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Category Archives: Restaurants
Mistral lunch in Gigondas
The village of Gigondas is located at the foot of the impressive Dentelles de Montmirail. We were warm in the car when we drove to the center of town and saw that the terrace of l’Oustalet was open. Beautiful May … Continue reading
Posted in 2008, 2009, FOOD, France, Red, Restaurants, Rhone, TASTE TRAVEL, the road
Tagged 2009, CDR, Cotes du Rhone, Dentelles de Montmirail, France, Gigondas, l’Oustalet, Les Deux Albion, Longue Toque, May, Rhone, rosé, Rouge, St Cosme
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Behind the scenes @ Le Jardin Gourmand
They were just back from Rome, to get away while the work was being done. Work being a total make over of the restaurant Le Jardin Gourmand. « We had to do it to be ready to face the next 10 … Continue reading
Posted in 1996, 2002, Burgundy, FOOD, France, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL, What is in my glass?
Tagged 1996, 1er Cru, 2002, Ambonnay Rouge, Auxerre, biscuit, bitterness, Bousserau, Chassagne Montrachet, chizeaux, dayton de cuba, Egly Ouriet, fatty, foie gras, France, garden, Gourmand, Heinz Beck, Italy, Jardin, La Pergola, La Romanée, Le Jardin Gourmand, leaves, liquorish, mustard, olive, Olivier, Olivier Laplaine, Pierre, Pierre Boussereau, Rome, roquette, smoked, speculos, spiciness, spring, tannins, truffle, Verget
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Tang, Coquilles and St Julien
I’ve mentioned Resturant Tang before as one of my absolute favorite places in Paris. I know a lot of his dishes, but on my last visit, he surprised me with this scallop and spicy soy sauce recipe. Scallops (Coquilles St Jacques, … Continue reading
Posted in 2004, FOOD, France, Paris, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL, what am I drinking with this dish?, WINE
Tagged 1er Grand Cru Classé, 2004, 2eme Grand Cru Classé, 2nd wine, balance, bitterness, Bordeaux, Charlie Tang, Chateau de La Tour, Chinese, Clos du Marquis, Coquilles St Jacques, Leoville Las Cases, Medoc, mouth feel, Paris, Pauillac, Red, restaurant, Restaurant Tang, scallops, soy sauce, spice, St Julien, Tang, vintage
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Christian Etienne and unexpected truffles…
The streets of Avignon are dead on this wintry night with the exception of a few Chinese tourists. How did they get here? Where is everyone else? We arrive late at Christian Etienne, but when we open the door, we … Continue reading
Posted in 2007, FOOD, France, Restaurants, Rhone, TASTE TRAVEL
Tagged 2007, Alary, apple, apple pie, Avignon, beets, bitterness, Cairanne, Christian Etienne, citronella, consommé, desert, harmony, ice cream, lobster, Oratoire, Oratoire St Martin, pistachio, Provencal cooking, Provence, Rhone, scallops, South of France, soy, sprouts, sweetness, truffles, vanilla
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Truffles and Chardonnay @ Le Chassagne
The 2004 Bernard Morey Chassagne Montrachet 1er Cru Les Embrazées, was a little disappointing because it was reduced (needed air) and never fully expressed its potential, both of terroir and vintage. Chardonnay, even if disappointing on its own, tends to … Continue reading
Posted in 2004, Burgundy, FOOD, Restaurants, what am I drinking with this dish?, WINE
Tagged 1er Cru, 2004, artichoke, Bernard Morey, bread, Burgundy, butter, Chardonnay, Chassagne Montrachet, cream, egg, Le Chassagne, Les Embrazées, pepper, reduction, salt, Stéphane Léger, truffle
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Haddock and beets @ Le Chassagne
I have a soft spot for chefs who use beets. Surprisingly complex aromatically with an interesting mixture of red fruits and earthiness, beets are an under-rated vegetable. My most recent visit to Le Chassagne, chef Stefane Léger brought out a … Continue reading
Posted in 2001, Burgundy, FOOD, Restaurants, what am I drinking with this dish?, WINE
Tagged 2001, acidity, beetroot, beets, bitterness, Burgundy, Chassagne Montrachet, chips, Corton Clos du Roi, crunch, Le Chassagne, orange rind, peach, Pinot Noir, Pousse d’Or, smoke, smoked haddock, Stéphane Léger, texture
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A revelation: Foie gras with raspberries and red bell pepper jelly
How do you make foie gras go with Beaujolais Villages? Start by giving the chef a glass or two. Just so that he can get the creative juices flowing… The young chef at Auberge de Chantemerle came up with an … Continue reading
Posted in 2006, Beaujolais, FOOD, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL, Uncategorized, what am I drinking with this dish?
