Tuesday, October 19, 2010

Where is this restaurant? And a Giveaway

Photo by Howard L. Puckett


Over this past weekend I attended a blogger get together in Asheville hosted by Penny of The Comforts of Home. Penny is a talented mosaic artist and decorator, so you can imagine that her home is gorgeous. We had a great time and pictures will follow soon.

Each weekend Penny has been playing a game called “Where is this?” It’s been such fun that I thought you might want to play too.

In the photo above, where is this restaurant? It it in France or the United States?

The first person to be able to correctly identify the name of the restaurant above will win a copy of Tom Colicchio’s book Think Like a Chef.


In addition to being the head judge of the highly rated television series Top Chef, Tom was also the chef of Manhattan’s popular Gramercy Tavern. This is a wonderful book with 100-plus recipes that help the reader see the way a trained chef sees cooking and how they develop recipes.

There will be only one winner, so good luck to all.

Update: The Quintessential Magpie Sheila has correctly identified the name of this restaurant. The race is over. Check out her answer in the post on the Blogger get together in Asheville. More later.

37 comments:

Foodessa said...

Sam...you really don't make things easy do you?
I do know the photographer quite well through some of my Interior Design magazines...he's very talented.
My best guess at this point is that it certainly is not a restaurant in France. I say this because...I have yet to have witnessed any Frenchman in white socks ;o)

Well...Good luck everyone!

Ciao for now,
Claudia

Rita said...

How much fun that must have been to meet fellow bloggers. As for the restaurant...not a clue.
Rita

Penny @ The Comforts of Home/Lavender Hill Studio said...

We had so much fun at the brunch! Thank you for coming.

I would love to eat in this restaurant!!
Hugs,
Penny

Donnie said...

From the backpack on the shelf behind them I think it could be in Asheville or Charlotte. But ask Penny, I'm always wrong.....lol....No new cookbook for me....

Cathy said...

Darn, I wish I knew the answer. I would love to win that cookbook. My guess is that it's a restaurant in France.

bellini valli said...

Meeting other food bloggers who are as passionate as we are is a real treat.I ma going to huess and say this restaurant is in Savannah, Georgia or New Orleans...why not:D

Claudia said...

I'm throwing my hat in with those who think it's state side but I stop there. All my restaurant knowledge is centered in NYC and MN. Once upon a time I used to eat at Gramercy Tavern. Before it closed down and reopened into the "you can't get a seat for six months" hit that it is today. We were all very fond of their chicken pot pie. On the menu once a week. Of course, that was (shhh) 1980.

Rosa's Yummy Yums said...

I haven't got the slightest idea... It is a French restaurant in America.

Cheers,

Rosa

Faith said...

What a fun game! I wish I knew the answer...I'm guessing it's in France but I have no idea what the name of it is. Lovely pic though!

Sherri said...

Sam, it was great meeting you at Penny's Saturday-what a perfect day!!

I really don't know where this restaurant is, my guess would be somewhere in Italy.

Chef E said...

I cannot remember what the tables looked like, but is it Le Bernardine?

I would imagine they are fully enjoying themselves...and I would love to know what they are discussing?

Love LOVE the pic- something I would enjoy hanging in my house! Send me the photo! Send the book to a culinary student in one of the local colleges for me if this is right :)

Your so fun Sam!

Big Dude said...

I know I've eaten there several times, but I just recall the restaurant name. :-)

Pattie said...

The question seems more "when" than "where." This great picture looks almost like a throwback to the days of Hemingway. I'll be anxiously awaiting both name and location.

Barbara said...

Doubt France because the tables aren't close enough together. Hmmm. It looks southern, sort of.
Guess I haven't a clue. Wonder if I've been there???

"All things French" said...

Ooh! this has got me thinking~ I will say the restaurant is in Lyon France. What a beautiful photo ~ I would definitely like to dine there.
~Dianne~

Penny said...

OK Sam, This has got me stumped. I have spent time on google and I still don't know. The guy in the bow tie looks familiar. You know that I will be going to bed tonight thinking about this puzzle. Think of me and my sleepless night. LOL. Looking forward to hearing from you. Hugs, Penny

~Lavender Dreamer~ said...

