In Flew Enza
This is my response to a question passed along by one of our Australian (nationality) PMs. The PM was asked by a private banker what "expectations for the impact of Bird Flu pandemic on European equity markets" were. The PM offered beers for the best response. Here's my (right brain) reply:
From the West so far afield
Through vast plains of bounding yield
To fair Europe o'er mountains high
In flew Enza from the sky
What a bird and what she brought
Attaching fear to ev'ry thought
And to all kin of avian fold
She passed along her sword so bold
What will happen? we implore
Where's the danger? What's in store?
Flee the goose? Fear the crow?
Thoughtful minds were wont to know
Now from France the truth unfolds
What it is the future holds
Alas the news so bleakly sets:
The alouettes will pluck our tetes!
Paris Restaurant Recommendations
Paris Restaurant Recommendations from Nobu, Wayne, Alan & Elaine and "Wayne's Friend"
L'Arpege
84 rue Varenne
Tel: 33-1-4551-4733 / 33-1-4705-0906
Email: arpege@alain-passard.com
Web Site: http://www.alain-passard.com/FR/arpege/index.htm
- (From Nobu:) Near les Invalides; superlative food at a price but worth the experience; booking could be a problem
Le Procope
13 rue de l'Ancienne Comédie
Tel: 33-1-4046-7900
Web Site: http://www.procope.com/
- (From Nobu:) Near St Germain des Pres; "ancien cafe litteraire du 18e siecle"
Le Dome
108 boulevard du Montparnasse
Tel: 33-1-4335-2581 / 33-1-4335-3482
- (From Nobu:) In the Montparnass area; good place to have seafood, especially oysters
- (From Patricia Wells:) "On many a Sunday evening I can be found on the indoor terrace here, feasting of fresh oysters, excellent turbot, sea bass (bar) or the finest sole meunière to be found in Paris. I always order their delicious Quincy, an excellent Sauvignon Blanc, that pairs beautifully with the fish and shellfish menu. For dessert, it’s always lime – citron vert – sorbet."
Le Train Bleu
Gare de Lyon, Place Louis Armand
Tel: 33-1-4343-0906
Web Site: http://www.le-train-bleu.com/page1.html
- (From Nobu:) An ex-waiting room of one of Paris' main train terminal preserving its art nouveau decor; serves more than decent food.
Aux Lyonnais
32 rue St-Marc
2e, 2nd Arrondissement (La Bourse)
Tel: 33-1-4296-6504
- (From Patricia Wells:) "Alain Ducasse has taken over this classic 1890's bistro near the French stock exchange, or Bourse, transforming it into the sort of place we love to go today, a classic Lyonnais style bistro with zinc bar, bright floral tiles and colorful deep red façade. ..."
D'Chez Eux
2 av Lowendal
7e, 7th Arrondissement
Tel: 33-1-4705-5255
Web Site: http://www.chezeux.com/index.asp
- (From their key chain:) Son accueil - Foie gras - Cochonnailles - Grenouilles - Cassoulet - Fameux desserts - Sud ouest et tradition
Guy Savoy
18 rue Troyon
Tel: 33-1-4380-4061
Email: reserv@guysavoy.com
Web Site: http://www.guysavoy.com/
Métro: Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile
- (From Fodors:) "Revamped with dark African wood, rich leather, and cream-color marble, Guy Savoy's luxury restaurant has stepped gracefully into the 21st century. Come here for a perfectly measured contemporary haute-cuisine experience, since Savoy's several bistros have not lured him away from his kitchen. ..."
Hiramatsu
52 rue de Longchamp
Métro: Pont Marie
- (From Fodors:) "In fall 2004 Hiramatsu left its Seine-side perch on the Ile St-Louis for this spacious Art Deco dining room with just 40 seats, 32 of them for nonsmokers (an audacious move in Paris, but there's a bar/salon reserved for fumeurs). Chef Hajime Nakagawa continues his variations on the nuanced Japanese-inspired cuisine of the namesake Hiroyuki Hiramatsu. ..."
Pierre Gagnaire
6 rue de Balzac
Tel: 33-1-5836-1250
Métro: Charles-de-Gaulle-Étoile
- (From Fodors:) "If you want to venture to the frontier of luxe cooking today, a meal here is a must. Chef Pierre Gagnaire's work is at once intellectual and poetic, often blending three or four unexpected tastes and textures in a single dish. ... "
- (From Patricia Wells:) "In these days of French anxiety, it is always reassuring to know that when all else fails in this country, one can always be assured of a certain gastronomic bliss. A meal at Pierre Gagnaire can remind one of what several hours of pure pleasure can do for the soul. ..."
A. Beauvillier
52 rue Lamarck (18 arr)
Tel: 33-1-4254-5442
Métro: Lamark Caulaincourt
- (From Nobu:) Near Montmartre; traditional menu in a late 19th century decor
RSS Readers and Feeds
Have any of you checked out RSS (Really Simple Syndication) Readers? The feeds are well-defined and -structured XML files with automatically updated and up-to-date links to news services, data, publications, etc. -- things that generally are and can be syndicated -- and the readers provide various ways to 'watch' the feeds and give you access to the news, sites, data, etc.
I noticed that UBS now has RSS feeds available for their publications (you do need an account with them -- which I think is a formality -- to view the reports from the web site). I downloaded the free version of Awasu and added in a few feeds. Pretty cool. Give it a check if you want. I think these will be valuable technology in short order. There are other RSS Readers out there as well -- Awasu got a good review from CNet and the other one well reviewed -- Pluck -- wouldn't install on my machine.
