I tried the new “informal” Alain Ducasse restaurant in NYC this week. Benoit is based on his same-named bistro in Paris, with much the same menu.

It was a great pre-theater stop and of course we had to try the roast chicken for two–it came highly recommended–and was fabulous–in my Top Ten chickens. But guess what–the frites–also supposedly fabulous–were unavailable–their fryer broke–what a shock. The alternatives were fine–scalloped potatoes or macaroni and cheese with ham–but I wanted those frites.