I wish I knew the answer...but I'm really just stopping by to say HELLO! I enjoyed meeting you at the brunch! Enjoy your week! ♥

Diana (Di) said...

I haven't a clue, but it looks old world, but I don't think France; perhaps in Miami... someone else can take it from there. ;)

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Sam, I am guessing it is a restaurant in New Orleans, judging from that dapper gentleman in the white bucks and linen slacks with the snappy bow tie and also judging from what, as Debbie would say, the "Frenchiness" of the decor.

It has the look of Galatoire's about it with the mirrors, but I don't think it's Galatorie's which has ceiling fans in the dining room where I've dined. And I think Antoine's has ceiling fans, too.

Wish I knew for sure...

XO,

Sheila :-)

intuitive eggplant said...

No clue where this is, but it looks like a lovely space, and I'm betting I'd love to eat there. Thanks for your fun quiz. (P.S. Hasn't it been some years since Colicchio was affiliated with Gramercy Tavern? Sorry, it's just the Top Chef follower in me.)

Vicki Lane said...

Not a clue but I wish I could have dinner there!

My Little Space said...

Good luck everyone and have fun!
Best wishes,
Kristy

Lea Ann said...

Fun game. I have no idea. The only place I've been that remotely resembles this is Gallitoire's in NO.

Pacheco Patty said...

This is a fun game, I'm going to say New Orleans:)

Joie de vivre said...

How fun! I have no idea where the restaurant is, however I'm going to guess the United States because the men are wearing white socks, and I'm going to guess South Carolina because the men are much more gentrified than Washington in their nice clothes. :)

Nancy Simpson said...

I'm not going to be the winner, but you are, Sam. Best Blog!

Chow and Chatter said...

oh I wish I had meet you in Asheville sob

Stephanie Savors the Moment said...

What a great game but I too am clueless...any further hints perhaps?

Vagabonde said...

I do not know where this restaurant is located unfortunately. I looked at the picture carefully – the furniture looks French, the chairs do. The flowers look French as well as the little blue water pot. That does not mean it is in France as now many restaurant in the US import French décor. The floor does not look French as well as the men. The man with a jacket and white shoes looks Anglo, not Latin. The guy drinking looks like his partner, with the same shoes. The server with white socks and open back shoes, he does not look French either. But then, in France, they also like to look American to be sophisticated. Result = I don’t know but the place looks inviting.

Lyndsey said...

Sounds like fun, and very interesting way to get people to talk! At least you narrowed it down to two places forus! Good luck everyone! I got here late!

Brenda Kay Ledford said...

Sam,
How much fun it must have been to meet with fellow bloggers. I sure don't know where this resturant is located. It looks like a nice place to eat.

Danielle said...

What fun but Im not even going to attempt. If it's not in Burbank, I'll never even know where to begin LOL, but I am going to guess that it's in the US. The rest is a crap shoot. Oh heck...why not. Lets say...in Atlanta Georgia and its called Violette (don't ask why LOL)

vicki archer said...

What a great fun game Sam.....the problem for me, I have no idea! Have a lovely weekend....xv

La Table De Nana said...

No idea..but I would love to eat there:)

momgateway said...

Is it The Chanler at Cliff Walk?

A Year on the Grill said...

So frustrating... i just spent an hour, and can name a dozen restaurants that it is not... Andea's, Court of two sisters, Arnaud's, Brennan's, Louisiana Kitchen, Antoine's, Broussard's

... Ah well, Am I in the right neighborhood???

The Quintessential Magpie said...

Sam, I posted this on your other post yesterday, but I think I had best post it here, too...

"Sam! I got it! It's a place called Chez FonFon in Birmingham! And Patrick Dunne decorated it. I told you he looked like he was from NOLA, and he is! I knew this restaurant had that New Oreleans look that is so classic. It does remind me of Galatoire's with it's understated good looks.

And the party looks like fun. I have seen pics from around the internet. Hopefully, the next time you get down to Florida, we can do lunch with some Florida bloggers.

XO,

Sheila :-)

P.S. My great niece just got a job as a chef in NOLA. I'll find out more later and let you know.