Donna

I recently read a posting by John Grant (BIGLOU) asking for our impressions of the best meals ever. <BR> <BR>The best and most memorable and most expensive meal ever was at Moulin de Mougins restaurant, Chef Roger Verge, in the South of France, three years ago, and the memorable choice on the menu was our appetizer-- it was flowerette stuffed with truffles and teensy-chopped mushrooms. <BR>Second most memorable meal was at Al Covo ristorante in Venice, two years ago with some tiny shrimp appetizer. <BR> <BR>My husband's most memorable and talked about meal was one year ago in St. Paul de Vence, at the restaurant in the Hotel St. Paul, the dessert which was this sinfully delicious chocolate-mesh-extravaganza. <BR> <BR>Who's next?

Jen Z

I know I'm going at this from the wrong angle, but the most memorable meal I've ever had in Europe was a huge buffet breakfast I had in the Hotel Kurpfalz in Munich. I had just spend two days in Salzburg, where I'd surpassed my daily budget of 50$Cdn to the point where I couldn't afford to eat and I was starving. I headed up to Munich, where I was meeting my boyfriend after not seeing him for seven weeks, and arrived at the hotel at about 8am. I paid 8dm for breakfast (included if you've spent the night, but 8dm if you haven't -- nice hotel, BTW) and then completely ignored my poor boyfriend while I scarfed down anything and everything they had to offer. And it WAS a good breakfast; it wasn't just that I was hungry...no boring continental breakfast there, no siree! Cereal, granola, yogurt, fresh fruit, fresh bread, cold cuts, juice, tea, coffee. Very healthy and very yummy (ever mixed granola or muesli in yogurt? YUM!) <BR> <BR>I guess Milan wasn't too offended, because he proposed soon after! <BR> <BR>Other memorable meals... any number of romantic dinners in various Italian piazzas with Milan and a bottle of good red wine... Oh, and a place in Vienna called Schnitzelwirt Schmidt which serves ENORMOUS schnitzels...one order could feed four people, if not more! It wasn't that it was really good (schnitzel's kind of boring, really) but it was just shockingly HUGE! <BR> <BR>Sorry if that wasn't what you were after, but as far as memorable meals go, those are the ones for me!

kam

It happens to have a Michelin star, but that's not so important as the perfect ambiance, perfect service, restful setting and wonderful food of Il Bottaccio in Montignoso near Viareggio and Massa was my most memorable meal. I also recall a barbeque place in Buenos Aires where the first course was meat etc, second course meat, etc, etc. We were starving as the Argentines eat so late and probably consumed enough red meat to last a lifetime. <BR>

Barbara

<BR>Without question, it was a memorable three and a half hour lunch in Modena, Italy at Hoteria Giusti. In this tiny jewel of a diningroom (5 tables), the owner, Adriano Morandi, served up his specialties and gave us a personal tour of his kitchen, wine celler and historic salumeria. It was the unparalleled highlight of a five week trip.

anne

What immediately came to mind was a lunch in France this July - not expensive, not glamorous, but delicious, and authentic. We were driving around the Dordogne region, from one gorgeous town to another, and saw a sign advertising a goat cheese farm... we followed the signs, not knowing if we'd end up far out of our way...and found a little stone fromagerie and an old stone barn filled with goats next to it. The charming proprietress-who told us that she'd left the area for Paris, stayed a couple of years and couldn't stand it anymore! - sold us 3 of the delicous tangy discs. We asked if there was a bakery nearby, and she directed us up the road to a town with an old communal oven. We easily found the ancient wood-burning oven, and the young baker slid his paddle in and pulled out a hot loaf of country bread. We took our purchases to an adjacent field, where there was a convenient piece of wood balanced on a couple of rocks under a big oak tree. There we ate our delicious lunch, enjoying the view of a crumbling abandoned tower covered with ivy, next to the smoke curling out the chimney of the oven. <BR>

Neal Sanders

In the spring of 1985, with the French franc at an astonishing ten to the dollar (just lop off the last digit of the price!), we were driving through Burgundy and paused for lunch at an unassuming restaurant called the Cote d'Or just outside of the village of Nuits St. George. We weren't in a hurry, Michelin gave it one star, there was a vacant table, we were feeling adventurous, and so we ordered the "menu de gustacion" at 200 francs, TTC. <BR> <BR>There was magic in that restaurant that day. In our halting French, we let our waiter know we were game for anything the chef had in mind. And so the magnificent dishes from the tasting menu began rolling out of the kitchen, one after another. And with them, jewels of wine in half bottles suggested by the sommelier. After two hours, the chef/owner came out and practiced his English on us and we discussed American restaurants and wines. He was witty and charming but, above all, he genuinely wanted to know our evaluation of the courses we were consuming. Our lunch ended some time after 3 p.m. Plates and empty wine bottles were everywhere. The total bill was well under $100. <BR> <BR>That fall, the new Michelin guide awarded the Cote d'Or its second star. Two years later, the restaurant entered the exalted pantheon of three-star properties; the fastest rise in Michelin's records. We have eaten many wonderful meals across Europe and especially in France, but our lunch at the Cote d'Or can still make us pause and sigh after 13 years. <BR> <BR>

