"When, after hours of preparation, I notice that the whole room has become silent and the only noise is the sound of forks and knifes on the plates, I know I did a great job."
– Patricia Catenne, Founder and CEO of Quintessencia, Chef and Health & Nutrition Counselor
PAT’S CORNER
Recommendations for You
Across all aspects of life, it’s always helpful to know what’s the best – based on personal recommendations, not sales people. With suggestions and recommendations for food, restaurants, and travel, Pat’s Corner helps you take advantage of the finer things in life.
Retreats – France
Hotel Restaurant Le Parc ****
Obernai, France
Owned by Monique and Marc Wucher, Hotel Restaurant Le Parc is the place
of many of my childhood memories. I find the place is as magical as magical can be. I hope you will find it that way as well.
Located in Obernai, France, Hotel Restaurant Le Parc is one of the best hospitality establishments in the area. In addition to the comfortable hotel,
it features two restaurants, La Stub, offering Alsatian specialties and La Table du Parc, offering refined
cuisine for exceptional moments. With an excellent view overlooking the quaint town, the hotel features beautiful,
spacious rooms, two swimming pools, and a spa.
Hostellerie du Cigalou ***
Bormes les Mimosas, France
If there is a place in the
world I cherish, it’s Bormes les Mimosas. Nestled on a hill above the Mediterranean
and only a 10-minute car ride from the beach, the village, dating from the Middle Ages, takes the color of pink
when the sun goes down.
With both a hotel and restaurant, the recently renovated Hostellerie du Cigalou
in the center of Bormes les Mimosas is charming. From the petit dejeuner au lit (breakfast in bed), to lunch or dinner,
the food is local and delicious. Devoted to fine living and relaxation, Hostellerie du Cigalou is brimming with hospitality.
With paintings by my friend, Malou, throughout the 20-room property, you will spend a wonderful night.
L’Auberge de L’Ill ****, Illhaeusern, France
L’Auberge de L’Ill delivers quintessential Alsatian food.
This restaurant and new hotel is beautiful not only for the place, but also for its exquisite food.
With their excellent preparations and attention to detail, the proprietors, the Haeberlin brothers, bring Alsatian rural cuisine to the most refined. With dished ranging from La Terrine de Foie Gras d'Oie Truffée to Le Filet d'Agneau en Habit Vert, you will not be disappointed. Recognized as one of the best restaurants in France, be sure to stop by on your next visit to Alsace.
Le Caseus Dei, Obernai, Alsace, France
Recently opened by Olivier and Marie-Jose, Le Caseus Dei in the center of Obernai
offers a seasonal menu complemented by a selection of the best cheeses in France.
Built in the "bains municipaux," which date from the Middle Ages
and were classified as a historic site in 1929, the place has a charm that cannot go unnoticed.
The cheese fondue au champagne would delight Bacchus himself. Reservations recommended.
Restaurants – New York
Balthazar Restaurant and Bakery
80 Spring Street, New York, NY
When I want an inexpensive plateau de fruits
de mer late at night, I go to Balthazar,
a beautiful Parisian style brasserie right in the heart of Soho. This downtown restaurant serves traditional bistro meals from
breakfast through late-night supper. You can also choose from an extensive wine list, a raw seafood bar, and breads and pastries
from the in-house bakery. It can get pretty busy on weekends, so call for reservations.
Balthazar is also an authentic bakery that offers some of the best French bread and pastries in the city. Look for
Balthazar’s baked goods in most gourmet stores. It also offers free delivery to select locations in mid-town Manhattan.
Fig and Olive
420 West 13th Street, New York, NY
With dishes each prepared with a
special olive oil, Fig and Olive delivers the true
feel of Provence. Its owner, Laurent, a native of St.-Remy de Provence, has brought the best of his recipes and his
exceptional knowledge of olive oil to New York City.
This charming restaurant offers a delightful menu full of colors and wonderful tastes, as well as an excellent wine list with wonderful wines from the South of France, Spain and Italy.
Fig and Olive also offers olive oil tastings and cooking classes on Saturday. Check it out. You’ll be glad you did.
La Goulue
746 Madison Avenue, New York City
Entertaining New Yorkers and celebrities since 1972, La Goulue is the
quintessential, intimate Parisian bistro. La Goulue has become a New York standard and is often the first stop for
many out-of-town regulars.
La Goulue offers sumptuous dining seven days a week with lunch, dinner and Sunday brunch. The restaurant gets crowded, so be sure to make reservations.
A great venue for people watching and celebrity sightings, La Goulue is named after a famous dancer at
Le Moulin Rouge in Paris, where French can-can was born. Lautrec immortalized her in his famous painting
L’Entrée de la Goulue au Moulin Rouge.
Pierre’s
2468 Main Street, Bridgehampton, NY
Pierre’s is a gem of a restaurant
that embodies the beauty and elegance of the Hamptons. Featuring delicious but not pretentious food,
Pierre’s has something special that invites you to come back
again and again.
With a certain "je ne sais quoi" that cannot be explained, Pierre’s has to be
experienced. Cozy and intimate, elegant but relaxed, Pierre’s is a place to see and to be seen.
With exceptional food and service, at Pierre’s you will feel welcome in a generous, genuine way.
The restaurant is open seven days a week, all year long, offers great music, and features artwork from well-chosen local artists.
Shopping – New York
Jacaranda
Jacaranda
offers one of the most beautiful collections of serving accessories from South African artisans I have ever
seen. Every piece is unique and special. Simplicity, colors, style. I fell in love with the whole collection.
These great pieces are a must buy for people that enjoy art on their table and like to share it with others.
With great prices, the exceptional collection at Jacaranda offers a selection of gifts for yourself or the ones you love.
Treats – New York
Knipschildt Chocolatier & Chocopologie
12 South Main Street, Norwalk, Connecticut
I met chocolatier Fritz Knipschildt a few years ago at a
Chelsea Gourmet store. He was offering samples of his famous white chocolate coconut truffle (Helena).
As I passed by, I grabbed one and was immediately transported to the islands.
A native of Denmark, Fritz has a rare talent for creating very successful and unusual combinations of ingredients (for example, apricot/basil, strawberry-lemon/thyme, and red chili/tangerine). He was the first chocolatier to ever wrap a real truffle (the mushroom) in a chocolate ganache and offer it as the ultimate gift for Valentine’s Day 2006. His innovations certainly awakened a few of the old school chocolate masters and made them wonder why they did not think about it first.
First and foremost an artisan, Fritz is a rare gem in the industry these days. He makes his chocolates entirely by hand. Something you can witness by yourself if you go to Chocopologie, his café and retail store, located in Norwalk, Connecticut. As you watch the master at work, you will quickly understand that nothing can compare to handmade chocolates. No machine can achieve the care and precision required to make a good quality chocolate.
Chocopologie is an eclectic place with a strong European feel and colors inviting patrons to relax and indulge.
Fritz will likely be there to greet you personally and prepare the best and most creative desserts you’ve
ever tasted. Enjoy the chocolate and enjoy the love that was passed on to you during the hours spent creating these rare treats.
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