Boston, MA

‘Menus-Plaisirs’ serves up decadence a la Wiseman

Published

2 years ago

February 9, 2024

‘Menus-Plaisirs’ serves up decadence a la Wiseman

Boston-born, 94-year-old non-fiction film wizard Frederick Wiseman turns his gaze to one of the most celebrated restaurants in the world in “Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros,” and I hesitate to say that the results are delicious. Even at a feast-worthy length of 240 minutes, I remained fully engrossed in this unflinchingly exhaustive examination of the way a French restaurant that has had three Michelin stars for over 50 years operates. Anyone wondering if Wiseman made the film in order to get to eat at Le Bois sans Feiulles in France’s Loire Valley for as long as it took to make the film is not alone.

Over the course of the drama, we spend time with restaurateur-patriarch Michel Troisgros, a master of the history of the culinary arts in France and the Far East, and learn about his very high standards as he passes the baton to his son Cesar, while his younger son Leo runs another family restaurant La Colline. We also hear about a third Troisgros restaurant. Guests at these establishments, especially Les Troisgros, often stay at a hotel also operated by the Troisgros family.

At first, we see how greens and vegetables are chosen. But soon enough the conversation shifts to fish: trout, pike and perch. Have you had a quenelle? Could you master a mousseline? In addition to the produce market, we visit a fromagerie, where cheeses are made and aged, a vineyard and a cattle ranch, where we learn about the latest techniques for raising plants and animals in organic, renewable and humane ways. Throughout the film, Wiseman will divide his time between the restaurant and its grounds and the nearby farms and markets where the food is examined and procured.

In the kitchen, a young chef steps away to read a recipe out of Escoffier’s “Le Guide Culinaire.” We watch as artichokes and asparagus are trimmed, cockles sorted, crayfish corralled. We hear about Cesar’s design for a completely open kitchen, divided between hot and cold, where everything from meat and fish to breads, cakes and pastries can be made. Brains and other sweetbreads are on the menu as are humble hams and pigs’ feet. Efficiency, order and cleanliness reign supreme. No one is screaming or having a meltdown. Gordon Ramsay would not feel at home here.

Bottles of La Tache and Puligny-Montrachet might be had for a breathtaking 10,000 euros or more. Assistants and servers are sent to nearby woods to collect flowers to decorate the plates. A farmer explains how his cattle are directed in the field using movable fences to feed evenly on the grass. Hams are smoked, bread baked. The entire, precision operation suggests something military. Menus are discussed and written. A cheesemonger rattles off the names of 30 varieties on his tray.

For all of his career, Wiseman has been pulling aside the curtain on different institutions: a public hospital (“Titicut Follies”), library (“Ex Libris”), park (“Central Park”), racetrack “Racetrack”), zoo (“Zoo”) and ballet troupe (“La Danse”). Here, he gives us a restaurant surpassing in exclusivity the one in the recent (and not very good) foodie satire “The Menu” with Ralph Fiennes and Anya Taylor-Joy. Le Bois sans Feiulles (The Forest Without Leaves) is a restaurant for the 1%. It is a family restaurant, if your family’s name is Bezos, a subject Wiseman strangely does not address.

Toward the end, we visit a humble shepherd-farmer who supplies the restaurant with goat cheese and identifies his goats by name. A vineyard owner speaks passionately about plants that do not “compete” with the vines. Beekeepers proffer honey. Back at the restaurant, tablecloths are ironed; vases placed on tables, a helicopter lands on a patch of grass outside. We visit a wine cellar full of treasures. Cesar mingles with his guests. How many more helicopters can be expected?

(“Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros” contains obscenely expensive food and drink)

“Menus-Plaisirs – Les Troisgros”

Not Rated. In French with subtitles. At the Coolidge Corner Theater

Grade: A-

A dish is plated in a scene from “Les Menus Plaisirs Les Troisgrois.” (Photo Zipporah Films)

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Boston, MA

How To Watch and Listen To Georgia Tech vs Boston College

Published

14 hours ago

November 15, 2025

Press Room

How To Watch and Listen To Georgia Tech vs Boston College

Latest — Sep 27, 2025; Winston-Salem, North Carolina, USA; Wake Forest Demon Deacons quarterback Robby Ashford (2) runs the ball against Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets defensive lineman Brayden Manley (11) during the first quarter at Allegacy Federal Credit Union Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Zachary Taft-Imagn Images / Zachary Taft-Imagn Images

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Boston, MA

How to Watch Boston College Men’s Basketball’s Road Game at Temple

Published

1 day ago

November 14, 2025

Press Room

How to Watch Boston College Men’s Basketball’s Road Game at Temple

The Boston College Eagles (1-2) men’s basketball team is looking to get back in the win column as it travels to Philadelphia, Pa., to take on the Temple Owls (2-0) on Saturday afternoon.

