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August 26, 2007

Pete's Mexican Food

Huntington Beach, CA

Mexican

$10 or less

Our rating: 1 fork

An institution in Huntington Beach, Pete's serves their take on mexican food. Get the chicken or ground beef taco - tasty ingredients, shells crisped on the grill. The carne asada burrito includes avocado, lettuce and tomato.

Pete's Mexican Food

213 5th Street Huntington Beach, CA One block from PCH 714.960.8797

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less

Notable Staff: Carlos and Jenny Gonzales

August 22, 2007

Al Dar

Paris, France

Mediterranean

$10 or less

Our rating: 2 forks

Serving Lebanese cuisine in both a deli and adjoining full service sit down restaurant. I only tried the deli side, but enjoyed grape leaves, eggplant dip, and schwarma. Their housemade pita bread is excellent, as is their Lebanese style ice cream (gelato style). Also freshly made on premises. If you aren't in the mood for ice-cream, choose any of their Mediterranean desserts - they have dozens of choices.

Al Dar

8, Rue Frederic - Sauton Paris 75005 France One block North of Victor Hugo.Metro Maubert Reciprocity 01.43.25.17.15

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less

August 19, 2007

Casa Tina

Paris, France

Mediterranean

$10 to $20

Spanish restaurant. Good tapas, friendly service. If you want to taste a variety of tapas or the assortment entree. Ours included a variety of clam I have never had, called Couteaux de Mer (also called the Atlantic Razor Clams), which had the most amazing flavor.

Casa Tina

18, rue Lauriston Paris France West of the Arch d' Triump 01.40.67.19.24

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 to $20

Table seating, Private room, Credit cards, Beer and wine, Snappy Casual

Daily:

Domaine Pommery

Reims, France

Winery

If you see only one Chaimpaignery in France (in your lifetime) this is the one.English tours available several times a day. No food here, but the neighboring village offers many choices (see review of Le Gaulois).

Domaine Pommery

5, place General Gourand Reims 51100 France 2 hours drive North of Paris 33.0.3.26.61.62.56

Credit cards

Le Coin Gourmand

Paris, France

French

$10 or less

Our rating: 3 forks

Check the chalkboard for daily specials - they are in French and the staff speaks limited English so bring you dictionary!

Le Coin Gourmand

23, rue Moliere Paris France 01.47.03.95.72

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less

Table seating, Credit cards, Beer and wine, Casual

What To Order: Salad with goat cheese and roasted tomato

Restaurant Le Charmant

Uzerche, France

French

$10 or less

Our rating: 3 forks

Charming bistro with your choice of dining area - patio, courtyard and dining room. Typical bistro food done well.

Restaurant Le Charmant

19140 Uzerche Uzerche 19140 France Two hours south of Paris, a convenient stop between Lyon and Paris. 05.55.98.17.80

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less

La Tour Maubourg

Paris, France

French

$10 to $20

Our rating: 1 fork

Chicken club was dry and tasteless. Entrecrote and frites were average as was the dessert crepes. Nice relaxing atmosphere and a comfortable patio.

La Tour Maubourg

58 Bd de la Tour Maubourg Paris 75007 France Near Place des Invalides 01.45.51.47.26

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 to $20

Daily:

Fouguet's

Paris, France

French

$50 or more

Our rating: 1 fork

If you find yourself in Paris in August sometimes you have limited, elegant dining opportunities. This is what led us to Fouget for an overpriced, forgettable meal. Luckily the service and the company were wonderful and the evening didn't suffer from the food nor the prices (Kir Royal 20 Euro Salade Galanga 26 Euro). *Chateau Sirene 2002 Bordeaux at $ 75 a bottle was wonderful

Fouguet's

99, Avenue des Champs Elysees Paris 75008 France 01.40.69.60.50

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $50 or more

Disque Bleu

Paris, France

French

$10 or less

A fantastic discovery on a pedestrian friendly street near the famous restaurant Le Dome. All of the dishes we had were prepared well. We had the roast lamb special (served with a catchitore style sauce) and, a very good preparation of Steak Agneau (steak tartare). Seared, and lightly flavored - simple and elegant - in LA $ 35, but here only $ 10 Euro. Don't be put off by this combination bistro, bar, tabac, lotto ticket vending establishment. After spending a quiet lunch, wander the street and pick up some cheap fashions, and some edible gifts (for yourself or some friends) at Oliver & Co.

Disque Bleu

28, rue de Libia Paris France 01.47.63.68.70

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less

Patio, Table seating, Credit cards, Bar, Casual, Smoking

What To Order: Steak agneau (tartare)

L'Entrecote de Paris

Paris, France

French

$20 to $30

Our rating: 1 fork

If you are craving for the traditional steak entrecote with au pavore skip this place. The prices are high ($ 8 sodas), portions small, and service poor.

