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Cuisine
The Korean-born Chef Hooni Kim was at some point in his life destined to be Dr. Hooni Kim! He indeed went to medical school when he realized that the title “Chef” was a better fit for him. He came back to New York City where he had grown up and studied at the French Culinary Institute, now called the International Culinary Center.
One of my last discoveries during my latest trip to Paris was Aux Plumes – a neighborhood little (literally little) restaurant in the 14th arrondissement, where you can taste the touch of the Japanese chef and sous-chef.
Lupa is my friend’s daughter’s boyfriend’s roommate’s favorite Italian restaurant in New York City! Even if you cannot follow all that, I must say I am glad it is because Lupa is actually an amazing restaurant. The aforementioned friend was visiting from Texas and I had not seen her since we both moved from Paris a year ago. Lupa seemed for whatever reason the perfect place for our reunion.
Woah! A three Michelin-starred restaurant is going vegetarian? This decision in 2001 by Alain Passard, owner of Arpège, sure must have raised some eyebrows – no more meat! Chef Alain Passard is not afraid to risk his stars to impose his views: he wants only seasonal organically grown vegetables to be the center of his menu – no more leeks in summer, no more tomatoes in winter!
On a recent trip to Paris, my friends and I went to the newly opened and very buzz-y Balagan, located at rue d’Alger, by the hotel Renaissance, in the 1st arrondissement.
This is not your typical Parisian establishment, and we loved it all the more as a result! Its excellent service and inventive cuisine do not take itself too seriously, and that’s exactly what Paris needed!
By Chloe is a trendy, busy, 100% vegan restaurant, the kind we like to see sprouting up all over town.
If I were living in the Passy area in Paris, this restaurant would have definitely been our family restaurant. No fuss, no ado, La petite tour is a cozy little restaurant with warm service at a reasonable price. The dishes are very well presented; there is no doubt the chef is talented and has the desire for using fresh products.
Before living in Japan, I used to be impressed by people saying “Oh I do my sushi at home, it’s so easy”! Now that I know more about Japanese culture and cuisine, it makes me smile.
Traditionally, it takes ten years to become a sushi chef. Yes, you heard me, ten years!
Pimientos de Padrón, Tortilla Española, Croquetas Cremosas, Paella de Mariscos, Jamón Serrano, Chorizo Ibérico, Aged Manchego … a bit of Spanish inspiration in your plate?
Tomy Gousset, as his name does not quite indicate, is a Cambodian-born French chef and the owner of TOMY & Co. I met my friend Debbie Kobayashi (who has contributed to this blog) for lunch during my last stay in Paris, and she was in charge of finding a place that was simple and yet appropriate for the foodies that we are, and she found an absolute gem!
