When it opened in 1910 Poulette was a hangout for customers and merchants from Les Halles. The new owners have wisely done nothing more than buffing and scraping, to reveal the magnificence of the Belle Epoque, Muchalike tiles. Wines are in the 5-7:50 euro category and very good. I started my meal with a Minervois Bio at 5 euros.

My TV was not working, so I called Pierre (Chris,) my TV repairman. After 5  minutes the problem was solved, and it being a bitterly cold day I offered to introduce him to the pleasure of cafe/calva–espresso with a calvados on the side. Although a mere two blocks from my apartment, I had never been inside the Bistrot des Vosges. The owners are from the Aveyron and our barmaid was very welcoming, as was the calva, so much so, that we opted for a second, no café required.

Just off the Place Contrescarpe and rue Mouffetard, Thai House is a superb little restaurant at very reasonable prices. It was a frosty day so my pal Bob Glaser and I opted for a hot and spicy shrimp soup with lemongrass, that warmed our bones.

Like all Brazilians who emigrate to Marin County, CA, Rio-born Rafael Gomes’ first job was pizza delivery. From there he cooked at Sam’s Anchor Café, a Tiburon tradition, where Margaritas, guacamole and chips, hamburgers and fried fish, were savored on the sun-bathed deck, with it’s expansive views of the San Francisco Bay, littered with sailboats, and the magic city beyond.

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Frederic Hubig, the Earl of Restauration in the Eleventh (Astier, Jeanne A & Sassotondo), has done it again with this instant hit, La Marée Jeanne.

The Prince of Palm Beach had become a regular at my Sunday Salon at the Café de Flore and insisted on treating me to lunch before he said adieu Paris. His choice was the Auberge Nicolas Flamel, housed in a building constructed in 1407. For me, the most important element in a restaurant experience is the warmth of the welcome.Jérome guided us to our seat and welcomed Jeffrey back although he had eaten here only once.

Don’t get me wrong. I love Paris but there are three things that the French know nothing about: Bagels,Burgers & Bloody Marys and you can get them all at the Paris outpost of JOE ALLEN,the famed Manhattan theater district saloon. On the edge of Les Halles it arrived almost simultaneously with the destruction of that culinary icon. I had my first burger there in 1976.