Premier NYC French Restaurant Lespinasse to Close

The Associated Press ^ | 4/11/03 | The Associated Press

[JustAnAmerican]

"Yeah, some people here today obviously have a bigger ax to grind. They hate the French and their food, regardless of who's making money off of it. Good food is good food, and all the better if I'm paying a US restaurant for it."

Just goes to show you value your palate over your country.

[usmc_chris]

Value my palate over my country? For stating that French cuisine is superior to Wonderbread, Hi-C, Velveeta cheese, and Busch Light? Might make me an elitist, but unpatriotic?

Pound sand. I've been a Marine for over 10 years, six of it active duty in artillery. As a matter of fact, I'm off to drill this weekend in a few hours.

[Mihalis]

...Objectively speaking, French cuisine is superior to most of the fare one encounters in America

Actually that's a very subjective statement. Superior in what sense? Because all the natural food flavors are disguised in those heavy sauces?

When it comes to food, there's no such thing as "objective". It's just a matter of taste.

[Yankee]

It is the inability among some members of this board to distinguish between the politics of Jacques Chirac and the glorious French food and wine.

I personally suffer from the inability to accept the conjoining of the words "glorious" and "French" in any context.

The adjectives cowardly, mendacious, duplicitous, ignoble, effete, feckless, and emasculated, all spring to mind though.

[PBRSTREETGANG]

For stating that French cuisine is superior to Wonderbread, Hi-C, Velveeta cheese, and Busch Light?

Your characterization of American cuisine is a little unfair, to say the least.

I actually thoroughly enjoy French cuisine, among many others, however I'll make it at home where I can choose the ingredients and serve it with a nice New York or California wine.

[usmc_chris]

Point noted. I would posit that it's advantages lie in that French food is typically fresh, hormone free, locally grown and/or slaughtered, and much greater value is placed upon meals in France thus ensuring that more time and care is put into the creation of dishes. Some do use heavy sauces, but the portions are typically much smaller. Hey, how many obese Frenchmen do you see? They must be doing something right.

[bigfootbob]

"I disagree"

With what? Do you deny French foods are laden with fat?

I'll never buy anything manufactured in France again, but I'll use their cooking techniques. I like butter too.

[ZULU]

Guenter Richter, Huh?? I wonder if he is a buddy of Schroder's??

[Jay D. Dyson]

Why does the French food turn so many people on?

It's perfect food for Liberals. They can eat heart-clogging fatty foods (which they're always browbeating everyone else about eating) and feel "worldly" and "sophisticated" while they do it.

Au revoire, le Restaurant du French! (No wait...that's too temporary...lemme Americanize that.)

So long, Frenchie! Don't let the door hit your butt on the way out!

-Jay

[dennisw]

Exactly. Why does the French food turn so many people on? 

You got me there. The only food I'll blow big bucks on is Chinese. I like Vietnamese (especially steaming hot pho) and Italian too. But French? Who needs it?

Give me good ole Spaghetti and Meatballs, Irish Stew and Yorkshire Pudding any ole day.

Irish stew is great. Lamb ....  yum.

[JustAnAmerican]

"Value my palate over my country? For stating that French cuisine is superior to Wonderbread, Hi-C, Velveeta cheese, and Busch Light? Might make me an elitist, but unpatriotic?

Last time I looked at my posts I don't believe it was posted to you. And I still stand by my statement. With all the Anti-Americanism in France, and all the backstabbing they are doing, and this includes the majority of French over there, for anyone to say they are still going to buy French food and French products in my mind is Anti-American, period.

I can understand the individuals that refuse to throw away French wine/food that they bought and paid for pre-backstabbing, but to go out and buy anything that lines the frogs pockets right now, in mine and many others opinions, is just plain Anti-American.I don't believe your service to this country past or present even came into this conversation.

[dennisw]

I would posit that it's advantages lie in that French food is typically fresh, hormone free, locally grown and/or slaughtered........

Where? In France? And if you get this stuff in the USA you will pay through the nose at your Froggy restaurants which I assure do not serve only hormone free meat and their produce is not all locally grown.

[July 4th]

Just goes to show you value your palate over your country.

Oh yes, by all means, you're just so correct. God forbid I patronize an American restaurant serving French food. Take my citizenship away, please.

[JustAnAmerican]

"Oh yes, by all means, you're just so correct. God forbid I patronize an American restaurant serving French food. Take my citizenship away, please"

You go right ahead and frequent as many Froggy supporting restaurants as you like. No one is stopping you. After all this is a free country.

[winner3000]

"There are NO, Four Star French Restaurants, that do not use imported French wines and cheeses. NONE! "

Exactly. No matter how you look at it, the French just lost another distribution outlet for their expensive wine. If enough of this happens France WILL get hurt. I will not blame Americans who feel like choking when they even see French food nowadays. They will just take their business to other fine restaurants who will have to hire more Americans to keep up with the increased business, or, in this economy, this will allow them not to shut down themselves.

[stanz]

Haven't heard of any other closings. Things seem to be pretty normal.

[MinuteGal]

Excellent, logical points, Winner3000.

I'd like to add that we should enlarge our focus a bit and remember that the NYC ban on smoking will have drastic effects, not only on French restaurants, but on ALL restaurants.

Leni

[cubreporter]

:)

[cubreporter]

I'll take wonderbread, HI-C, Busch and so on. Also, Wisconsin cheese and California wines. Nothing wrong with ANY of that.

[JustAnAmerican]

"I'll take wonderbread, HI-C, Busch and so on. Also, Wisconsin cheese and California wines. Nothing wrong with ANY of that."

Agreed, nothing like nachos and beer to round off the week :) Mouth starting to water as I speak.