The Parisian TV chef on her favourite local coffee shop, a really good Japanese restaurant and the food shop that has everything
EATING OUT
Fondation Coffee
16 Rue Dupetit-Thouars, 75003 Paris; www.facebook.com/fondationcafe
The coffee shop Alix takes us to after lunch, run by an Australian graduate from Ten Belles. Alix says: “When I’m in the middle of a big job, I have a vision of having a coffee and a cigarette here and it makes my day tolerable!”
Chez Xu
9 Rue Volta, 75003 Paris; +33 1 48 87 02 23
A very inexpensive Chinese restaurant near Alix’s flat. “This is my canteen – it’s so cheap, and there’s stuff on the menu that you wouldn’t see elsewhere.”
Kunitoraya
1 rue Villedo, 75001 Paris; www.kunitoraya.com
A Japanese restaurant near Pyramides known for its udon and rice bowls, this was an inspiration for London’s celebrated udon restaurant Koya. “It’s a bit more expensive but really good.”
L’Epicerie du Verre Volé
54, rue de la Folie-Méricourt, 75011 Paris; +33 1 48 05 36 55; www.leverrevole.fr
An epicerie connected to the wine bar Verre Volé in the 10e. “My Saturday lunch spot for a great sandwich.”
La Buvette
67 Rue Saint-Maur, 75011 Paris; +33 9 83 56 94 11
Hip wine bar in the 11e. “A good place to hang out on a Sunday night with a glass of wine and some small plates.”
Happy Nouilles
95 Rue Beaubourg, 75003 Paris; +33 1 44 59 31 22
Well-priced Chinese restaurant known for its hand-pulled noodles. “For a yummy Chinese soup when it’s freezing outside.”
BUYING IN
G Detou
58 Rue Tiquetonne, 75002 Paris; +33 1 42 36 54 67
“The name of this shop is a play on “j’ai du tout”, and they do have everything, pretty much. They have spices, salt, olive oils, and it’s cheap. I buy all my nuts there, and almond paste that has more than 30% almond.”
Chine Store
23 Rue au Maire, 75003 Paris; +33 1 42 71 63 96
“A big Chinese supermarket in the upper Marais. The herbs there are cheaper than anywhere else, and they have interesting things like glutinous rice and sesame paste in different colours.”
Terroirs d’Avenir
6 Rue du Nil, 75002 Paris; +33 1 45 08 48 80
“A famous grocer, butcher and fishmonger – I get my fish and meat delivered from here. It’s good for fruit and veg too.”
Velan
83-87 Passage Brady, 75010 Paris; www.e-velan.com
“Great Indian supermarket.”
Marché d’Aligre
Place d’Aligre, 75012 Paris; +33 1 45 11 71 11
A covered food market in the 12e, one of the oldest in Paris.