Archive for October, 2008

Château Eza Hotel and Restaurant – Ese, France

Sunday, October 5th, 2008

Tel. 04 93 41 12 24
Fax. 04 93 41 16 64
www,chateaueza.com
Opening Hours: weekday lunch; closed Mon. Tues.from Nov.to Mar.
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Expensive

Château Eza was a former residence of the Swedish royal family and now has 10 guest rooms in a unique setting overlooking Cap Ferrat, which can be reached by walking under stone passageways over ancient stone steps. They all have been recently decorated and provide every modern convenience. The charmingly furnished rooms feature stone fireplaces and private balconies with magnificent views of the Cote d Azur and some with private Jacuzzi. The coastal drive to the medieval hilltop village spectacularly showcases the sea and surroundings. The restaurant features a large blazing fireplace and on some evenings live Provençal folk music and a retracting glass roof.

La Bodega de Papagayo – St. Tropez, France

Saturday, October 4th, 2008


83990, France.
Phone:+33 (4) 9497767
Fax:+33 (4) 9497546

On the port at the Residence du Port on the quai d’Epi is La Bodega de Papagayo club-restaurant it has an asian influence and is the latest magnet for the very young set—teens to early 20 somethings crowd. It has a reputation as the hottest dance club in town. It starts to take-off after midnight with a live band on stage, the bar starts to become busy and the dance floor becomes frenetic, the club turns into the proverbial “packed like a can of sardines” and goes and goes until 5am.

Brasserie Flo – Beijing, China

Saturday, October 4th, 2008

2/F, Rainbow Plaza, 16 Dongsanhuan Beilu, Nuren Jie north of Pacific Century Plaza on Dongsanhuan Beilu

Tel.6595-5135

Website: www.flo.cn/English/index.html

Opening Hours: Lunch:11am-3pm, Dinner:6pm-11pm

Credit Cards: Accepted

Prices: Expensive

This large brasserie-type restaurant offers delicious and artfully presented French cuisine. On offer, among many other dishes, are: smoked salmon salad, foie gras with apple, Brittany oysters (imported fresh from France). The prices are high but the consideration is excellent service, elaborate décor and consistent quality. A set lunch menu and a good selection of French Wines-by-the-Glass including Alsatian selections are a bonus despite a recent price increase.

Avignon, Surrounding Vineyards

Saturday, October 4th, 2008

Following are a few winemakers, located around the city of Avignon, with very reasonable prices :

Domaine Deforge, 5.40 euros/bottle

Since the end of the 13th century a 30 hectares plot called “la Palestine” located in Châteauneuf de Gadagne. In 1966 the French jockey Jean Deforge purchased it and it has been known as Domaine Deforge since then.
Domaine Deforge is situated at the East of Avignon city on a plateau overlooking the Rhône valley. It gets  maximal sunshine and is made up of rolled shingles. This soil has an earliness flavor which allows an optimal maturity of the grapes (it has the same soil as Châteauneuf du Pape vineyards).

Domaine du Bois de Saint-Jean, 8 euros/bottle
Vincent Anglès
126 av de la République
84450 Jonquerettes
Tel: (33) 490 22 53 22
Tasting by rendez-vous

Caves Terres d’Avignon, 6.30 euros/bottle
Jacques Faure
583, Route de la Gare
84470 Chateauneuf de Gadagne
Tél. 04 90 33 55 21
Fax: 04 90 33 55 22
Email : p.loiseleur@terresdavignon.com
Retour caves & domaines

Chateau de Fontesgugne, 5.50 euros/bottle
976 Rte de St. Saturnin 84470 Chateauneuf de Gadagne
Tél 04.90.22.58.91 – Fax 04.90.22.42.40 Qualité Degré Cuve
AOC Côtes du Rhône Rouge 2004

L’Essentiel Restaurant – Avignon, France

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

2, rue Petite Fusterie
84000 Avignon
Tel . 04 90 85 87 12
http://www.restaurantlessentiel.com
Prices: Inexpensive-Moderate

