Paris to Eat
Many books featuring places to eat in Paris are published. Perhaps more than for any other city. One discusses classic bistros, another follows the hip crowd, while yet another prides itself on offering an insider’s perspective. Like the standard work by insider Alain Ducasse, J’Aime Paris.
Belgian wine merchant and food writer Luc Hoornaert has already written several Must Eats about countries including the Netherlands and London. And now the much-written-about Paris has been added to the list.
Does Hoornaert have anything new to tell us with his Must Eat Paris?
Roasted cauliflower
Yes. You can never have enough must-eat tips for Paris. Certainly not when they are photographed as beautifully as they are by Kris Vlegels in this book. But while many others stop at the best/nicest/coziest/hippest bistros, breakfast spots and bars à vins, Hoornaert also looks at cuisines other than French that play at least as important a role in Paris.
For example, he recommends Miznon in the fourth arrondissement. An originally Israeli establishment from Tel Aviv. The roasted cauliflower on the menu prompts Hoornaert to tell the story of the origins of this global trend dish—namely, the mother of top Israeli chef Eyal Shani.
You can never have enough must-eat tips for Paris.
This way, you not only discover great unknown places, but also learn about the history and the people behind them.
I had already visited some of them myself. Such as breakfast spot Claus, Frenchie, La Mosquée de Paris, Le Verre Volé, Marché des Enfants Rouges and L’Office, all of which rightly feature in this book.
Must-eat list
Others were already on my must-eat list, and now even more so: Le Coq Rico, Terroir Parisien Bourse and Clown Bar. But I can hardly wait to eat at even more of these places. And strikingly often, they are Chinese and Japanese establishments you will not find in any other guide. The Japanese are currently enjoying a particularly successful period in the French capital. From Okuda to salon de thé Toraya and Atsushi Tanaka.
But Vietnamese Tan Dinh, with its smoked goose ravioli, and the Jewish deli Schwartz’s are now also saved in my phone. The latter with the promise of the ultimate pastrami sandwich.
Downside
One downside, then. The book is rather heavy and thick for my travel bag. Because from now on, it obviously has to come with me to Paris.
Must Eat Paris
Luc Hoornaert
€ 24.99
Publisher: Lannoo
Text: Marjan Ippel
Photography: Kris Vlegels
