Looking for comments on what attending a Jim Haynes dinner in Paris might be like. I've put in for an invitation and would like to know what to expect.
Posted by
L'Occitanie, France
10621 posts
In case you didn't see this from the NY Times: http://www.nytimes.com/2012/03/04/travel/dinner-paris-invite-everyone.html Jim Haynes' Sunday dinner is described along with others.
Posted by
OP
Jasper
162 posts
I hadn't seen that particular article, but I was aware of his dinners and heard his NPR "This I Know" cast. Unfortunately, he'll be out of town while I'm next in Paris, but I did hear from him, and will hope to attend one of his dinners on a future trip. It sounds like a wonderful experience.
Posted by
NYC
922 posts
I've heard and read that there are ways to do this type of thing in Italy and Spain as well. I think some of it is connected to the 'Slow Food' movement. It may even be more global than that. I met a couple from outside Chicago on a European tour once who invite random guests to their home periodically.
Posted by
Montreal, Quebec, Canada
8293 posts
Brenda, I heard from someone who had attended one of his dinners last December that he plans to give them up in the near future. You may want to inquire about that.
Posted by
OP
Jasper
162 posts
That would be too bad... He didn't mention anything in his response to me to that effect, but I've read posts from him that suggest his health may not be the best. One can only imagine how enormous an undertaking this kind of event would be each week, even with the best of help. It would be a unique experience to attend. Hopefully they'll continue for a while longer.
Posted by
Durham, NC, USA
335 posts
I've been to his dinners 3 or 4 times during visits to Paris and always enjoyed meeting the other attendees, mostly other tourists plus a few expats and some of Jim's friends. The dinners are tasty but not fancy - casserole-type things that can be made in quantity with usually a salad and dessert, plus wine of course. I'm sorry to hear that Jim might be stopping these, although he was looking very tired when I was there last Fall.