This restaurant has a comfortable dining room with seating available in a pleasant 17th century courtyard, weather permitting. The pricing of the set menu and even à la carte selections offer amazingly good value for money particularly in today’s inflated and bloated economic mess. It is situated near the Palais des Papes in Avignon, below the church of Saint Agricole. Dominique and Laurent Chouviat are the owners of this uncomplicated 50-seat restaurant and they carefully watch after small details.
Take a moment to take notice of these prices: Lunch: € 15-30 / menu 17 € Dinner: 26 € to 37 €.

Cepe Italian Restaurant, Ritz Carlton Hotel – Beijing, China

Friday, October 3rd, 2008

Cepe1 Jinchengfang Dongjie, The Ritz Carlton, Xidan/Financial Street

Tel. 6601-6666 ext. 6288

Opening Hours: Lunch:11:30am-2:30pm; Dinner:6pm-10:30pm

Credit Cards: All Major

Prices: Very Expensive

The Ritz Carlton’s flagship Italian eatery offers authentic northern Italian cuisine in a modern, stark white, trendy setting. In line with its name, Cepe specializes in dishes featuring mushrooms grown in the house humidor, complemented by a extensive wine list. Cepe’s Executive Chef Eugenio Iraci claims, “We don’t need to worry about year-round mushrooms”. It may sound a little outrageous but Iraci always has Shimeji, Matsuki and Chanterelles on hand, as well as Oyster spores sprouting on shelves of his in-house humidor.

Christian Etienne – Avignon, France

Thursday, October 2nd, 2008

10 rue de Mons, 84000 Avignon
Tel. 04 90 86 16 50
Opening Hours: closed Sunday and Monday except in July
One Star Michelin
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Expensive

Christian Etienne offers regional cuisine with his own special touches and a menu based on tomatoes or lobster June-September.
Located next to the Palace of the Popes housed in beautiful 13th and 14th century buildings that overlook the square; authentic period decor and a wide selection of Côtes du Rhône wine. A brief discription of some of their various menus follow:

“Petit Palais” menu
35 €
(lunch only)
Royale de potiron et fritots de moules marinières
– – –
Parmentier de joue de bœuf, jus de daube, champignon de Paris et jambon séché
– – –
Menu Cochon Artichauts
65 €

Macaron piment d’Espelette/fleur de sel, boudin noir et artichaut
– – –

Tranche de tête de cochon grillée, frisée fine, julienne de cornichon, moutarde violette du Pape Clément VI, copeaux d’artichauts à l’huile d’ail
– – –
Dos de sandre aux olives cassés des Baux, tempura d’artichauts et julienne de “Speck”
– – –
Velouté de fond d’artichauts “Macau”, émulsion de chorizo et sa grosse madeleine
– – –
Porc Ibérique rôti à la poêle, sablé au citron, petit violet cuit à l’étouffée, jus de cresson
– – –
Chèvre frais battu à l’huile de basilic, mousseux d’artichauts, tuile de cochon “noir de Bigorre”, feuille de mâche
– – –
Sorbet artichaut, biscuit romarin à l’huile d’olive, crème de citron

“Grand Palais” Menu
65 €

Terrine de foie gras de canard à l’alcool de coing, crème brûlée de foie gras, chutney de coing au parfum de cardamome
or
Noix de Saint -Jacques cuites à la plancha sur un sablé poudre de “cazette”,poêlée de girolles et coulis d’épinard
– – –
Tronçon de lotte rôti à la poêle, pyramide de blettes, rondelle de moelle, sauce au vin rouge des Côtes du Rhône
or
Poitrine de pigeon cuite rosée, navet glacé à l’orange, cuisses et abats en tourte, jus infusé d’arabica
– – –
Cheese cart
– – –
Your choice of dessert
(please make your selection from the à la carte menu when ordering)
Brioche en pain perdu, compotée de Granny Smith à l’orange et gingembre, sorbet cassis

