HUNGRY GERALD

The glorious city of Paris is an HG favorite–architecture, colorful streets, avenues and boulevards; museums and art; dining, style and a unique civilized ambience plus superior people watching. Sadly, HG can no longer visit. At 95, long air travel makes visits too difficult. However, HG can still recall wistfully the joyous meals HG had at enticing brasseries, First brasserie meal was at Le Vaudeville, housed in a wonderful art deco space near the Bourse. HG ate, with pleasure—a dozen oysters, grilled cod with truffled mashed potatoes and an ile flottante for dessert plus much chilled Muscadet. Unfortunately, Vaudeville went downhill after being taken over by a chain,  Good news. Bought and polished by top flight restaurateurs, Vaudeville is back to glory (recent review by  Alec Lobrano). Too bad HG can’t sample it. Le Stella in the 16th is still operating . HG/BSK ate there many times —oysters, bulots, soupe de poisson, steak tartare, rack of lamb, ile flottante. Traditional French food cooked to perfection,  A very happy memory. There are two new brasseries that sound very good—Astair and Bellanger. Very extensive menus including Frog Legs Provencale. Moderate prices. HG can only sigh.