When I went up to Paris for my style talk last week (which incidentally went very well except for the fact that I forgot the cardinal rule of hanging out with French women – never overdress – and consequently looked like a Christmas tree compared with the rest of them) I had lunch with my shopping guru and new friend Ghada.
The first time I met Ghada (in St Tropez, where else?) she recognised the designer of my hat at 20 paces. This is the kind of thing that bonds women for life.
Anyway, I suggested we have lunch and she sent me the following, truly incredible, list of choices which shows that there is no such thing as a casual lunch, at least not in Paris.
Can you guess where we ended up?
Café Charlot in the Nouveau Marais
o Mood: low key café in an going up neighbourhood
o Bistro food: Salads, grilled fish & meat
o Shopping : Johnny Farah, Les Bouclards, Surface to air, Tsumori Chisato, Shine…
o Who : people in the neighbourhood
Café de Flore in Saint-Germain des près
o Mood: a bit Intellectual, a bit snob, a bit low key and place to be seen
o French café food : salads, eggs
o Shopping: Calypso, Sonia, Louboutin, Mona, Irié wash, Atika, Le bon Marché…
o Who: Sonia Rykiel, Le Monde people, Prada team
Hotel Costes in Saint-Honoré
o Mood: if the weather is nice, the terrace is the place to see and be seen
o Costes food: Club Sandwich, grilled fish, pasta, vegetables
o Shopping around: Goyard, Renaud Pellegrino, Miu-Miu, Jérôme Gruet…
o Who : Actors, Comedians, Singers, Models
Copyright: Helena Frith Powell 2008
McDonald’s?
Er, wrong Bob. Try again. I’ll give you a clue, it is one of the places on the list.
Hx
It has to be Hotel Costes. Did you have a dip in their cool pool?
Hotel Costes for sure…
I rather like the sound of Cafe Charlot (and liked the reviews I found on Google even more!). However, I’m not sure that’s were you ended up!
Go with the picture – I’d say the Cafe Charlot!
Did you enjoy?
Hello all – we went to the Cafe de Flore and talked of nothing but existentialism – and designer hats….
Hx
I don’t believe it. Did the Café Flore still smell of old Gauloises smoke and wet dog?
No, smoking ban in full force for a while now and not a wet dog in sight. Some strangely dressed women though, I never thought I’d see a Goth in St Germain. I ate a lovely plate of haricot verts and smoked salmon with scrambled eggs, after which I felt very intellectual and saintly.
Hx
Don’t forget the Japanese green tea!
x
I need a friend like Ghada..can she come visit?