The thing that astounds me is that you paid $650 for lunch for two people. That is more than my rent!!! Good God! They should have flown the bread in from France and had someone stand at the table and butter each bite and place...

, three times disrespected by owner & staff alike. If I need attitude, I fish w my brother-in-law. Bistro de L’Hermitage (Culver City) – Solidly uninspired food. Uncomfortable setting. Frosty proprietors. If I need...

hours in an airplane bathroom back from france once). Every time you pick up a utensil, someone has touched it, a glass, likewise. Life is full of germs all over the place, some more harmful than others. A warning on many menus...

The Orford dictionary of food and drink defines it as "E20 French (= salad from Nice (in southern France)). A salad usually made from hard-boiled eggs, anchovies, black olives, tomatoes, etc." I’ve always had it with tuna,...

that it has been specifically modified to appeal to local (e.g. American tastes). A taco from Taco Bell or even Chevy’s isn’t very Mexican (or “authentic”) so maybe we denigrate it. On the other hand, when...

world but heavily leans toward California, France, and Italian—Oregon is not well represented. I jumped at the opportunity to taste an Austrian Blaufrankisch from Peter Schandl (I had just tried my first wine made with that...

" (corresponding to the panza or the first stomach), the “menudo blanco” (the honeycomb part) and “libro” (the French feuillet). (Incidentally, tripe preparation in this country is also diff from that of...

In America (as opposed to England or France) criticism is the absence of enthusiasm. I think it’s easy to be polite but not misleading if one reserves enthusiasm and just says, “Thank you very much. That was...

or 50th and France. I think there are plenty of people who would enjoy this place, but I’m thinking it’s not in the right neighborhood to really maximize on its target market. If Sawadtee can make it, so can Ngon....

, and anther couple who apparently hadn’t ordered an expensive enough cab was drinking it from a very small pinot-gris type glass. Oh, and our waiter didn’t know where the Champagne region of France was... The next...

, can’t stand it. Are they supposed to be french? Maybe for a 1st grader in France.... I don’t care for the rest of them, but do admit I occasionally watch some other shows when I have nothing else to do. And yes,...

L.A. Cheesemonger, your message brought back delicious memories of our dinner at L’Esperance near Vezelay, France. We had the cromesqui (the deep-fried foie gras balls)and loved them. Some years later, I called...

as one of the best chowish trips of my life. Right up there actually with a series of two and three stars in France about five years ago. Anyway I think I have come to my senses and have talked my way out of Round Table. I need to...

in France, like Bonne Maman jams (about $1 in a French grocery shelf) passes as a near-luxury item abroad. I did notice however that the quality might be slipping due to globalization dynamics, with mid-size local brands getting...

palate and nose; she can often tell what I’m cooking as soon as she steps into the house. But it’s not as incredible as all that. She knows cassoulet because we had a vacation in the south of France last year, and...