SHAKE SHACK SNUBS QATAR

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I don’t post restaurant news, so much as restaurant reviews, but this is particularly vexing.  I heard a while ago that Shake Shack was slated to open in the UAE and KSA in the coming months, and even thought about a special trip to Dubai to evaluate the quality control.   But then I read this: http://www.248am.com/mark/kuwait/shake-shack-in-kuwait-first/

Qatar is,  like, so much richer than those other losers. 

Seriously?  I’m hurt.  I will no longer be stalking Tina Fey at your UWS location.

(The Kuwaiti blogger claims that the decision to open in Kuwait came right after a complaining post, so it was worth a shot).

PARIS TRAVEL EDITION II: kgb

KITCHEN GALERIE BIS – WORTH THE HYPE, WE SAY

 FIND IT:

25 rue des Grands Augustins

75006 Paris, France

01 46 33 00 85

 

It’s really lame that I didn’t take photos, I know.  But I was distracted by the buzz and I hadn’t slept for 40 hours. 

Because we decided to check it out only a few days before,  the earliest reservation available for a Friday evening was at 10:00 p.m.   We arrived around 15 minutes late with no good excuse.  Seeing the place (once described as a “loft new-yorkais”) full of trendy left bankers and frenzied waiters at that hour, we assumed we would be ignored.  However, whether it is a credit to the attentiveness and professionalism of the host or our own striking good looks, we were promptly acknowledged and seated. 

KGB’s “deal,” if you like, is chef William Ledeuil’s knack for French-Asian fusion (and of course the Art+Food concept).  Here you will find French dishes and techniques, embelllished with the pronounced use of kaffir lime, tumeric, galangal, ginger, thai basil, coriander, garlic root, chinese shallots, kra-chai, ngo’om, coconut milk, wasabi and tamarind, among other delicious Asian ingredients.   I was esssscited, to say the least, and the yumminess that ensued supplied my third wind for the evening.