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E. Dehillerin, Paris
For foodies the world over, the grand high temple for culinary utensils is the storied E. Dehillerin. Julia shopped there (there’s a yellowing photo of her in plastic behind the counter), as does Ina,...
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Coral Casino at the Biltmore, Santa Barbara
What could be more decadent than a leisurely lunch of veggie burger and fries at your lounge chair while poolside at the Coral Casino, the private club for residents of the glorious Biltmore in sunny...
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Brunch at the Biltmore, Santa Barbara
Cool Pacific breezes, blossom-scented patios, glorious tropical gardens; the Biltmore in Montecito is one of the loveliest places on earth for champagne brunch. The food is fairly standard brunch but...
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Wolfgang Puck’s Cut in Singapore
The Puck empire continues to grow! On Saturday night, Toddrickallen caught up with a ridiculously busy Wolfgang Puck at Cut in Beverly Hills. The last time I spoke with him, he told me he was...
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Bar 228, Paris
My favorite hotel bar on earth has got to be Bar 228 at hotel Le Meurice in Paris. Named for the address of the famous hotel on rue de Rivoli, Bar 228 is Paris as it should be: elegant, well-heeled,...
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Au Petit Bonheur La Chance, Paris
If you are unable or unwilling to make the trek to the steamy and dusty Marché aux puces de Saint-Ouen - Porte de Clignancourt in Paris (The best place to poke around for antique kitchen ware) and...
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Poilâne Paris
No visit to Paris is complete without stopping by the venerable bakery, Poilâne on rue Cherche-Midi in the Saint- Germain des Prés district. They have been baking their world-renowned bread in...
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La Maison du Chocolat, Paris
Right around the corner from Poilane at 19 rue de Sèvres, sits an outpost of the venerable La Maison Du Chocolat. For those in the know, this is the grand high temple of French chocolate. In Paris,...
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Wolfgang Puck Express, Minneapolis
Long gone is the Wolfgang Puck restaurant that inhabited the space where R&D now sits on Montana Ave. in Santa Monica. But I remember if fondly: The servers who knew us by name and remembered our...
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Pierre Lafond Market & Deli, Montecito
A favorite staycation getaway for me is the sleepy but incredibly beautiful and demure Montecito, just south of her louder and more narcissistic sister, Santa Barbara. While I can’t say that the food...
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Cut in London?
The Puck empire expands! Last night we had dinner at Spago Beverly Hills, (Beet layer cake, chestnut agnolotti – ask them to hold the chicken stock), and the consumate palm-presser, Wolfgang Puck...
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Le Cafe de Joel Robuchon, Tokyo
Without question, the best ‘OMG-I’m-so-glad-to-be-off-the-plane’ meal I have had in a long time was at Le Cafe de Joel Robuchon in the wonderfully impressive department store Takashimaya, Nihonbashi,...
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Grace Neill’s Bar, Donaghadee, Northern Ireland
With a quick stop in Northern Ireland en route to Paris, we refreshed ourselves at Grace Neill’s Bar, Ireland’s oldest bar, established in 1611. The wonderful sevice, the hilarious ‘craic’, and the...
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Bonjour, Paris!
Flying into Paris always fills me with that anticipatory internal tickle I experience when something truly exciting looms on the horizon. My head swims with the million or so things I hope to...
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Fauchon
First stop is always for coffee and pastry at Fauchon, Place de la Madeleine. Founded in 1886, the grand epicerie, patisserie, restaurant, and delicatessen, is a culinary masterpiece and foodie’s...
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Jean-Paul Hevin, Chocolatier
Anyway, back to Paris… I love strolling along the Rue Saint-Honore: gaping at the amazing window shopping, peeking inside the grand high palace of snottiness that is the Hotel Costes, or dreaming of my...
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Laduree, Paris
For me, no trip to Paris is complete without a visit to Laduree in Place de la Madeleine. It’s just sooo French. I love the tiny boite of a dining room with its antique paneled walls and tiny tables...
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Georges V, Paris
The Cesars are France’s equivalent of the Oscars. Toddrickallen was invited to the luxurious Hotel George V to honor a dear friend’s 70th birthday which ended up doubling as a private viewing party...
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BE (Boulangerie-Epicierie), Paris
A fantastic place to pick up trendy sandwiches and salads for the flight before heading off to the airport is BE, owned by fave chef Alain Ducasse. BE (from Boulangerie-Epicerie) is a gourmet...
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Le Bon Marché, Paris
Looking for a one-stop picnic supply? Look no further than fashionable Le Bon Marché, on the Rive Gauche, which houses the spectacular La Grande Epicerie, where you can easily find the most amazing...
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