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By Debra C. Argen
Restaurant Notes from Monte Carlo, Monaco and Turin, Italy
This month, I have some great restaurant notes from my trips to Monte Carlo, Monaco and Turin, Italy.
 While in Monte Carlo in October 2004, I had a fabulous lunch with friends at Le Saint Benoit, (www.monte-carlo.mc/lesaintbenoit), where Chef Owner Marcel Athimond presides over his restaurant with panoramic views of Monte Carlo and the sea. After an aperitif of champagne, my luncheon companions and I savored La Saladine Gourmande à l’huile de noix Foie Gras de Canard et Magret Fumé et Toasts Briochés (Crisp Salad with thin slices of Smoked Duck and Foie Gras) and La Tartelette de Crevettes Roses, Mêlé d’herbes tenders et sauce Aurore (Prawn Salad with Aurore sauce), La Filet de Dorade Rose “Juste Grillé” au buerre d’aneth, Fondue de fenouil et bouquet de jeunes legumes (Fillet of Gilt Head with dill butter sauce and mixed vegetables), and for the grand finale, Le Délice au Chocolat Amer et la Truffette glacée en surprise (Bitter Chocolate Cake with cream sauce and iced truffles), followed by an assortment of Petit Fours. This was my third time to the restaurant and I am happy to report that the same level of quality cuisine and service continues.
Edward F. Nesta and I visited Turin, Italy in October 2004, and had dinner with our friends, artists Guido Borelli and Danka Weitzen at Il Ciacolon, a wonderful artsy restaurant, where the walls are covered with paintings, and the ceilings are painted like the sky. The name literally means those that talk a lot, which is certainly apropos for whenever the four of us get together. The cozy atmosphere, as well as the extensive antipasti table with over 25 items, encourages guests to linger and talk, before proceeding on to ordering other courses. We had our first taste of grilled polenta in the ample breadbasket and were hooked. Other courses we sampled included pasta fagioli (pasta and bean soup) as well as roast pork, which was very good. Dessert was homemade gelato, which Edward and I could not get enough of on our trip. Definitely worth a stop on your next trip to Turin.
© December 2004. All rights reserved.
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