First time to Paris in 27 years, this May.

[JeffW]

Really dating myself here, but that's o.k. (56) Our first and only trip to Paris had us dining at Michel Rostang, Au Pre Catelan, Taillevent, Jamin, and Chez Phillipe....Haven't a clue as to where to spend our 3 dinners this time. We are passionate about Foie Gras, and just love to be in places where there is warmth and marvelous food. Less important is dining at one of the fancy places, although that being said, if this is where the best food is, so be it! We start off in Barcelona for 2 nights, and then a 10 day cruise...then Rome for two nights, and our final 3 days of this special trip will be in your beautiful city. How well i can remember Berthillon for ice cream during the day, and we'll absolutely be re-living this wonderful experience. When we traveled to your romantic city those years ago, it was just after a Patricia Wells book came out, called "The Food Lover's Guide to Paris"....this book was our bible, and my how we ate....just stupendous.
Should there be a recommended book that might evoke the same excitement of how to spend our 3 days of exquisite eats, I'd so appreciate hearing....and the same goes for any tips on special restaurants, bakeries, chocolatiers, or anything culinary that we should not miss, I would be grateful to hear.
My very best to all of my Chow brethren and sistren (did I just make up a word?) in the City of light.
Cheers,
Jeff

[ChefJune]

<a Patricia Wells book came out, called "The Food Lover's Guide to Paris"....this book was our bible, and my how we ate....just stupendous. > I can relate well to your statement. Rumor has it she's in the process of updating that book yet again. However, she does have a web site where she shares what she loves best these days in Paris and Provence.

I would also suggest you peruse the threads in this forum to see what's getting talked about most and perhaps contacting some of the posters here for additional info. I'd recommend contacting our buddy Souphie through his blog: www.julotzeblog.com for his advice. Invaluable!

[thimes]

another good place to look through and get suggestions (outside of CH)

http://www.davidlebovitz.com/

He has a list of restaurants by area if I correctly remember how they are organized.

[JeffW]

Thank you ChefJune....I love that idea of checking out Patricia Well's web site. And your other tip too!

Cheers,
Jeff

[The Food Bee]

I just downloaded Patricia Wells' food glossary from French to English on my Android. It will be a life saver when reading the menus. Thanks for the tip about her web site.

[topeater]

uhockey posts on Chowhound & also has a blog with great pics. This is the link to his blog outlining his dining adventures in Paris, April 2011. The pics should get you salivating!

http://endoedibles.com/?cat=469

[JeffW]

This is so funny, and wow....talk about a small world! Uhockey was in Los Angeles for a few days, and I was going to finally meet this wonderful chow contributor and writer....that is until I had a partial tear in my Tibial tendon, and was casted for 5 weeks....ugh.

[uhockey]

:-)

I posted all the text here on Chowhound just as I always do - as a thanks to the locals who helped me plan such a great trip and as a hopeful bit of help to those visiting.

I need to come back.

http://endoedibles.com

[thimes]

There are many on here that are far more qualified than I am to make suggestions. There are lots of threads with tons of suggestions (as there are a huge number of fabulous restaurants throughout Paris).

I just saw your thread title and got so jealous and then found out you're going to Barcelona and Rome as well - now I'm more jealous.

To help people will want to know what type of food you're looking for (not all food in Paris is French) - what arrondissements - budget ideas. Even better will be to cruise the boards and put out a list of top 10 and get input (in my opinion) as picking places in Paris is OVERWHELMING. You won't be able to do it all.

[JeffW]

Thank you thimes for sharing. I only now just decided to learn more about Chow, and see if indeed there was a board for Paris. We're staying in a small hotel called Pont Royal....I think it's the 7th. arrondissement. Our last trip, when we were in our 20's, had us staying in Montparnasse. What I remembered about that exciting trip was that we would take the Metro all over the place, just for the fun of being in various parts of the city....we would do this even if we had just an hour before a dinner reservation....just so much fun to go exploring. I'd like to think that we're still young in the mind, to do this again....our bodies??? Well just fabulous :) It's the mind thing that can change. :) :)
No budgetary concerns for this trip, but maybe that's because I can remember the two of us absolutely feasting at Taillevent for $150 PER COUPLE!!! Obviously I know this is a "blast from the past". I guess I'd like to think that a lovely meal might be had for 250 Euro's per couple, but I might be completely off here. We're fine heading out to wonderful Bistros, and I'm guessing that this pricepoint might be doable in this type of milieu. Maybe we could do 2 bistro type of meals, and maybe one big blow out. I remember a spot back then called L'Ami Louis (sp?) They were booked solid, and at that time the chef or chef/owner was Antoine Magnin. Don't know what this place is like today. Anyway, I think I'm rambling here, so will close for now. Thank you again for your input.
Cheers,
J

[Klunco]

Speaking of L'Ami Louis, if you haven't read the Vanity Fair piece by A.A. Gill from last April, I'd recommend it. It may be some of the funniest food writing/restaurant description ever:

http://www.vanityfair.com/culture/fea...

[saticoy]

I read this on the bus and drew stares from people as I laughed to the point of tears...but I couldn't stop (reading or laughing)!

[mangeur]

I would put my trust in DCM, who writes from love, rather than Gill who is paid by the word or some other formula.

(IMHO, the is one of Gill's more mean spirited articles albeit somewhat amusing in the first reading.)

[saticoy]

Yes, it is indulgent, and mean-spirited, and sure, we are on here for reviews from hounds, not paid journalists. Still absolutely hilarious, though!

[Parnassien]

I'm one of the ones who think that Gill wasn't critical enough. Ok, l'Ami Louis looks postcard perfect but it's grotesquely overpriced. The fleshy plutocratic provincial clientele that look as if they are hatching right-wing conspiracies is not very endearing either. .

[Delucacheesemonger]

While not alone on this board, not many flocking as l do to L'Ami Louis, it is my fav go to in this city. Avoid Fri/Sat evenings and should be a wonderful experience. Food should fit within your budget of 250 euros/couple even with an inexpensive bottle of wine, although finding an inexpensive bottle there may be challenging. Do remember some beaujolais for @40 euros.
You might want to return to Michel Rostang for a lunch, his quenelles are still perfect.

[uhockey]

Totally agreed - and so is the souffle.

http://endoedibles.com