664670 Wed Nov 04 09:36:24 -0800 2009 13 49 France 0 5155191 Will be in Paris next month, all dinners are planned but one. Was looking to do either La Gazzetta or Chez l'Ami Jean? Does anyone have a strong opinion one way or the other? Really can't decide between the two, haven't been to either. May be biased toward Chez l'Ami Jean because I am a big Camdeborde fan, but La Gazzetta's tasting menu looks intriguing and I've read nothing but good things. Thanks! Wed Nov 04 09:36:25 -0800 2009 1121671 wishiwasinparis 1 5155399 Their "usage" is different. For a meal? Hands down, chez l'Ami Jean. La Gazzetta is more of a hangout for me. Very nice hangout. Wed Nov 04 10:28:02 -0800 2009 5155191 1106797 Parigi 2 5155458 This would be for a meal, yes. Does L'Ami Jean have a tasting menu? You would do L'Ami Jean over the 7-course menu at La Gazzetta? Thanks a lot! Wed Nov 04 10:43:27 -0800 2009 5155399 1121671 wishiwasinparis 3 5155610 The chef at L'Ami Jean proposes a tasting menu for parties of 6 or more. Last time we tried it, it had 1 starter (soup), 2 mains (fish, beef) and 3 desserts. All for 35 euro per. If there are two of you getting different things and sharing, it's more or less a tasting menu there. Another time there were 4 of us. We tried to talk the strangers sharing our banquette to do a tasting menu. I would soooo like to tell you they went for it mais non, they looked at us as though we were nuts. Yes I would go for a tasting menu or a regular meal at L'Ami Jean over the 7-course menu at La Gazzetta. Wed Nov 04 11:29:54 -0800 2009 5155458 1106797 Parigi 4 5155625 thanks a lot, very helpful! Wed Nov 04 11:35:54 -0800 2009 5155610 1121671 wishiwasinparis 1 5159538 Why those two when there are so many other places that are not inconsistent and crowded (l'Ami Jean) or a Swedish version of Italianate (La Gazzetta)? John Talbott http://johntalbottsparis.typepad.com/ Thu Nov 05 16:55:12 -0800 2009 5155191 1088206 John Talbott 2 5159696 I guess, John, because those were the two they were trying to decide between, non? Thu Nov 05 18:08:35 -0800 2009 5159538 1107357 mangeur 2 5161053 I had yet another wonderful meal at CAJ last week -- see DCM's recent report. I don't think the place is inconsistent even if, like every restaurants, it has bad days. I actually, I reiterate that this just is one of the best foods in town and that the value is terrific. It is crowded and mostly, space is very very spare. As DCM mentioned, we had the (70 pound) puppy and the baby (with us, not as food) and it was very friendly. So my response to the OP would be: for excellent food, go to CAJ. If you want a very good-looking sexy chef, go to La Gazetta. Fri Nov 06 09:45:54 -0800 2009 5159538 96547 souphie 3 5161291 Soup, to be fair about CAJ it does have some dishes on the menu that don't meet everybody's taste. I wouldn't say it is inconsistent cooking, but that the dishes are different to the mainstream. I am thinking about some of the "one pot" dishes I have eaten over the years, most have been great but a few left me wondering why I had ordered them. So I can see that it can be possible to mis-order and come away unsatisfied. Fri Nov 06 10:59:20 -0800 2009 5161053 64584 PhilD 4 5161437 Funny, I was thinking exactly that -- the Axoa for instance (a veal stew) for me is profoundly uninteresting, especially when Jégo is such an great rotisseur. But then again, I think it's an uninteresting recipe to start with. Fri Nov 06 11:43:11 -0800 2009 5161291 96547 souphie 3 5161464 This L'Ami Jean fan wants to raise a minor point that is not minor to others. The cramped space bothers quite a few diners. Maybe that is why it is best to go with a group of very good friends, good enough that one does not feel bothered touching all the time. Some cultures and some people really do not feel comfortable with that. Goes without saying that it never bothered me. Fri Nov 06 11:54:02 -0800 2009 5161053 1106797 Parigi 3 5166429 Soup a dit: "So my response to the OP would be: for excellent food, go to CAJ. If you want a very good-looking sexy chef, go to La Gazetta." But the CAJ chef is might sexy himself ! Mon Nov 09 03:00:02 -0800 2009 5161053 1106797 Parigi 4 5166451 He does not pose for fashion pictures, though. Mon Nov 09 03:48:35 -0800 2009 5166429 96547 souphie 5 5166520 And I'm never been to la Gazzetta, but I'm not sure Nielsen is even half as fun to watch working than Jego. Mon Nov 09 05:02:56 -0800 2009 5166451 223249 olivierb