Just as style bloggers have infiltrated the fashion world like an army of plucked-and-preened, flashbulb-seeking ants, so every Tom, Dick and Harry has jumped on the food blogging bandwagon in Paris, capitale de la cuisine— as it was traditionally, in any case.
Cutting the wheat from the chaff, we turned to one of the true originals, food blogger extraordinaire Adrian Moore— assistant chef concierge at the Mandarin Oriental by day — to share his latest Paris addresses for great food and tipples. “This year has been a fruitful one with iconoclastic side projects from trendy and well established chefs, new inventive watering holes and fresh takes on international comfort food reinvented with the best of French produce,” said Moore. “This Parisian rentrée looks exciting for local foodies and jet setting hedonists alike.”
With Paris Fashion Week in full swing, Moore shares with BLOUIN ARTINFO his top addresses du jour.
Le Fantôme
Sandwiched between the Gare de l’Est and the Gare du Nord in the increasingly hip 10th arrondissement, Le Fantôme, from the “Clique” collective behind the Le Baron nightclub and Hotel Amour, is an unusual black-lacquer-and-brick corner hangout complete with bar, pizzeria, and arcade machines for a time warp effect. Already popular with early adopter hipster-geeks and their skinny fashionista girlfriends. Le Fantôme, 36 rue de Paradis, 1oth. Tel.: +33 9 66 87 11 20
The Sunken Chip
Just off the Canal Saint Martin, The Sunken Chip is not your typical British chippy. Opened by Michael Greenwold, chef of the hot bistro Roseval, and James Whelan of the trendy Inconnu bar, the bar boasts top-quality line-caught fish. The Chip packs in a young, media-friendly local and international crowd for “feesh and cheeps,” mushy peas (egads!) and small production English beers and sodas. The Sunken Chip, 39 Rue des Vinaigriers, 1oth. Tel.: +33 1 53 26 74 46
Le Sherry Butt
It may be lodged in an unfashionable part of the historic Marais district, but the Sherry Butt packs in cutting-edge bar flies eager for artisanal cocktails and a wide selection of whiskies and Japanese beers. Be sure to try one of their copious bruschettas for a late night bite. Tattooed barkeep-cum-owner Amaury has an encyclopedic knowledge of drinks and drinking culture and has created a friendly and unique watering hole that was just what the Parisian scene needed.
Sherry Butt, 20 rue Beautreillis, 4th. Paris. Tel.: +33 9 83 38 47 80
Le Mary Celeste
The Upper Marais’ hottest new bar and casual eatery is named after a historic ghost ship that was found empty of her crew but with a full load of rum. Venezuelan bartender Carlos crafts homemade cocktails, and Canadian chef Haan offers up excellent fusion cuisine inspired by his stint at Copenhagen’s Michelin-starred Thai Kiin Kiin. The oysters, in season and shucked right at the bar, are excellent. Le Mary Celeste, 1, rue Commines, 3rd. reservations@lemaryceleste.com
Jin
For those looking for high-end, perfectly conceived Japanese food, look no further than this tiny 12-seater counter off of the Rue Saint Honoré, Jin. Hailing from Sapporo, Chef Taku turns out perfectly prepared sushi and sashimi, which is all best washed down with a saké from their extraordinary cellar. Food this fresh in Paris, a city known for its lack of top-notchNippon tables, comes with a price of course, but it’s well worth the splurge. Jin, 6 rue de la Sourdière, 1st. Tel.:+33 1 42 61 60 71
Lazare
One of the more unique restaurants to open in recent weeks is Lazare, helmed by the Bristol’s three-star Michelin chef, Eric Fréchon. Located in the Gare Saint-Lazare, this spacious 100-plus seater brasserie has a central bar perfect for grabbing breakfast or a quick dish of charcuterie and glass of wine, and serves classic French fare all day long. Could this be the start of a new revolution of decent brasseries in travel hubs? Lazare, Gare Saint-Lazare, 8th. Tel.:+33 1 44 90 80 80.
