TOD:
Best French meal - damn sure wasn't in France!
Probably in Montreal where I had a magnificent Chateaubriand served on a huge platter with loads of veggies (it has a fancy French name starting with "b" I cannot find!) The meat is served with a Béarnaise Sauce, château potatoes, asparagus with hollandaise, green beans, grilled tomato, and mushrooms.
Some of the best French cooking I had was in a resort hotel on the beach in Sousse, Tunisia. The hotel catered to German and Scandinavian tourists and had a great kitchen and did every thing up in grand style - French table service (much saucing and flambéing). Each table-chef had his own sauces and his own special dessert crepe.
Best service was probably in Lisbon, Portugal - the restaurants posted cute little boys in Phillip Morris uniforms behind stone pillars whose sole job it was to pop-up and light cigarettes.
Best day-to day eating - Italy - everywhere!
(Best tip on getting a great meal: tell the waiter to pretend it's his birthday and to bring you the meal he would most enjoy.)
Best US French dining:
Le Bistro - Newport RI
French Provencal cuisine to die for. Pot-au-Feu with green olives and crusty French bread; roast pheasant; delectable desserts.
der Brucer
After all this French-food chatter and soon Ben will be here with his oatmeal!
