A French crooner behind a restaurateur, a restaurateur behind a crooner.

Gastronomy is like music. There is a new show every night but the orchestra is bigger. With many people coming, higher are the chances to strike a wrong chord, explains Antoine Blech. The renowned French New-York restaurateur just opened his last restaurant in Greenwich, Le Penguin, a traditional Parisian bistro. In the kitchen, Antoine Blech son who has worked at established venues such as Blue at The Ritz Carlton in the Caimans Islands, The Yard in Santa Monica and The Royal Monceau in Paris, cooks French specialties. You can order a poulet roti (roasted chicken), a bouillabaisse Maison (house bouillabaisse), a steak tartare, the Chefs country pt (French meatloaf) or escargots de Bourgogne Antoine Blech is both a singer and a master in gastronomy. Altough he has been living in the US for more than 30 years, his French style is still at the heart of his restaurant and his music. When he sings, there is a je ne sais quoi of Serge Gainsbourg in his voice. His personal record collection is hung on the walls of Le Penguin, not far from the bottles of Chardonnay and Sauternes. Lets discover some French flair with Antoine Blech picks.

Lets talk about French music / Parlons musique franaise

- Your favorite musicians ? Julien Clerc, Michel Jonasz, Michel Berger and Serges Gainsbourg. My references are not very young but I Left France a long time ago .I also like Sinclair and MC Solaar

Lets talk about French food / Parlons cuisine franaise

- Your favorite French recipes and dish ? Its tough to pick only one . I love pot au feu (beef stew) canard lorange (duck in orange sauce) and saumon loseille (salmon with sorrel) - Your favorite wine? I like every drinks that makes the sound glouglou when you pour it, laughes Antoine. But if I had to choose one I would say that I love Pinot noir dAlsace - The French dish you miss the most in New York ? La choucroute (sauerkraut) Finding a good choucroute in New York is pretty hard ! I also miss Ricor and Miel des Vosges (honey

from Vosges) - Your favorite restaurant in France? Definitely Le Bartoldi in Colmart - Your favorite French restaurant in New York ? Le Veau dOr. Its the oldest French bistro in New York. I feel like being back in the 50s there. I can easily picture my citron DS (French vintage car) parked in front of the entrance!

Lets talk about French culture/ Parlons de la culture franaise

- Your favorite French movie? I really loved Intouchables. But generally I watch the French film maker Michel Audiards movies - Your books? I love reading about Napoleon Bonapartes history - How do you get the French news? I listen to the French Radio France Info on my phone everyday!

Interviewer Manon Lemoine one of our flair contributor and interviewee a French flair restaurateur and singer Antoine Blech owner of Opia (Location 130 East 57th Street (Lexington Avenue) New York, N.Y. 10022 Midtown East (212) 688-3939 www.opiarestaurant.com)