This Fall and Winter, you may run into me at the Buvette Gastrothèque…

I stumbled upon this place which is located on one of my favorite streets in Paris, rue Henri Monnier, while I was heading to a Cleopatr’as Bling private sale at Sugar Daze Cupcakes just a few doors down. I stopped in my tracks as I passed by the open door. It was the ceiling that got me. A carved tin ceiling. a rarity in Paris. It’s more of a New York thing. And well guess what, this ceiling was made based upon the ceiling of the Buvette Gastrothèque in the West Village of Manhattan. Yep, the owners of the ultra-trendy-eatery-where-you-can-bump-into-famous-people spot in NYC have followed their hearts to Paris!

This place is the ultimate epitome of what’s popular in decorum, food, ambiance and areas of Paris right now. When I had discovered it, it had only been open one week. I went back twice in the span of 7 days. It’s addicting. It has that perfect mixture of French and Parisian inspired ambiance, with an heirloom infused menu that leans a little on the vintage side. You’ll find classic American cocktails like manhattans and dirty martinis (the French just don’t understand what a real martini is, nor do they have the palette for it); you’ll find kale on their menu, and the style of eating is very convivial. It is more of a tapas menu almost, that you can order many little plates of and share with everyone at your table. I am a huge fan of their kale tartine.

Home made food, and carefully selected wines from France, vintage furniture, baskets of apples and fruits everywhere, nuts to crack on every table to help conversation and a nice change in the apéro hour. You can order at any hour of the day (Oh that American convenience!). This place oozes attention to small detail.

You haven’t tasted sausages until you have had them infused with olive oil and thym with olives on the side. Nibble that with a dirty martini, your head and taste buds will spin! Chef Jody Williams created this place herself with her partner Linda, and along with the attention to detail is the subdued attention to good taste and simple pleasures. In fact Jody is coming out with a book later in 2014 titled The Pleasure of Good Food. Pre-order it on their website. It looks tempting!

The aesthetics of this place had me wiggling with glee, and snapping pictures like a crazy person. I wanted to capture the mood of this place and live in those images 24/7. I think they thought I may have been a wee bit overly enthusiastic, but then I am naturally overly-enthusiastic! You can take the girl out of America, but you can’t take all of the America out of the girl. This place is amaaaazing! (The French love when we say that). LOL!

Buvette Gastrotheque

28 rue Henri Monnier 75009 Paris

Go there because it’s the new “it” place you MUST go to in Paris. Return because it’s so inviting!