Lobster menu
80 €
(whole lobster prepared in three different ways)
Chaud-froid de céleri-boule en rosace, articulations en dés, huile de carapace et ciboulette ciselée

– – –
Les pinces rôties, rouelle de polenta, girolles et bisque émulsionnée
– – –
La queue poêlée à l’huile d’olive, raisins “Muscat” et beurre blanc au verjus, tuile caramélisée au jus de raisin
– – –
Cheese cart
– – –
Your choice of dessert
(please make your selection from the à la carte menu when ordering)

Tasting Menu
120 €
Several of our signature dishes,
based on what is available in the market
(served to all guests at the table)

Robata-Ya – Los Angeles

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

2004 Sawtelle Blvd, West Los Angeles
Tel. 310-481-1418
Opening Hours: Lunch 11:30am-2:30pm; Dinner: 5:00pm -10pm
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Moderate

Robata-Yahas been opened by Mako Tanaka from Restaurant Mako, Beverly Hills who has joined Dennis Mao, known for his Jidori chicken. The location is on Sawtelle Blvd. in West L.A. and is a grilled skewer restaurant for chicken and beef, with a grill man brought in from Japan who will cook over Japanese charcoal. They will also have seafood, sashimi and grilled fish and shellfish. This concept has been lacking in the Los Angeles area and it is about time that someone did it. However, from what I have observed in Japan, robata is not what materialized on Sawtelle, it is quite different, although I am fond of skewers and really enjoy good Yakatori. I will check this operation out as soon as it stabilizes and give an update. The restaurant is quite small with only 15 seats at the robata bar and six or so tables. It has an excellent selection of Sake and Shochu as well.

Update – A reader has left a comment that this is not a new concept and that the restaurant Nam Ban Kan on Sawtelle has been doing it for years. I agree, (my freind Hoki Tokuda opened Nam Ban Kan in downtown Los Angeles years ago and later sold it) if it is, in fact, only grilled chicken and meat on skewers that they are serving, this is certainly nothing new! Although, what I meant is; it would be new if they followed the true Robata concept, which originated in Sendai town in Miyagi prefecture in northern Japan, then it would be new to Los Angeles. Meaning: the chef or chefs sit on a tatami mat with fresh ingredients spread around them, the customer then chooses what he wants cooked, usually  fish and vegetables on a hibachi over hot charcoal, the diner sits at the robata bar in front of the chef and is then handed his selections on a long-handled wooden paddle after they have been grilled.

Little Palm Island, Florida Keys – Florida

Wednesday, October 1st, 2008

Drive South on U.S. Highway 1 for approximately 120 miles to Little Torch Key and Mile Marker 28.5. After leaving Big Pine Key you will be on Little Torch Key. You will turn left on Pirates Road. Turn left into our parking lot where you will see an off-white building with a thatch roof, which is our Welcome Station. You will register here and wait for the next complimentary motor yacht shuttle to the Island. Our motor yacht departs the Welcome Station every hour on the bottom of the hour from 7:30 a.m. until 9:30 p.m.

1-800-438-5678
Credit Cards: All Major
Prices: Very Expensive

Little Palm Island Resort & Spa is a hidden treasure in the Florida Keys, only accessible by boat or seaplane.
We experienced a lovely time there some years ago. We boarded a boat from Little Torch Key and arrived at the hotel after a short period of time.
I was particularly attracted to visit this island as I had heard many good things about the cooking. In fact, at the time it was quite good with a decent selection of fresh fish and an adequate wine list.
Thirty private bungalows look out to sea surrounded by hundreds of Jamaican coconut palms and tropical gardens.  Each bungalow houses two handsomely appointed one-bedroom suites with private sundecks and ocean views.

There is also a world-class spa, Spa Terre, and a dining room that is regularly ranked as one of the best in South Florida.