Chez L’Ami Louis

What does it take to have the best poulet roti in Paris? Find out for yourself on this side street near the Bastille, where you can also indulge in thick slabs of house made foie gras and buttery escargot. When the food arrives you’ll forget you might forget your name, but don’t fret, you’ll never forget L’Ami Louis once you recover from your food coma. Portions are huge; take, for example, a cow-like l’entrecote that was apparently so finger-licking good that the flashy twosome on our right opted for tongues (each others’) over napkins to sample every juicy bite. Linger over your heaping mound of frites and just keep telling yourself they’re a digestive aid. Who knows, they might be?

Established in 1924, Chez L'Ami Louis is still a great place for a delicious meal. Don't let the building's aging appearance fool you, because the restaurant is known for its great French fare, including lamb cut French-style and foie gras. The quaint, simple interior establishes a comfortable, friendly environment and is ideal for a satisfying meal. An ideal place for people watching, too. (Presidents Clinton and Chirac have been there.) Book at least a week in advance or risk disappointment. Closed in August. METRO: Arts-et-Métiers (line 3 or 11) / Temple (line 3)

Chez L'Ami Louis, a small restaurant in the Marais section of Paris, prepares what's been considered by many to be the best roast chicken in the world. Diners are served a simple, unadorned bird with crackling skin and juicy meat, and they're willing to pay plenty for it. L'Ami Louis' humble roast chicken for two will set one back about $85. Read more.

Chez L’Ami Louis: 32, rue du Vert-Bois (Arts et Métiers) 3rd arrondissement, Paris phone: 014-887-7748

Les Deux Magots

This legendary hangout for the sophisticated residents of St-Germain-des-Prés becomes a tourist favorite in summer. Visitors monopolize the few sidewalk tables as the waiters rush about, seemingly oblivious to anyone's needs. Regulars from around the neighborhood reclaim it in the off season. Les Deux Magots was once a gathering place of the intellectual elite, like Sartre, de Beauvoir, and Giraudoux. Inside are the two large statues of magots (Confucian wise men) that give the cafe its name. The crystal chandeliers are too brightly lit, but the regulars are used to the glare. After all, some of them even read their daily papers here. You can order salads, pastries, ice cream, or one of the daily specials; the fresh fish is usually a good bet.

Les Deux Magots - Café Restaurant. 6, place Saint-Germain-des-Prés - Paris 75006. Tel : 01 45 48 55 25 Fax : 01 45 49 31 29. Email : contact@lesdeuxmagots.fr

David Lynch "The Air Is On Fire" @ Cartier Foundation

Exhibition from March 3 to May 27, 2007

Presented at the Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain in Paris, The Air is on Fire is the largest exhibition devoted to David Lynch as a visual artist. Exploring the multiple facets of this work, it brings together paintings, photographs, drawings, experimental films, and sound created since 1960. This exhibition event offers an exceptional occasion to discover and to revisit his creations with never-before-seen works, installed in an environment designed by him. It is complemented by a series of Nomadic Nights events, including concerts and projections, that he created.

A major publication in both English and French containing numerous reproductions of David Lynch’s fine art and film work will accompany the exhibition. It will feature a CD recording of a conversation between the artist and American journalist Kristine McKenna, who comment on the book’s illustrations with ideas, anecdotes, and interpretations. A rich interview between Boris Groys and Andrei Ujica explores the connections between art and cinema within the framework of 20th century art history, and more particularly investigates Lynch’s body of work. It thereby provides a theoretical understanding of the manner in which this important filmmaker, painter, sculptor, and photographer constructs his entire oeuvre.

David Lynch, The Air is on Fire
Fondation Cartier pour l’art contemporain, Paris
Thames & Hudson, London/New York
Hardback, English, 23 x 28 cm, 452 pages, double CD
305 color reproductions, 95 black and white reproductions
Price: 49.50 Euros/34.95 Pounds/70 Dollars.