<i>You made an allegation about me; now I demand that you withdraw it.</i>

And withdraw it I shall. I agree that I overreacted to your post. Indeed, thinking back, most of your jabs are delivered with enough humor to suggest no malice.

I still disagree about the beef, but we will leave it at a disagreement about beef.

As for getting back on topic, I have a suggestion for a perfect steak frites dinner:

Schedule a long layover in New York and go to Peter Lugers. Yeah, it isn't steak frites, but the steak is what steak should be.

As for Paris, I have not had any memorable steak frites dinners there (though enough decent ones), but Le Severo, mentioned in the linked Times article, sounds very appetizing indeed.

travelgourmet wrote: &quot;And withdraw it I shall.&quot;

Thank you. Friends again, with freedom to disagree?

And on-topic: I don't care much for steak as the French like it, and frites never interest me greatly (I don't even have a deep fat fryer).

I agree with those who say that the only way to eat steak in France is rare -- the rarer the better. When I order a steak, which doesn't happen very often, I specify &quot;saignant&quot;, which translates as &quot;bleeding&quot;.

apersuader65, you might note that I said in a later post that there was more to the question than the activeness of the tissue. But I still hold that that less active tissue makes for less flavoursome meat. Fillet steak is wonderful for tenderness and appearance, but the sirloin of the same animal has more flavour.

<i>When I order a steak, which doesn't happen very often, I specify &quot;saignant&quot;, which translates as &quot;bleeding&quot;.</i>

In US English, it translates as: &quot;Bring me the cow, I'll cut off what I want and ride the rest home.&quot;

P.S. Thanks Christina. I am looking for pencil thin frites so it appears that La Rotonde is out of the running. Thanks also to TPAYT and Tpaxe. I will check out these places, also.

Sorry, my previous message got lost. I don't know where to begin...Yes. I did ask for &quot;perfect steak frites&quot; Should I have asked for &quot;mediocre steak frites&quot; instead? I live in NYC and regularly eat at Wolfgang's and Peter Lugers so I do know what great steak is. I wasn't looking to compare; just wanted a simple &quot;French type&quot; of dinner for one night (no game, no heavy sauces, no creams).Thanks to Iregeo and walkinaround. You get me. I guess I am just a &quot;classless plebian&quot; too!! Could be worse. I am glad that Padraig and travelgourmet have made up. Sorry to have caused such a rift; temporary as it was. Many thanks to everyone. I did get some great restaurant suggestions and info on what type of chicken to look for. Dare I bring up the beef bourguignon request again? I do.

4lobsters wrote &quot;I am glad that Padraig and travelgourmet have made up. Sorry to have caused such a rift; temporary as it was.&quot;

I'm glad too.

But you can't claim the credit for starting it. That's our achievement, and we won't surrender it easily.

Thanks. I will sleep better tonight... dreaming of steak frites!!