John Talbott's Paris

Paris Pix: Calm? Looks a bit shaky to me.

Paris Pix: Wha???

 

Paris Pix: Greek/Algerian. Some Fusion.

Paris Pix: No love locks here.

Watershed Tavern at Boothbay Craft Brewery: Devil's Thumbprint: Great fried haddock and incredible fries.

The Watershed Tavern at the Boothbay Craft Brewery in Boothbay Maine was a revelation.  I've been coming to Boothbay since wartime, that's WWII and while the take-out lobsters, clams, lobster rolls and chicken nuggets (for the grands) are terrific to eat at home, we've never eaten out at a dazzling place. Today our Gang of 12 of our kids and grands decided to try this place and I went with some hesitation.

The reception and seating was immediate, the orders were taken after 20 minutes, the flights of beer arrived after 40 minutes and the food much much later.  But it was well worth the wait; I had ordered the Devil's Thumbprint, essentially fish 'n chips and it was clearly the very best huuuuge pieces of haddock with the very best aioli and very best fries I've had in eons - and the coleslaw was close to the very best.

Our bill for 12, before the imposed tip, was $289.73, thus $48.28 a couple.

Go?  So if you want to have real Yankee food rather than the Parisian imitation, you cannot do better than at this seemingly unimpressive joint.

Paris Pix: Chill or Obey; Which?

Paris Pix: One of two vineyards left.

Reviews of reviews: The rest of the Month of July

Tuesday, July 12 in Le Fooding, there was a review by Matthieu Jauniau-Dallier of Pierre Jancou, ex-Cremerie, ex-Racines, ex-Vivant(s), ‘s new venture Achille (named after the tendon of which he tore), 43, rue Servan in the 11th, 01.48.06.54.59, right now only open evenings but in September some lunches, closed Sundays and Mondays, running one 40-60 E for items such as tartare de béryx, white tuna and chocolate plus bio wines (of course, what else ?) ; then mainly restos outside Paris.

Thursday the 9th of June, in A Nous Paris, Aexis Chenu reviewed MYL (Make Your Lunch), 5, ave Jean-Jaures in the 19th, open 8-18 h weekdays, running one 15 E to put together a lunch from 35 ingredients ; and Tuesday July 19, Philippe Toinard reviewed Yannick Alleno’s latest venture, Stay, a Gastro-Brasserie in the Hotel Sofitel Le Faubourg, 15, rue Boissy d’Anglas in the 8th, open 7/7, where the formula at lunch is 29 E and lunch menu at 36 E for classic items (steak frites) as well as less caloric ones (veggie tartare) and a « chou » of vanilla, chocolate, mango and guacamole; and July 29th they listed BBQ places: Sur La Braise, L'Aller Retour, The Beast, Flesh, My Food Montreuil and Korean Barbeque.

Wednesdays, in Paris Update, Heidi Ellison was disappointed in Bonvivant in the 6th and Tondo but excited by her meal at Mensae and enjoyed Canard & Champagne.

In the jdd, Aurelie Chaigneau reviewed Mersea, 6, rue du Faubourg Montmartre in the 9th, 09.73.22.46.13, open 7/7, menus at 11-14 E serving items such as fish soup, fish and chips and lemon tarts (7/10); and the veggie place Wild and Moon in the 3rd (5/10) as well as returning to Le Vin au vert in the 9th (7/10).