Tagged Auberge de Clochemerle, Beaujolais, Beaujolais Village, complex, digestable, Domaine de La Madone, electric, foie gras, Gamay, juice, Le Perreon, new wood, pepperiness, Pinot Noir, raspberry, red bell pepper, red fruits, toastiness
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Maria, Oh! Maria @ Regalade in Beaune
There was only one line in the email: “Does anyone know how to spell La REGALADE and frogs legs or what???” With that we knew that we would have to make a trip to see Maria. Not only to keep … Continue reading
Posted in 2007, Burgundy, FOOD, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL, WINE
Tagged 2007, Beaune, blackboard, Burgundy, butter, Chardonnay, chicken broth, coddled eggs, dark meat, Dover sole, egg, French fries, frites, frogs legs, garlic, La Regalade, morel, mushrooms, potatoes, RN79, terrace, truffle, Vincent Dureuil, white meat
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Sqala: the ultimate Moroccan breakfast
I asked the waiter to explain what some of the choices were. A lot of the words and names of dishes were things I had never heard of. I was trying to make sense of it all… “Or you can … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Morocco, Restaurants
Tagged almonds, Argan oil, bacon, bitterness, breakfast, butter, Casablanca, crepe, dates, doughnut, honey, medina, mint, Morocco, olive oil, orange flower, pancakes, paradise, peanut butter, peppermint, pork, scrambled eggs, Sqala, sweetness, tajine, tea, terrace
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Psychedelic risotto @ Castel de Tres Girard
It was what we call bonus sunshine. Sun when everyone said it would rain. The kind of day where you feel strange putting on a big coat. But after an hour’s tasting in a cool cellar, you’re really glad you … Continue reading
Posted in Burgundy, FOOD, Restaurants
Tagged aldente, balance, beetroot, beets, bitterness, Burgundy, cachew nuts, cashew, Castel de Tres Girard, harmony, Italy, mange tout pea pods, Morey St Denis, nuts, Parmesan, rice, risotto, Rome, sweetness, veggies
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the best razor clams: a cinnamon tinged country
razor clams It’s pretty rare to see razor clams at a fishmonger. Even in France. So when I saw them in the central Market in Casablanca, I couldn’t help but exclaim, “Look she has couteaux (razor clams)! Lets get some.” … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Morocco, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL
Tagged Bouchra, Casablanca, Central Market, cinnamon, disgorgement, Morocco, razor clam, sea-breeze, sweet
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Sqala: mise en bouche
The Kemia Mauresque, were actually a selection of cooked vegetables that the waiter told us were Moroccan salads. All served cold. Artichoke (farthest away) with tomato was delicately spicy. Tender artichokes. Seemed generally typical of Mediterranean cuisine, something the … Continue reading
Posted in Morocco, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL
Tagged acidity, aggressive spicy, alcohol, aromatic, aromatic spicy, artichoke, Assortiment de Briouattes, bitterness, candied lemon, cardamom, Casablanca, chicken, cinnamon, complexity, eggplant, exotic, Fish, Italian, juice, Kemia Mauresque, ketfa, medina, Morocco, paradise, Pastilla, peach, pineapple, Port, powdered sugar, purée, red pepper, samosa, sensual, spinach, spring roll, Sqala, strawberry, sweetness, tomato
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Al Mounia
We were impressed when we discovered that the taxi driver knew where Al Mounia was. Not only because most of the other petit taxis seemed not to know where even the biggest monuments of the city were. But because we … Continue reading
Petit Taxis in Casa: getting there
For short distances in Casablanca, there are the Petit Taxis. Little red cars, beat up like old tin cans. The drivers are useless. Its crazy. Half of the time you get in, the driver has no idea where it is … Continue reading
