Reader: Why are all French restaurants described as temples?

While some readers were splitting hairs over splitting plates, others were getting ready to welcome La Merise to Cherry Creek, where it will open on Wednesday in the former home of Argyll, at 2700 East Third Avenue. In a basement, if not necessarily a temple...

By Patricia Calhoun

October 11, 2011

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While some readers were splitting hairs over splitting plates, others were getting ready to welcome La Merise to Cherry Creek, where it will open on Wednesday in the former home of Argyll, at 2700 East Third Avenue.

In a basement, if not necessarily a temple.

Which led to this query from Clasiqueando:

Why are French restaurants automatically described as "temples"? I saw nowhere in the story that they would be serving burnt offerings.

Are all French restaurants temples to haute cuisine? Even if they get no haute-ier than a basement?

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Patricia Calhoun is editor-in-chief of Westword, the alt-weekly she co-founded in September 1977. She’s been inducted into the Colorado Press Association Hall of Fame, the Association of Alternative Newsmedia Hall of Fame and the Colorado Restaurant Association Hall of Fame. She’s also received dozens of local, state and national awards for writing, including first place for feature writing and first place for column writing with the Society of Professional Journalists. Patricia is a weekly commentator on Colorado Inside Out, PBS 12's public affairs roundtable, which has won two Emmys.

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