The New Paris Podcast

Siham Jibril, co-founder of Off Campus, shares her passion for fostering adult education in Paris through a cozy café and bookstore. She discusses the rising interest in lifelong learning, the impact of the pandemic on education, and the quest for the perfect location for her venture. Siham highlights the importance of creating an inviting learning environment for evening classes, blending literature, geopolitics, and community engagement while celebrating the literary charm of iconic Parisian spots like Shakespeare & Co.

My new book is officially on shelves! To celebrate, The Red Wheelbarrow bookstore hosted me for a launch event last week. At the start, I was in conversation about the project (and more) with the legendary New York Times bestselling and James Beard Award–winning cookbook author Dorie Greenspan. This episode is an edited version of that discussion. Mentioned in this episode: The Eater Guide to ParisDorie Greenspan Julien Pham / Phamily First Kubri / Rita HigginsAudio production & editing: Matthew Jordan⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

In the canon of Paris narratives, few focus on oddball finds and secrets lurking right beneath our noses. But Vanessa Grall, more commonly known and Messy Nessy, has made it her calling card. For more than a decade she has sussed out offbeat tales and fascinating individuals who have shaped our world and published several guidebooks to help travelers get beyond the obvious. More than a year ago, she opened a storefront, Messy Nessy’s Cabinet, a shop full of curiosities she joins me to talk about today. Mentioned in this episode:Messy Nessy Chic Messy Nessy's CabinetBottled Seine water Suzanne ValadonDon't Be a Tourist guidesMessy Nessy Instagram Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

So far, the year in Paris has been bright — at least in a cultural sense. The Louvre Museum is leading the charge with its very first full-fledged fashion exhibition in its 232-year history. To talk about why it’s significant, what visitors can expect, and the cultural context surrounding the pieces on display is Amy Verner, a fashion journalist and longtime Paris resident who has likely spent more time pondering the works inside the Louvre than all of my listeners combined. Mentioned in this episode:Amy VernerLouvre CoutureOlivier GabetLouvre renovation plan Elaine Sciolino's new book "Adventures in the Louvre"

Like many people living in France, I took a break from alcohol during the imported milestone of Dry January. But we’re in February, and two wine fairs have brought wine lovers and wine pros to the city for talks, tastings, and buying. Wine consumption has been dropping steadily in France, and sales have declined since the 1970s. So what’s happening here? How are people drinking? Are they drinking? What’s the status of natural wine today? Where should people go to drink well in Paris if they’re going to do so? I'm joined by Alicia Dorey, a wine journalist who writes regularly for Le Figaro, to talk about the ins and outs of wine consumption.Mentioned in this episode: Alicia DoreyAlicia's book A Nos Ivresses Austrian wine pop-up in ParisLes Caves LegrandVivant and DéviantAugustin Marchand d'Vins Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

A quick one from me to kickoff season 9 and share some fun news: I have a new book coming out this spring!The Eater Guide to Paris hits shelves on April 29 in the U.S. /Australia/Europe and on May 8 in the U.K., wherever books are sold. A few links below to pre-order now:Abrams (publisher)Bookshop.orgBarnes & NobleAmazon (U.S.)Shakespeare & CoWaterstonesIndigo BooksBooktopia (Australia)Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

I'm recording new episodes for season 9 (coming soon!) but I wanted to bring back some of the most appreciated episodes of the show in the meantime. I originally recorded this episode with Comice co-owner and sommelière Etheliya Hananova in March 2022, and it ranks among the most listened-to since I first started recording in 2017. She talks about the journey from Montreal to Paris, the type of dining environment she and her husband, Comice's chef, Noam set out to create, and what it means to be working in wine in Paris on her terms. Book a table at Comice Follow Comice on Instagram

This month is my 18th December living in Paris, and as I reflect on that time, I’m struck by how much the city still enchants and surprises me. It might be a buzzy neighborhood, a refurbished historical marvel like Notre Dame, a dining experience, or something more unexpected. Someone in the business of sussing out and building such experiences, including some I have attended, is today’s guest Catherine Down. She’s a food writer and travel and event consultant who joins to talk about the most surprising spaces and experiences in Paris, what she finds so meaningful about the city after 12 years as a resident and what she recommends if you’re coming to town this month.  Mentioned in this episode: Catherine Down Catherine's newsletter Catherine on Instagram Modern Love NYT essay Caractère de Cochon Le Marché Saint Germain Ice Skating at the Grand Palais  Café Mirabelle Le Doyenné  Repaire de Cartouche  Le Baron Rouge  Le Bon Marché  Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan ⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠

In times of turmoil, we naturally seek sources of calm. And in Paris, perhaps nothing that recenters Parisians more than the Seine. The city’s most iconic waterway has shaped its mythology long before there were tourist boats and selfie-taking travelers. Today, the significance of the Seine is front and center again, thanks to the Olympics and a billion-euro cleanup project. To talk about this, I’m joined by my friend and fellow journalist Mary Winston Nicklin, who reported National Geographic’s cover story on the Seine earlier this year. Mentioned in this episode: ⁠Mary Winston Nicklin⁠ ⁠National Geographic Cover Story (Online edition)⁠ The ancient goddess of the Seine River: Sequana ⁠The Man Who Swam the Seine⁠ (GQ) Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan ⁠⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠⁠

Did you know that Arabic is the second most spoken language in France? However, the way it is perceived and taught has led many Arabic speakers in France to either abandon the language or not pass it down to their children. It’s this particular experience that the journalist Nabil Wakim sought to investigate in his documentary for France 2, Mauvaise Langue. He joins the show to talk about the project, what has been done, or not done, politically to boost Arabic instruction and France’s relationship with the Arabic language. Mentioned in this episode: Nabil Wakim, Le Monde L’Arabe pour Tous book Mauvaise Langue documentary Najat Vallaud-Belkacem, former minister of education under François Hollande Audio production & editing: Matthew Jordan ⁠Music by Little Glass Men⁠