Posted in Morocco, Restaurants, the road
Tagged Al Mounia, Casablanca, Grand Taxi, Morocco, Petit Taxi
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Rick’s Café Casablanca
Rick’s café Good thing we got in on Sunday. There was live jazz at Rick’s. Not quite Sam on the piano, but close enough. The film Casablanca, was entirely done on set. Rick’s remained alive in our minds after watching … Continue reading
Posted in Morocco, Restaurants
Tagged Cabernet, Casablanca, Crab Louis, duck confit, jazz, Médaillon, medina, Morocco, Rick's Café, salad, Volubia
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Lunch at Central Market Casa: step two
Step two : Take it to Bouchra Zoubida is the oyster lady at Parc Dar Kachon stand in the middle of the market. Apparently she is the matriarch of the Central Market and has been there every day for 39 years. … Continue reading
Posted in FOOD, Morocco, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL
Tagged Bouchra, calemari, Casablanca, Central Market, fishmonger, Morocco, oysters, rosé, sepia, shrimp, snails
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Tang : Bordeaux with Chinese food
Taro root with white truffle oil This is one of his signature amuse bouches. The sweetness of the taro is a perfect vehicle for the gamy complex (almost intoxicating) truffle. Noodles with shitake mushrooms Very South-East Asian in style. Some … Continue reading
Posted in 1998, 1999, 2002, FOOD, Paris, Restaurants, What is in my glass?
Tagged 1998, 1999, 2002, abalone, black sesame, Bordeaux, broccoli, Canard Pekinois, Charlie Tang, Chateau La Louvière Rouge, Chateau Talbot, crab meat, crispy skin, duck, ginger, Grand Cru Classé, langoustine, langoustines, noodles, Pessac Leognan, Roederer, rosé, scallop, shitake, St Julien, taro root, turbot, white truffle
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Mosconi-a ray of Italian sunshine in the Grund of Luxembourg
The Grund has something of a Latin feel to it. The Latin quarter of Luxembourg. Winding little streets-if only a few of them. Small houses. People walking around. Somewhat of a night life. And a true taste of Italy…. Da … Continue reading
Posted in 2003, FOOD, Luxembourg, Restaurants, TASTE TRAVEL, WINE
Tagged 2003, amuse bouche, artichoke, artichoke chips, Balsamic Vinegar, Bandol, Bass, beet, bitterness, black truffle, Brunello, Burgundy, candied orange rind, carrot, caviar, cherry tomato, cinnamon, fatiness, foie gras, garlic, girolle, Grund, Italian, Latin, liquorish, Luxembourg, Mosconi, neutrality, orange flower water, Parmesan, parpardelle, Poggio Antico, potato, prune, pumpkin, rabbit, red wine sauce, risotto, roasted, rosemary, scallop, Sicilian, spiciness, sweetness, white chocolate, white truffle
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Le Chamarré de Montmartre: magic from the islands
I happened to be tasting through the wines of Thierry Despres, of Grande Maison in Monbazillac. Whose wines can rival the most expensive and notorious sauternes at a fraction of the price. I know. I’ve done blind tastings before … Continue reading
Posted in 2005, FOOD, Paris, Restaurants, WINE
Tagged 2005, Antoine Heerah, bitterness, blind tasting, Cuvée des Anges, exotic, foie gras, Grande Maison, Le Chamarré de Montmartre, mackerel, Michelin, Monbazillac, octopus, onions, oyster, root vegetable, samosa, Sautern, sea-breeze, spice, sweetness, Thierry Despres
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Quick, and good value: Sushikai Beaune
Yes, I know. Another Japanese restaurant in Beaune, you say. Why ? Well, it is light, digestible, and a bit of variety never hurts. And I think Pinot Noir goes well with a lot of Japanese food. Because of all the … Continue reading
Posted in 2003, Burgundy, Restaurants
Tagged 2003, Beaune, chicken liver, escargots, Gevrey Chambertin, Humbert Frères, Japanese, radish
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