NEW WAVE

PARIS RESTAURANTS We reveal the food trends that are currently in uencing Paris’s restaurant scene.

As one of the gourmet food capitals of the world, Paris o ers a diverse range of fantastic dining experiences. International in uences have been taking hold of the city’s food scene: from the runaway success of several international chefs who’ve been giving French cuisine an intriguing twist, to the organic food revolution and gourmet fast food craze which are o ering diners more and more choice when eating out. We reveal the latest trends that have been in uencing the local food scene in Paris.

1. GOURMET FAST FOOD

H AMB U RG E RS Parisians are crazy for gourmet hamburgers, where a raft of new burger eateries and mobile food trucks have been attracting crowds throughout the city. Hip, casual eaterie Blend serves a diverse menu of nine hamburgers featuring premium-quality meats by top Paris butcher, Yves-Marie Le Bourdonnec. Hamburger specialist food trucks have also been a runaway success, notably Cantine California which serves 100% organic burgers made with local farm produce, and chef Kristin Frederick’s Le Camion Qui Fume which o ers an extensive menu of 30 creative, seasonal burgers to the daily queueing masses.

FIS H & C H IPS Opened by talented young British chefs, Michael Greenwold (Roseval) and James Whelan (L’Inconnu), hip hole-in-the-wall eaterie e Sunken Chip in Canal-Saint-Martin serves only one dish: simply the best sh & chips in town. Choose between several types of expertly battered fresh sh caught o the coast of Brittany, served with crispy chips, green pea mash and craft beer.

SA N DW IC HE S & TACOS Another staple which has been given a gourmet twist in Paris is the sandwich, where fantastic casual eateries such as Frenchie To Go by chef Gregory Marchand o ers avoursome and indulgent homemade sandwiches such as the Brittany Lobster roll or the decadent Reuben’s with home-smoked pastrami, Keen’s cheddar and coleslaw. Other standout sandwich spots include

Chez Aline and Freddie’s Deli. e recently opened Chilango Mexican taqueria by chef Luis Rendon (ex-Candelaria) is also set to become a hot casual dining spot for authentic Mexican tacos and quesadillas.

2. “Nouvelle Vague” BISTRONOMY

Following in the footsteps of successful restaurants such as Septime and Le Chateaubriand, several recently-opened modern bistros have been turning heads with their innovative approach to modern French cuisine. Leading the foodie pack is Abri , along with the acclaimed modern bistro, Bones, by young Australian chef, James Henry (Au Passage) who o ers an inventive 4-course set menu in a hip, industrial, low-lit dining space in Paris’s 11th district. Opened by the team behind the much-loved bistro Le Pantruche, the light- lled Caillebotte restaurant is their second venture located only a few streets away from their rst restaurant in the SoPi (South of Pigalle) district, run by chef Franck Baranger (ex-Le Bristol) and Edouard Bobin.

Haï Kaï is another recently opened local eaterie by young French chef, Amélie Darvas (ex-Bristol, L’Ami Jean), along with French chef William Pradeleix’s cosy new gourmet eatery, Restaurant Will , which o ers a creative and artisticallypresented menu for lunch and dinner. Two other standout modern bistros which have recently opened in Paris include the eco-chic Coretta in the 17th district by chef Jean-François Pantaleon, and the intimate Parisian bistronomie gem, Roca , which is the smash-hit eaterie of Julien Ross and Alexandre Giesbert.

3. “ACCESSIBLE” DINING

MOD E R N FR EN C H One of the downfalls of the Parisian bistronomy dining scene is that it’s almost impossible to secure a table at many of the city’s best restaurants within a few weeks of booking. However, several of Paris’s recently opened foodie hot spots are open all day, with a “no reservations” dining policy where guests can enjoy a “ rst come, rst served” ethos. Richer is a cosy, experimental all-day eatery which o ers a short, yet sharp modern French menu where diners can either dine a la carte or craft their own 3-course tasting menu. With a picturesque location in the lofty Montmartre district, Buvette serves sharing dishes grounded in classic French cuisine, while Lockwood is a popular all-day dining spot where you can enjoy light meals and co ee throughout the day, and late-night cocktails until 2am.

4. THE ORGANIC REVOLUTION

HE A LT H Y While there is a myth amidst foreigners that Parisians can eat as many croissants as they want without gaining a single gram of weight, the truth is that many Parisians like to dine at healthy and organic dining spots such as the stylish Cafe Pinson, particularly in fashionconscious districts such as the Marais.

Nanashi is another local favourite, along with Cantine Merci in the ultra-hip Merci concept store, and the local institution Rose Bakery which boasts several locations in Paris for delicious baked goods, organic salads and sumptuous desserts.

5. NEW GASTRONOMY

FI NE DI N I N G Paris’s upscale gastronomy scene has also seen some recent movement, including the highly anticipated opening of Restaurant David Toutain by talented French chef, David Toutain, who delivers a series of highly creative carte blanche tasting menus. French master chef, Alain Ducasse, has also taken the helm of the spectacular 3-Michelin star Restaurant Le Meurice by Alain Ducasse following the departure of chef Yannick Alleno, where he has reinvented the menu with his signature contemporary French cuisine. Chef Yannick Alleno moved on to open his new bistro, Terroir Parisien, in La Bourse.