wrote

****aladière. And salad Nicoise. (I ate one of those, too). Anyway,
the slice had to be heated in the microwave. It was a trifle doughy,
and lacking in great flavors, so why this food item is held in high
esteem is beyond me.

You got a bad batch. And any time I see something allegedly edible that's
about to be handed to me being microwaved, I take "French leave", as it
were.

I've just finished working my way through Rick Stein's "French Odyssey".
Despite his cheery assurances at the end that French cuisine is alive and
kicking, I have my doubts.

--
Bob
http://www.kanyak.com