Donna

Thanks to all of you responding to the memorable meals question. Here's one more: <BR> <BR>Three years ago a girlfriend and I were driving through the south of France and had planned to stay in France that week, but we came up with the idea to have "lunch in Italy." So we changed money at the border, drove to Bordighera (because Monet painted there), headed the car toward the sea, and found a little restaurant overhanging the sea and we ate there. Balmy wind blowing, excellent menu of the day, lots of wine, one of the most relaxing afternoons of my life. <BR> <BR>

Chad

My girlfriend and I, both in our early 20's, took a budget trip to France and Italy this summer. The one dining experience that stands out in my mind occurred in Rome. We had had an absolutely horrible day... It was 95 degrees, the city was crowded, we had walked all over the city (Train Station to the Vatican and back again!), we were soaked with sweat, and didn't have a hotel to return to because we were leaving on an 11:15 p.m train to Nice. Anyway, we arrived back in the vicinity of the train station at about 7:00 p.m. and decided to find someplace to eat... We got about two blocks from the train station and just decided to "plop down" at a cafe-type ristorante by the street. We ordered a first course and a half-liter of house wine... I don't remember what my girlfriend at, but I had lasagna for a first course and veal in a lemon sauce for my main course. But, the thing that made this meal stand out was the house wine... It was so GOOD!! Maybe any alcohol would've tasted good at that point, but it was awesome! Anyway, we ordered a second half-liter and finished our meals. When the waiter asked us if we wanted dessert, we declined but asked him to bring us another half-liter of the wine!! Needless to say, we were a bit tipsy when we left the ristorante, but it made us forget our troubles for a while... <BR>

ana

Our most memorable meal was last July when we went to Tuscany. We were heading back to Rome, and wanted to have one great fantastic meal in the famous restaurant La Chiusa in Montefollonico. A couple that was staying at our hotel in Firenze, Torre di Bellosguardo, had stopped there on their way to Firenze. What a meal! We had the beautiful location all to ourselves. Not only is the food sublime...but the surroundings are euqally magnificent! If you have ever been to southern Tuscany you'll know what I am talking about. Their "pici" pasta with roasted vegetables was spectacular. Everything was extremely fresh! Getting there was also half od the adventure!

Kay

Most memorable meal: In 1985 I went to Europe again for the first time since I was a student. A work colleague had arranged a private tour of the Antinori winery in Florence. We did that and then went to their headquarters in downtown Florence, in the family's ancient villa. It had a small restaurant and the dish of the day was veal in squid ink. Well! I didn't want to be rude, so I ate it, with great trepidation. It was delightful, as was the ambience, the wine, the company, the century's old villa. I've not eaten squid ink since then but I do recall it fondly, on just that occasion!

wes fowler

Donna, <BR>Many, many years ago, after an all day drive, I checked into the first hotel I could find in Kassel, Germany. Tired, dishevelled and much in need of a shave and a shower I noticed the hotel restaurant would soon close for the evening. Dropped my bag in my room and headed immediately for the dining room. The maitre'd escorted me to a table in a room that paralleled the Hall of Mirrors in Versailles. Mirrored walls reflected what appeared to be hundreds of crystal chandeliers. He took my order for a beer. Immediately, a busboy appeared and wheeled a table alongside mine. It held more silverware than I had at home. After a short wait, HE appeared. HE, the epitome of grandeur, garbed in white tie and tails, slender, ramrod erect and with an impressive head of snow white hair, descended a curving marble staircase and held a gleaming silver tray in his hand. On it, HE, the waiter, MY waiter, held a lone bottle of beer and one glass. I've no recollection of what I ate that evening, couldn't find the hotel again on a bet but have a lasting memory of an elegant waiter descending an equally elegant staircase to present me with a beer that then and there far surpassed any mere vintage from the vinyards of Chateau Lafitte-Rothschild. <BR> <BR>Memorable needn't necessarily mean great or superb. A hamburger at the MacDonald's in Victoria Station's upper level was certainly memorable; left a long lasting impression in my mind and nearly as long lasting damage to my innards.

Rod Hoots

The above reference to a hamburger reminded me of an experience several years ago. My wife and I went to a week long meeting in Morocco and a separate organization hosted dinner each night. They didn't coordinate their programs and all served the traditional feast of pigeon pie, roast lamb, couscous, and sweet desserts. It was great, but five nights in a row! After the meeting we flew to Brussels and checked in to the Sheraton about 10 PM. We ordered hamburgers, fries, and American beer from room service and never enjoyed a meal as much. <BR>

John Grant

<BR>My wife and I went to Munich last Dec, for the Christmas fair, which was wonderful. But German food is not! Our hotel lady (The Acanthus) sent us to an "old family restaurant" a short walk down the street. Th Weinhaus Neuen turned out to be one of the finest dining experiences we have had in Europe, even France. None of the deep fried German stuff, but light, flavorful, attractive continental dishes with an endless variety of local beers and wines. In Germany its ok to drink beer with a fine meal.

