I was saddened to see the WS report in the print edition of the passing of Jean Claude Vrinat.
He was the proprietor of Taillevant, a very fine restaurant in Paris, mentioned not infrequently on this section of the WS boards.

Here was my journal log from our visit there just 5 years ago:

In Paris, we confirmed our reservation at Taillevent for dinner. After some intense tourism including an ill-fated attempt to see the Musee Picasso (closed due to a strike) and a stop for lunch at Fouquet’s on the Champs-Elysees, where we drank Kir Royales made with either cremes de mures (a blackberry liquor) or peche (peach), we freshened up for dinner. Now to Taillevent.

I had faxed a reservation request indicating that we preferred a no-smoking area and this request was honored. We were seated in a beautifully appointed room. We were attended at dinner with expertise, swiftness and the best combination of non-intrusive watchfulness in the history of waiterdom. When my wife’s water glass was empty, and she asked me if it would insult the waiters if we filled our own glasses from the bottle on the table, the waiter appeared to fill the glasses faster than a Frenchman goes on strike. My foie gras came with a thin layer of sweet apricot fruit and was fantastic. My roast lamb was succulent and fresh and was matched with delicious vegetables. My wife’s langoustines were wonderful as was her salmon. Knowing that we would be drinking mostly Burgundies that week, we settled on a 1999 Vacqueras, Chateau de Tours (Rhone). We selected several cheeses from the trolley and had a nice chat with M.. Vrinat, the major domo of Taillevent. We lamented the fact that the strikes had closed the Musee Picasso that day. He commiserated and asked how long we would be in Paris. We told him that we would only be in Paris a few days, but then would be in Burgundy for 6 days, and then returning to Paris. He suggested we return to the Musee Picasso after we got back to Paris and then quickly pointed out that the pastry chef at Taillevent was not on strike. We ordered a passion fruit souffle which was divine. Amazingly, two can dine at Taillevent for under $500.....

After discussing the rest of our trip, I ended the journal note as follows:

Five days after our return to the States, an email arrived in my inbox. It was from M. Vrinat of Taillevent. He thanked us for our patronage, expressed his hope that we had made it to the Picasso Museum at some point, hoped we had a nice trip through Burgundy, and invited us back someday. Someday, indeed.

The obit in the Times: http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article3199284.ece

Au revoir, M. Vrinat. Repose en Paix.

This message has been edited. Last edited by: irwin,