers other choices.

AA


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