John Grant

<BR>My wife and I went to Munich last <BR>Dec, for the Christmas fair, which <BR>was wonderful. But German food is <BR>not! Our hotel lady (The Acanthus) <BR>sent us to an "old family <BR> <BR>restaurant" a short walk down the <BR>street. The Weinhaus Neuen turned out <BR>to be one of the finest dining <BR>experiences we have had in Europe, <BR>even France. None of the deep fried <BR>German stuff, but light, flavorful, <BR>attractive continental dishes with <BR>an endless variety of local beers <BR>and wines. In Germany its ok to <BR>drink beer with a fine meal.

Cheryl Z.

<BR>Memorable for me isn't just the quality of the food, or the service or the price, as I'm sure most of our fellow travellers agree: it's the total experience at the time, often completely unexpcted, and can often be the most simplest of pleasures. For example, one time while at a specfic event in France outside Paris, the only food available for the day at this particular place was sausage on French rolls, no cheese even! Being a vegetarian, I couldn't eat that but did I sweat it? No, I knew the bread would be to die for (compared to what we have here in the states, so in my feeble French, simply asked for the bacquette alone and offered to pay the regular price. As I sat with a friend, eating that sweet, moist delectible bacquette, I laughed and thought to myself, where in the US could I ever go for a similar event, say a baseball game, and be satisfied, let alone be delighted to eat a hot dog bun!! <BR>My husband volunteered to leave this event just to feed me, and I said no way - I'm in hog heaven with this bread. Other memorables: once wandering around in Salzburg, we found a little pizza place run by Italians and so of course had to try it. Then we decided to try their tiramisu for dessert. Imagine our delight when this tasty dessert was served in a glorious, beautiful presentation on beautiful china, just in a little pizza place. We marveled at that - here in the states, it would be served on a plain plate in a similar place. My Italian husband enjoyed chatting with them (they spoke English) and I have pictures of him with them showing him their kitchen. I could go on and on. Thank you Donna for starting this. These posts always make me more eager for our next trip.

Arizona

Almost 30 years ago, we went to London with our two daughters, then 15 and 12. We had always heard about Simpsons in the Strand, and so we decided to have dinner there after warning our girls to be on their best behavior. We were escorted to our table by a headwaiter who must have been all of 70. And then our waiter appeared -- and he was 80 or more! First came the huge round of roast beef, carved at the table. The the waiter came with a silver tray laden with broccoli in a kind of cheese sauce. <BR> <BR>As he moved the serving tray to offer my wife a portion, a large stalk of broccoli fell from his tongs and down onto her lap. Or, more accurately, smack onto her crotch. <BR> <BR>Without skipping a beat or wrinkling his brows, he plunged the tongs down onto my wife to retrieve the broccoli, saying in a soothing voice, "With your permission, madame." <BR> <BR>Our girls turned to me and said, "And you were worried about US, Daddy!"

Donna

Thank you everyone for your memorable meals postings. I've really enjoyed reading these. <BR> <BR>Here's one more for the German travellers: during a week-long stay in the Black Forest, we spent a day exploring southwest Germany, and ended up in Freiburg. There is a huge cathedral there, and positioned all around the cathedral were the booths and crafts people and farmers for the weekly farmers/flower/craft market was happening. We walked up to a food stand and ordered grilled brats on a grilled bun, topped with grilled onions and peppers. Oh, my! Mmmmm! Memorable, not expensive, and we actually stood up in the shadow of the cathedral to eat these. Topped it off with a German beer. <BR>

JO

<BR>I agree with Ana. La Chiusa in Montefollinico was wonderful. We had roast lamb that was far and above any other I've ever had. The old town itself is charming. Park outside and walk around.

sandra engley

Piz Gloria <BR>From Interlaken, a short train ride to Laturbrunnen, to catch a cog railway up to Wengen to start the longest cable car ride in Europe up to the top of Mt. Schilthorn provided a beatiful view on the way up to the revolving restaurant: Piz Gloria. This was an extrodinary day, with hours of beautiful vistas unfolding in front of us. This site was used in the James Bond film "On Her Majesty's Secret Service" This mountain is opposite the Jungfrau and you see mountain tops for as far as your eyes can see while you dine and revolve! Highly reccomended experience.

Meg

We spent the day travelling from Paris to Amsterdam. There was a Belgian rail strike so we had to be bussed over Belgium and ended up getting on the wrong train at Roosendaal (or somewhere similar). It took us all day to get to Amsterdam, and we never had time for lunch other than what we were fed on the train. Once we got checked in our hotel in Amsterdam, we searched out a Mexican place that had been recommended and finally located it. We were hungry, tired and cold so we didn't really care what we ate. I don't remember what we ordered, but it was hot and filled us up. As we sat there finishing off our margaritas, my husband (who is always teasing me) said, "There's a mouse over there." I just shook my head and said, "I'm too tired for games and jokes tonight." He assured me that there really was a mouse. I finally looked and about 10 feet from our table, a little mouse sat nibbling on something. We were so tired, we didn't even do anything except watch him till he ran away. We still talk about that mouse.