Greetings,

Happy New Year. Many of you have asked me for travel tips and recommendations for what to eat and see on your own trips to France. So, here it is: Chef Jacques’ Perfect Day in Paris list. These are my favorite spots in the city; some are new discoveries and others have been my Paris standbys for over 30 years. If your stay in Paris is short, you can hit all of these spots in one day without feeling rushed.

Your Hotel: Le Petit Madeleine Hotel (22 rue Roquepine,  www.petitmadeleinehotel.com). Le Petit Madeleine is the type of hotel that everyone wants to discover in Paris: a charming, reasonably priced hotel on a quiet street that is convenient to absolutely everything. The proprietor Jacqueline, who runs the hotel along with her daughter, has been my friend for years. Rooms here, as in all Paris hotels, are very small. If the idea of sharing a small room with the person you are traveling with makes you cringe, choose another traveling companion. 

Lunch: A short walk from the hotel is Le Boeuf Sur le Toit (34 Rue du Colisée, ww.boeufsurletoit.com). I enjoyed oysters here for the first time in 1972, and I’ve been coming back ever since. When I arrive in Paris, I drop my bags at the hotel and head straight to this bistro. Unlike many Paris bistros that close between lunch and dinner, Le Boeuf Sur le Toit serves all day, so this is an excellent option no matter when your flight gets in. Order a selection of oysters, at least one dozen per person, and a good bottle of champagne.

Tipsy After-Lunch Stroll: After lunch, I usually take a leisurely stroll down to the Champs Elysées and then walk all the way to the Tuileries Gardens. I love these gardens, with the Louvre at one end and Place de la Concorde at the other. By now the aura of the Champagne will be wearing off and you’ll need a pick-me-up. Close to the Place de la Concorde is the famous Ladurée pastry shop (16 Rue Royale, www.laduree.fr). Order some of their famous Macarons and a cup of hot chocolate.

Dinner Hot Spot: After an early evening nap, grab a cab from the hotel and go to Le Comptoir (9 Carrefour de l’Odéon). This small, bistro style restaurant is understandably popular; expect to wait for a table. While you wait, you can have a bottle of wine and some appetizers at the restaurant’s food shop which is located next door. The wine list here is excellent and features many small wineries you may not see on other lists. Even in the winter, you can sit outside, under heat lamps, and people watch while you eat.

After that, I’m done. It’s a cab back to the hotel and a good night’s sleep. I can’t think of a better way to spend a day in Paris. If you can’t make it to Paris, try my recipe for Filet of Dover Sole with Oysters. Many Paris restaurants offer variations on this lushes dish..

Please visit my website to view the schedule for upcoming cooking demonstrations [Link]. There are still seats available in my January 30 Alsatian Winter Feast class.

Best Culinary Wishes,

Chef Jacques