Thank you for the interesting interview with Alec.
It was a timely read as, my husband is in Enfield,Ct for his 94 year old mother’s birthday week. They will be going to the shore to visit Abbott’s for a lobster roll!
Just a fantastic interview. Alec Lobrano's Hungry for Paris was the next book I read after your The Sweet Life in Paris upon our arrival in Paris as a six-month lark (2009/10). And I still have Gourmet's Paris issue. My Place at the Table will be next.
Fascinating article David, I know I shouldn't be surprised there were over hyped Paris restaurants that only Americans went to (L'ami Louis) - so glad for the newer wave of Paris restaurants that are so fantastic, like Verjus, a favorite. I also love Bouillion Pigalle. I'm excited to check out Alec's memoir!
I've never been the L'Ami Louis but I have a friend who speaks very fluent French who said the waiters were mocking him (for being gay) which is disappointing, at best. Bouillion Pigalle, on the other hand, has amazing waiters and they're opening a second brand at Place de la République - I'm happy for their success. They're doing things right.
Great interview! I loved Gourmet's Paris issues! I had every issue of Gourmet from 1992 until their demise. I remember the cover with the woman in red, but hadn't noticed she was smoking. Unfortunately, I had to part with my Gourmet collection when we moved. I'm now following Alec on Facebook. Thank you.
I remember some blowback about the cigarette, but that was an accurate depiction of a Paris bistro/restaurants at the time, so it fell into the category of "authentic" : )
This interview was a great way to start my Saturday! I think I remember reading Alec's columns in the Time Out sections of Pariscope when I lived in Paris in the mid 1990s. It's amazing to watch his career path and I cannot wait to read this book! I signed up for the event on June 3 - looking forward !
I didn't know he wrote for Pariscope! (Although maybe I did...it was just a while back...) But I do remember going to the newsstand the day it came out and the Time Out section in the back was always interesting.
Timeout had an 8 or 10 page English language insert in the back of Pariscope for a longtime, which I think was mutually beneficial. Occasional problems arose, however, when I wrote restaurant reviews that were more critical than those in Pariscope's reportorial style.
Right? That was the first place I looked when I got it! Maybe I am mis-remembering things (you know, it's a long time ago LOL!) In any case, his career path is impressive! Great interview!
It was really sad when they discontinued it. We often hear "the end of an era" about certain things that go away, but Pariscope was more than just a listing of movies, theatre, etc, but a recap and summation of the cultural scene in Paris...on a weekly basis. (I also miss FUSAC, the magazine for expats they used to give away each week, I think, that I devoured when it landed in the news racks. I think it's only online now.)
Thank you for the interesting interview with Alec.
It was a timely read as, my husband is in Enfield,Ct for his 94 year old mother’s birthday week. They will be going to the shore to visit Abbott’s for a lobster roll!
I so hope I might make it to Abbott's this summer!
On behalf of both of us...we salute that birthday decision!
Excellent!
Just a fantastic interview. Alec Lobrano's Hungry for Paris was the next book I read after your The Sweet Life in Paris upon our arrival in Paris as a six-month lark (2009/10). And I still have Gourmet's Paris issue. My Place at the Table will be next.
Wonderful post! Thanks so much. Look forward to reading the memoir!
Fascinating article David, I know I shouldn't be surprised there were over hyped Paris restaurants that only Americans went to (L'ami Louis) - so glad for the newer wave of Paris restaurants that are so fantastic, like Verjus, a favorite. I also love Bouillion Pigalle. I'm excited to check out Alec's memoir!
I've never been the L'Ami Louis but I have a friend who speaks very fluent French who said the waiters were mocking him (for being gay) which is disappointing, at best. Bouillion Pigalle, on the other hand, has amazing waiters and they're opening a second brand at Place de la République - I'm happy for their success. They're doing things right.
Terrific article. Thanks so much.
Wonderful interview, David! Thanks!
Gorgeous reading!! Supergros merci!!
A delicious interview! Thank you for a wonderful start to the day.
What a wonderful interview. I'll have to dig out my old Gourmet magazines to reread.
Great interview! I loved Gourmet's Paris issues! I had every issue of Gourmet from 1992 until their demise. I remember the cover with the woman in red, but hadn't noticed she was smoking. Unfortunately, I had to part with my Gourmet collection when we moved. I'm now following Alec on Facebook. Thank you.
I remember some blowback about the cigarette, but that was an accurate depiction of a Paris bistro/restaurants at the time, so it fell into the category of "authentic" : )
This is a terrific interview. Though it did make me long for Ruth Reichl’s version of Gourmet! Thank you for starting my Saturday off this way!
This interview was a great way to start my Saturday! I think I remember reading Alec's columns in the Time Out sections of Pariscope when I lived in Paris in the mid 1990s. It's amazing to watch his career path and I cannot wait to read this book! I signed up for the event on June 3 - looking forward !
I didn't know he wrote for Pariscope! (Although maybe I did...it was just a while back...) But I do remember going to the newsstand the day it came out and the Time Out section in the back was always interesting.
Timeout had an 8 or 10 page English language insert in the back of Pariscope for a longtime, which I think was mutually beneficial. Occasional problems arose, however, when I wrote restaurant reviews that were more critical than those in Pariscope's reportorial style.
Ok, so I *wasn't* going crazy! Reading that section was the highlight of my weeks!
Right? That was the first place I looked when I got it! Maybe I am mis-remembering things (you know, it's a long time ago LOL!) In any case, his career path is impressive! Great interview!
Ah, I'd forgotten about Pariscope! I read it as an exchange student in the '70s.
It was really sad when they discontinued it. We often hear "the end of an era" about certain things that go away, but Pariscope was more than just a listing of movies, theatre, etc, but a recap and summation of the cultural scene in Paris...on a weekly basis. (I also miss FUSAC, the magazine for expats they used to give away each week, I think, that I devoured when it landed in the news racks. I think it's only online now.)