L'Entrecote de Paris

29, rue de Marignan Paris 75008 France 50 yards off Champ De' Eyses 01.42.25.28.60

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30

Table seating, Credit cards, Beer and wine, Casual

Lunch and Dinner: 11:30 am to 1 am

La Fourmi Ailee

Paris, France

French

$20 to $30

Our rating: 3 forks

La Fourmi Ailee (the mosquito I presume), get the specialty of the house, Demi Canard en croüte de sel, duck cooked in a salted dough cask - very tasty and a good value too (19.80 E) - enough for two if you get a salad or a appetizer. The beef carpaccio or one of their salads would be a good choice. Their wine list is short but has adequate selection to accompany the meal. The menu is formatted like a Trader Joe's newsletter, including education sidebars. Visit their website for an entertaining story on the history of the Latin Quarter area of Paris. (initially reviewed 06/02)

La Fourmi Ailee

8, Rue De Fouarre Paris 75005 France Near Notre Dame 01.43.29.40.99

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30

Table seating, Late night, Open Every Day, Credit cards, Beer and wine, Casual, Prix fixe menu available

Lunch: 11:30 am to 2 pm

Dinner: 7 pm to 12 midnight

What To Order: Demi canard en croute

Chez Andre

Paris, France

French

$20 to $30

Our rating: 3 forks

A busy bistro in the gold triangle of Paris. Like most bistros the menu is filled with French standards, and in this case, very well executed. The endive salad with roquefort dressing (as in Roquefort, France) was a standout. The rib eye steak and rotisserie chicken are both good choices. This was my first experience with Paris taxis being called by a restaurant, and to my surprise, finding that the meter started when the cab made it's way to the restaurant - making for a doubly expensive fare.

Chez Andre

12, rue Marbeuf Paris 75008 France 01.47.20.59.57

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30

Table seating, Patio, Open Every Day, Late night, Credit cards, Bar, Casual, Smoking on patio, Smoking section, Street Parking

Daily:

What To Order: Endive salad

Oliviers & Co.

Paris, France

Market/Grocery

Our rating: 3 forks

Friendly service and wonderful tastings offered throughout the store. Many of their offerings are created under noteworthy chef supervision. My favorite recent selection was the cherry infused balsamic vinegar. Yum!

Oliviers & Co.

Locations throughout Paris Paris France 0800.03.28.96

Credit cards

What To Order: Flavored balsamic vinegars, olive tapenades

Ma Bourgogne

Paris, France

French

$10 to $20

Our rating: 4 forks

Seating is divided between a casual brasserie upstairs and a formal restaurant downstairs. The current owners have run the place for the last couple of years and luckily have kept many of the original recipes. including their method for Beef Bourgogne. The Aloxe Corton at 42 Euro complimented the bold beef dish and also recommended.

Ma Bourgogne

133 bd Haussmann Paris 75008 France 8th Arondishment, Metro Miromesnil 01.45.63.50.61

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 to $20

Table seating, Credit cards, Bar, Casual, Smoking section, Romantic Spot, Prix fixe menu available, Street Parking

What To Order: Beef Bourgogne

Notable Staff: Nicolas Pasqua

August 15, 2007

The Estate of Versailles

Paris Vicinity, France

French

$10 to $20

A recommedation for Versialles is to avoid the early morning lines and start with a walk around the grand palace - gratis. You can take a tram for 6 Euro, or rent bikes to aid in touring the grounds. We chose the later and really enjoyed the exercise and the ability to navigate around the water and landscape features. If you don't have a ticket her is a tip, ride to Marie Antoinette's estate, where you will find short ticket lines and can also begin with a brief tour her home. Their are several places on the grounds to grab a snack or lunch. For lunch we enjoyed the bistro.

The Estate of Versailles

Paris Vicinity France

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 to $20

What To Order: French Onion soup

August 14, 2007

L' As Du Fallafel

Paris, France

Mediterranean

$10 or less

Our rating: 4 forks

I love Fallafel and I love L' As Du Fallafel! You can grab a fallafel or a shawarma pita at the window or grab a seat in the informal dining room. Prices are less at the take-out window, but all of their prices are fair. The Fallafel sandwich has freshly fried fallafel, tasty hummos, eggplant, tomatoes, and cucumbers. Shawarma is a distant 2nd, but if you must... du Fallafel is located in the “Jewish Gay” area, just North West of Hotel de Ville and if you are looking for mezza style foods this may not be the place, so try some of the nearby places with the spreads showcased in their windows.

L' As Du Fallafel

34, Rue Des Rosiers Paris 75004 France Near Hotel de Ville 01.48.87.63.60

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $10 or less

Counter, Table seating, Credit cards, Beer and wine, Casual, Hole in the wall, Speedy Service

What To Order: Fallafel Special - fallafel with aubergine

August 11, 2007

Fish La Boissonnerie

Paris, France

French

$20 to $30

Our rating: 5 forks

Enroute to another restaurant sometimes you have to go with your instincts and change plans. That is what happened when I discovered Fish La Boissonnerie, a bistro buzzing with locals and foreigners alike. The host was helpful and forecast a quick wait, and the large selection of wines by the glass made the time pass quickly. The nearby tables and decent acoustics were conducive to meeting and chatting with your companions or other diners. The wine list is extensive and extra ordinary featuring wines from all over Europe at fair prices. The chalkboard specials and the seasonal menu cause for some tough decisions. Heavingly chilled gazpacho with fresh, blanched vegitables and plate of infused rissotto. Luckily the staff is very accommodating and were able to “enhance” the pri-fix menu and added a well executed entree of smoked salmon, caviar and oyster beignets. Though this is a fish restaurant, the salmon entree was the only fish that made it to the table. The other wonderful dishes include roast lamb and potato pancake, and duck confit with julienned cabbage slaw. The bottle of bordeux lasted just long enough to add to the enjoyment of the creme brullee and chocolate glacee (ice cream).

Fish La Boissonnerie

69 rue de Seine Paris France 01.43.54.34.69

Average Cost Per Person, excluding drinks: $20 to $30

Counter, Table seating, Credit cards, Exceptional wine list, Beer and wine, Snappy Casual, Non-smoking, Prix fixe menu available, Street Parking

August 02, 2007

S. Irene Virbila Reviews

A great guide to ethnic dining and markets in LA. The site maintained by LA Times.

S. Irene Virbila Reviews