Its only immediate competitor is Cercle de l’Union Interalliée which is of course unbeatable for the size of its garden and the quality of its cooking, but Les Jardins du Faubourg, a new hotel open since mid June, is a lovely oasis near the U.S., British, Japanese, Belgian and Uzbek embassies. It belongs to a small family group of boutique … Read More
Papillon, a trendy lunch place
The chef Christophe Saintagne did everything right. He was born in Normandy and raised in Pont Audemer, the village of Gaston Lenôtre and Taillevent (Guillaume Tirel), the 14th century cook, served for his military service at the Elysée Palace in Jacques Chirac’s time, met Alain Ducasse and ran the restaurant Les Lyonnais at 24, worked with Jean François Piège at … Read More
My new lunch place
It’s been a while since I found a cozy restaurant that I wanted to recommend without any reservations. And here it is, near Saint Augustin, a real French bistrot where the owner, Catherine, is always happy to see you and you leave with a very light check. The only problem with “Au Temps” is that it’s not open at night… … Read More
Eataly and La Felicità, an Italian food contest.
La Felicità opened this fall near the Grande Bibliothèque. It was meant to stay open all night but never did, it closes at 10.30 pm or 11 depending on the days and does not serve dinners on Mondays and Tuesday. As a member of the Big Mamma group started by Tigrane Seydoux and Victor Lugger, it can seat 1 000 … Read More
Galeries Lafayette move to Champs Elysées
Galeries Lafayette probably chose the most dramatic times to open their new flagship store on the Champs Elysées but Minister Bruno Le Maire insisted, in his inauguration speech, on the Renaissance of the avenue with this magistral cathedral of design. A department store conceived like a museum, this is not new in Hong Kong or in Japan or even in … Read More
Jaïs, a delicious way to start the year.
I had heard of this place from two friends so when Marguerite, my niece who graduated from Ecole hôtelière de Lausanne, suggested that we try it, I got excited. And Jaïs named after its French Moroccon chef, was a winner. The atmosphere is delightful, the staff friendly and not overconfident, customers are in their forties and the decor is unpretentious. … Read More
Sauvage, what great food!
When two people I trust tell me to try a new place, I rush! and this is what I did with an English friend at Sauvage, which replaced the wonderful La Marlotte on rue du Cherche Midi. There is no decor at all in this blunt white wall space furnished with very simple woden tables. The reception is warm and … Read More
Marigny, a new restaurant on the Champs Elysées
Théâtre Marigny has just reopened after five years of rejuvenation by his new operator, Marc Ladreit de Lacharrière and two architect-decorators, Jean-Michel Wilmotte for the public spaces and François Joseph Graf for the “Costes” restaurant. It is a huge aesthetical success, since modernity mixes with the 19 th century style of the theatre founded by Jacques Offenbach, in 1855. Ushers … Read More