Everyone, thank you for your input on the stagiare thing. My wife worked it out so that she goes to France for 5 weeks -- she left on the weekend and I'm already lonely -- and then we both go for a couple of months after I graduate in July. In the meantime I'm sending her a shopping list of ingredients, tools, and cookware that are either hard to find in the US, or much more expensive. As always, you suggestions are welcome.

So far I'm thinking of mousse rings -- I can't find those anywhere, -- fraise des bois preserves, a black truffle, and a copy of Pierre Herme's untranslated book.

Cheers, Mike

you know what would be on my wish list: vegetable peelers. I know that sounds weird. I grew up using the best peelers and it seemes you must go to france to find them these days. If you like the tradition peeler buy a few. You'll end up hating any thing else. A must for any peeling contest.

Are you going to be in Paris at all? There is a great book store there. Most of my books come from there, if you can go I'll get the3 address for you. Its on three levels and a large culinary section down stairs. The name and the street don't come to mind right now.All I remember is there is a McDonalds on the corner.

Panini,
You are probably talking about Librairie GIBERT on boulevard St Michel.
But there is another bookstore a few streets from there, LA LIBRAIRIE GOURMANDE, which is the "paradise" for culinary book lovers. The woman who owns it has only culinary books, old, new, rare...anything, from cooking to baking, wine etc...She also has a website http://www.librairie-gourmande.fr/
A must.
Helene

Helene,
Thank you, I have visited the site and it looks great.I will go back and invesigate it again. I think your right about Libraire Gilbert. Is Librairie Gourmande less than 5 years old?
Most of my books are in French, but I have seen some of the same books translated and there does not seem to be the same meanings in method and proceedure. Have you come across this?
Panini