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Tuesday, February 20, 2007

Chew on this: Air France announces non-stop service from Seattle to Paris!!!

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Sunday breakfast for two at L'etoile Manquante in the Marais

Here is one more reason to love living in Seattle and a bit of news that will make all of us local Francophiles very happy.

Seattle Times travel writer Carol Pucci (who by the by just returned from Paris herself) reports in today's paper that Air France will start daily non-stop service from Seattle-Tacoma International Airport to Paris this summer with a new flight into Charles de Gaulle Airport starting June 11.

How cool is that?

So, no more having to endure 6am departures from Seattle with connecting flights through Atlanta or New York, Pittsburgh, Newark, Houston, O'Hare or the worst offender, Cincinnati/Northern Kentucky Airport.

No more schlepping of bags across terminals, with minimum connecting times between flights and the resulting running through long and maze-like concourse corridors, up and down escalators and stairs to make the next shuttle and catch the next flight to Paris only to have the connection delayed or canceled.

Or worse! To arrive in Paris like it happened to us in March 2005 only to find that our bags never made it to our JFK-CDG flight. And it was winter! And a blizzard was covering the country and England. And we were taking the Eurostar to London that week too! I still get very cold when I think about it.

And-sorry Boeing--but we will be flying Airbus with those personal televisions at every seat and over 9 film and TV channels to keep this cinephile happy. Just thinking about it is making me giddy already.

Now all of you fellow gastronauts out there, isn't this the best incentive to make Paris your next travel destination? Imagine this: early dinner in Seattle, a few fab films along the way, perhaps a long nap et voilà!... brunch in Paris the following day? Dreamy huh?

Mais oui, bien sûr!

Air France to start non-stop service from Seattle to Paris

Wednesday, February 14, 2007

Tavolata

Tavolata

There is no sign yet. And if you do not know Tavolata is there you'll miss it. Don't.

Dinner was lovely and we had a perfect view of the kitchen with Ethan Stowell and Patric Gabre-Kidan in it.

Last night Whole Roasted Branzino was on the menu. Homemade pasta--we had the Rigatoni and the Conghilie-- came piping hot to the table. The wine list, short, sweet and affordable, offers plenty of quaffable options (we had the Cusumano and the Ciro) and Vitta coffee (we ordered latte and got Cappuccino instead but it was so good we didn't say a peep) here is no wimpy affair.

Our server was super friendly and efficient. The room tastefully and minimally appointed, unpretentious yet elegant--what with that impressive chandelier above our heads and the beautiful reclaimed wood communal table. The lighting in general is superb and you'll be as comfortable here at a romantic rendezvous for two as you will with a group of ten of your best friends. Oh, did I mention they serve until 1am daily?

And that Octopus salad...

Tavolata
2323 Second Avenue
(between Bell & Battery)
206-838-8008