196573 Fri Aug 23 21:49:59 -0700 2002 17 18 Manhattan 0 1049240 Hi, Does anyone know when Anthony Bourdain is actually at Les Halles? I haven't been there before, but would like to maybe go soon. Also, when is the least busy time to go and what are the best dishes to order? I would love to try their moules frites before the summer is over, for example. Lastly, what dishes do the French use veal stock in? I don't eat veal, and would like to avoid it. Thanks a lot! Fri Aug 23 21:49:59 -0700 2002 0 Grace 1 1049252 I'm assuming you mean the one on 28th st. go for the earliest diunner u can manage, before before it gets crowded and noisy. I like their moules frites and steak frites. Um...the owner of Les Halles is actually Portuguese so preparations might not be perfectly french. I know he uses pigs blood (Portugese approach) in some things, but don't know what he uses veal stock in. Sat Aug 24 10:53:09 -0700 2002 1049240 0 Jayask 1 1049255 Bourdain is on vacation in the carribean until mid september. Sat Aug 24 13:36:53 -0700 2002 1049240 0 Pho Man 1 1049260 If you are leery of veal stock, this is not the restaurant for you. Sat Aug 24 15:57:44 -0700 2002 1049240 0 Lyn E 1 1049270 Veal stock is the basic stock in french cooking Sat Aug 24 20:57:19 -0700 2002 1049240 0 celeryroot 1 1049285 I'm sorry to say this, but my husband and I went there recently and weren't very impressed... We were there at weekday lunch time and the place was almost empty. (The chef wasn't there, I think.) Sun Aug 25 00:57:03 -0700 2002 1049240 0 Hanako 1 1049298 For appetizer, Frisee aux lardons -- frisee and beacon with hot oil from beacon fat for dressing --. Foie gras tarte tatin -- warm tarte tatin toped with sauteed foie gras ( I think this is seasonal menu )--. For main, Moroccan lamb sausage with fries & salad. For dessert, go to Gramercy Tavern ( about 5 min walk ). To me, the crowd & the noise are part of fun at this kind place. Sun Aug 25 15:17:04 -0700 2002 1049240 0 Aki 1 1049349 I second the frisee and bacon salad as a starter. Also, the french onion soup was really delicous. They dont scrimp on the gruyere. Also, the escargot were delicous. The garlic butter sauce was so good, we dipped some bread in it to eat after the escarcot were gone. I had steak au poivre and the sauce was quite spicy [which I liked] but sadly, my meat was a little overcooked for my liking. I asked for medium and it was close to well done. Very tender though for being that well done. As for Bourdain: any chef has kind of an erratic schedule as to when and how long they will be at a restaurant on any given night. Check with the restaurant a day or so before your reservation and ask if they think he will be around. A friend of mine did this and they were very cool about it. She just said she would really like to meet him if he was there and they called her and apologized that he wouldn't be when he changed plans last minute. Mon Aug 26 10:55:35 -0700 2002 1049240 0 Melissa 1 1049369 The fois gras with prunes is really fabulous as a starter(and I am not a big fan of prunes). I recently had the faux fillet which was delicious but rather fatty. The frites are to die for and my companion had a wonderful whole fish. There is a daily whole fish special and every time she's had it she's loved it. Mon Aug 26 13:04:22 -0700 2002 1049240 0 sushisasha 1 1049424 It is a decent French bistro and although Bourdain is becoming well known for his books - I wouldn't consider him any more than a decent chef. I guess what I'm trying to say is it dosen't really matter if he's there - try lunch - the steak tartare is one of the better in the city. Mon Aug 26 23:21:31 -0700 2002 1049240 0 Harold 2 1049454 As an out-of-towner, could someone please tel me how the name of this restaurant - Les Halles - is pronounced? Thanks! Tue Aug 27 11:28:01 -0700 2002 1049424 0 Donna - MI 3 1049456 "please tell me how the name of this restaurant - Les Halles - is pronounced?" I just called and the phone was answered, "LAY ALL." Asked the person to repeat it, just to be sure. Don't pronounce the "s" in "Les" and leave out the "H" and the "s" in "Halles." Tue Aug 27 11:44:11 -0700 2002 1049454 0 Deenso 4 1049473 Thank you for your trouble. I would love to eat there one day. Thanks again! Tue Aug 27 13:12:16 -0700 2002 1049456 0 Donna - MI 5 1049511 strange...i would have expected layzall....i think you normally pronounce the "s" before a vowel or "h". Tue Aug 27 17:50:12 -0700 2002 1049473 0 Nancy 6 1049513 Let's call Tony B. and ask him. D. Tue Aug 27 18:10:02 -0700 2002 1049511 0 Donna - MI 6 1049519 "i think you normally pronounce the "s" before a vowel or "h"." That's what I thought, too, but then I thought I remembered hearing it pronounced as LAY ALL in Paris. And that's why I called the restaurant. I guess there are exceptions to every rule... I suppose it's also possible that the hostess was mispronouncing the name but I kinda doubt it. Tue Aug 27 20:27:02 -0700 2002 1049511 0 Deenso 6 1052464 It is in fact pronounced without the s and without the h. The reason is cuz the h is what is called an aspirate h. Usually in French you do pronounce s's that are followed by vowels or regular h's, but when the h is aspirate all bets are off. Thu Aug 28 23:08:48 -0700 2003 1049511 0 Argg 1 1052453 jeez, mussels are better in October. bye Wed Feb 12 20:50:08 -0800 2003 1049240 0 Joanne