DAVID LATT

Last week I was in London and Paris, writing an article for Peter Greenberg 's travel site. In Paris my friend Randa was my guide, taking me to her favorite markets and shops. My trip was a whirlwind of activity, walking miles every day, taking photographs, eating wonderful meals, tasting chocolates, cheese, and wines, and catching up with Randa. Paris was wonderful, but I was there such a short amount of time, I didn't have the time to sit in a cafe, enjoy a leisurely cup of coffee ...

A major figure in the world of English cuisine, Chef Albert Roux created two signature restaurants for Sofitel at their London St. James and Heathrow hotels. A chef of incredible energy--witness his involvement in many restaurant ventures--he is also a man of exceedingly good humor. We were enjoying lunch at his Brasserie Roux at the London St. James Sofitel and I had the opportunity to be introduced to him. He was sharing with a friend a samplings of his cheese and dessert service. ...

A good friend in Paris saw my post asking for suggestions about travel to London and Paris. Randa warned me, "Your request was very brave. You will be swamped with millions of great ideas, and you only have TWO DAYS!!!" The last time I was in either city was more than 30 years ago. I spent a week in London, a few days in Paris, and four days in Madrid. In Paris I visited Fran, my ex-wife, who had fled the "dullness" of America for the excitement of Paris. Her year i...

I'd love some advice. I'm taking a trip this coming week to London and Paris to write a piece about upscale business travel. It's been many many decades since I've been in either city. In the meantime I've been clipping newspaper and magazine articles but that's not the same as personal recommendations. If anyone has a favorite restaurant, farmers' market, specialty market, park, art gallery, museum, public space.....etc. that you think I'd be crazy not to visit, please send me a note.

Finding a new and a great restaurant isn’t easy. I read hundreds of reviews and clip the best ones that I then file away but rarely seem to visit. I would never have known about Chung King but for Jonas Goodman who leads expeditions to new restaurants. Foremost on his list of must-try-restaurants is Chung King, recommended to him by the wonderful novelist and expert in Chinese cuisine, Nicole Mones .

Labor Day Weekend I was one of 18 judges at an amazing barbecue rib cook off in Sparks, Nevada. In addition to being a judge at the Best in the West Nugget Rib Cook Off at John Ascuaga's Nugget in Sparks, Nevada. I was also covering the event for Peter Greenberg's travel site. The piece I wrote "Ribs, Ribs, and More Ribs ," is up now with a profile of two of the cookers (don't call them "chefs"). I hope you'll take a look. Part carnival and music festival, the La...