Travel
meal with wine. Not just an
opportunity to learn classic French
cooking techniques, a class at Le
Foodist is a look inside the history
and culture of food in France.
LeFoodist.com; + 33 6 71 70 95 22
Chat with a Concierge
I sat down with Sonia Papet, the
Head Concierge at Le Bristol in Paris,
for insight on some of her favorite
things from the City of Light.
Not a restaurant per se, VizEat is a
service that brings locals together
with travelers. The concept is
simple: Parisians with a passion for
cooking and a desire to share their
culture play host to hungry visitors
from around the globe. VizEat is an
opportunity to step into the lives of
Parisians, while enjoying their
company and home cooking. It’s a
chance for those who don’t want to
just visit Paris, but experience the
city in a deeper, more meaningful
way. Not just in Paris, this Francebased company also has hosts in over
50 countries. VizEat.com
Class is in Session
A man with a PhD in Chemical
Engineering isn’t the person you’d
expect to open a cooking school, but
this is France where food is more
than sustenance; it’s a passion.
After living and working abroad for a
decade, Fred Pouillot left his
corporate life to return to his home
country and eventually created Le
Foodist. Part historian,
storyteller and chef, Pouillot
has assembled a team of
experts, including his Britishborn wife, Amanda, to offer a
variety of cooking
experiences.
Make macarons,
croissants, cream
puffs and chocolate
éclairs or learn
about French
wines and
cheeses. The
six-hour class
begins with petit
déjeuner, followed
by a trip to buy
lunch ingredients
at an open-air
market. The
two-hour,
hands-on
instruction
results in a
four-course
Leah Walker: What restaurant
would you choose for a special
dinner?
SP: That’s a difficult question to
answer, even when the guests ask. If
I’m looking for romantic, I like Le
Jules Verne, because this is where I
met my partner of five years. It’s an
Alain Ducasse restaurant located on
the second floor of the Eiffel Tower.
Otherwise, I like little places like the
Italian restaurants Ida, located in
the 15th arrondeisment. I also like
yam’Tcha on rue Saint Honoré.
There’s a set menu with wine and
tea. What I’m looking for is to be
surprised at what I see on the table.
That doesn’t mean it has to be
gastronomic, rather it can be a small
restaurant with attention to detail
and who is passionate about
welcoming you. yam’Tcha, 121 Rue
Saint Honoré, 75001 Paris
LW: What is an ideal Saturday in
Paris for you?
SP: Since I work in the hotel
business, I rarely have time
off. However, when I do, I
love to go shopping. I go
mostly to Saint-Germaindes-Prés, though I also
like the Marais. I like to
shop for clothes, since I
wear a uniform at work,
and prefer small boutiques.
I go with a friend for lunch
with wine and then
shop. She has
children, so we
look at
children’s
shops, which
is good for
me to know
about.
Recently, I
discovered
Bleu comme
gris on
Boulevard
Saint-Germain.
The brand
began out of a
mother being
frustrated by not
being able to find
proper-fitting blue
and white school
uniforms for her
children. She started making clothes
for her children, followed by other
parents and this boutique. It’s very
important as a concierge for me to
know about French products and the
stories behind them. Bleu comme
gris, 208 Boulevard Saint-Germain,
75007 Paris
LW: What classic Parisian
experience