The Eagles are coming off a 60-59 loss to the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils at home on Tuesday night. CCSU scored a layup with 3.2 seconds left to take the lead and BC missed a jumper as time expired to cement the loss.

Boston College also lost its season opener at Florida Atlantic 83-78 in overtime on Nov. 3 and won its home opener over The Citadel 76-47 on Nov. 6.

Temple, on the other hand, has won both games it has played so far this season, both at home. The Owls earned a 83-65 win over Delaware State on Nov. 5 and a 90-63 win over La Salle on Tuesday night.

This is the second game of a home-and-home series for the two teams. In the first game on Nov. 15, 2024, Boston College defeated Temple 72-69 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

It will also be the first time that Boston College has played at Liacouras Center since 2003.

This is the sixth all-time meeting between the two teams. Temple leads the all-time series 4-1.

Below is all the information for the upcoming matchup.

How to Watch: Boston College Men’s Basketball at Temple:

Who: Boston College Eagles and Temple Owls

When: Saturday, Nov. 15 at 2 p.m. ET

Where: Liacouras Center, Philadelphia, Pa.

TV: ESPN+

Radio: WEEI 850 AM

Last Outing, Temple: The Owls earned their second win of the season over the La Salle Explorers 90-63 on Tuesday night.

Last Outing, Boston College: The Eagles suffered their season loss of the season at the hands of the Central Connecticut State Blue Devils 60-59 on Tuesday night.

Last Meeting: The last time these two teams met was during the 2024-25 regular season on Nov. 15, 2024. Boston College defeated Temple 72-69 at Conte Forum in Chestnut Hill, Mass.

Boston College’s Next 5 Games: at Temple (Nov. 15), vs. Hampton (Nov. 18), vs. Davidson in Charleston Classic (Nov. 21), vs. Tulane/Utah State in Charleston Classic (Nov. 23), vs. Harvard (Nov. 26).

Temple’s Next 5 Games: vs. Boston College (Nov. 15), vs. Hofstra (Nov. 19), vs. UC San Diego in ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 24), vs. Bradley/Princeton in ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 25), vs. TBD In ESPN Events Invitational (Nov. 26).

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Boston College Football, Georgia Tech Initial Availability Report Released by ACC

Published

2 days ago

November 13, 2025

Press Room

Boston College Football, Georgia Tech Initial Availability Report Released by ACC

The ACC has released the Initial Availability Report for Boston College and Georgia Tech two days ahead of their matchup.

At the moment, Georgia Tech has one player listed as out in long snapper Will Benton IV.

Boston College, on the other hand, will be down multiple players.

The players listed out are linebacker Daveon Crouch, wide receiver Jaedn Skeete, wide receiver Johnathan Montague Jr., linebacker Jaylen Blackwell, defensive back Syair Torrence, defensive back Marcelous Townsend, defensive back Cameron Martinez, wide receiver Will Graves III, defensive lineman Micah Amedee, wide receiver Bryce Dopson, tight end Danny Edgehille, defensive lineman Ty Clemons, defensive lineman Onye Nwosisi, defensive tackle Owen Stoudmire, and defensive lineman Chuck Nnaeto.

The Eagles also have one player placed as questionable and seven as probable.

The questionable player is defensive back Amari Jackson and the probable players include defensive back Omar Thornton, defensive back Max Tucker, defensive back TJ Green, defensive back Ashton McShane, defensive lineman E’Lla Boykin, offensive lineman Michael Crounse, and wide receiver Cedric Lott Jr.

Boston College head coach Bill O’Brien shared after practice on Thursday morning that Skeete was out for the season after suffering a shoulder injury in practice after the Notre Dame game, but is expecting to return to the program next season.

“No, he won’t be back,” said O’Brien. “He hurt his shoulder in practice the week after the Notre Dame game. But he’ll be back. I would tell you that he won’t be back this year, but I would anticipate him being back next year.”

In October, O’Brien shared that Torrence, Skeete, and Crouch were out for the season. Crouch and Skeete did end up returning for BC’s 25-10 loss to Notre Dame on Nov. 1, but have not played since.

”No Bam [Crouch], I don’t think Bam will be able to return,” said O’Brien on Oct. 21. “Skeete won’t be able to return. Amari might. Amari might, not this game. Syair no, out for the season. There’s others, but yeah. [Jude] Bowry will be back. [Eryx] Daugherty won’t play in this game. So yeah, but there’s probably others. That’s off the top of my head.”

The conference will release an updated Availability Report on Friday and a final one on Saturday prior to kickoff.

Georgia Tech Players Out:

LS #42 Will Benton IV

Boston College Players Out:

LB #1 Daveon Crouch

WR #1 Jaedn Skeete

WR #8 Johnathan Montague Jr.

LB #8 Jaylen Blackwell

DB #10 Syair Torrence

DB #19 Marcelous Townsend

DB #29 Cameron Martinez

WR #38 Will Graves III