The New Paris Podcast

In a time when award-winning chefs are giving up their Michelin stars and more and more diners use their everyday tools like Instagram to plan where to eat, what’s the value of the guidebook? Has Le Fooding’s merger with Michelin impact the direction of lists and rankings? I talk about this with guests Lina Caschetto, formerly the chef at Cantina, and Sabrina Goldin, the co-owner of Cantina, Carbon and the Asado Club. We also discuss food festivals, women in the industry and what needs to change to make dining a more inclusive business. Mentioned in this episode: Lina Caschetto Carbon Cantina (2023 update: now closed) The Asado Club (now closed) Le Fooding Dominique Crenn 3 Michelin Stars Best Female Chef Prize (My story) Taste of Paris Esterelle’s list of female chefs in France Parabere Forum Omnivore MAD Symposium

Welcome to season 3! A block from the studio sits the 25Hours Hotel Terminus Nord, a new property that celebrates the real people who shape the day to day life of the wider Gare du Nord neighborhood. It’s also the latest project for today’s guest — Alex Toledano, co-founder of the art consultancy Visto Images. Alex spent the bulk of his graduate and doctoral work studying urban history in Europe in the 19th and 20th centuries but went to apply much of that firsthand knowledge of a city’s urban fabric into establishing art collections for hotels, residences, offices and public spaces that tell a distinct narrative. Today, he joins me to talk about the changing fabric of the 10th arrondissement, the area that he has spent years studying, and more specifically the Gare du Nord. We talk about what’s special about the art and concept for this new hotel and why so much of Paris changes without every really changing at all. Mentioned in this episode: Visto Images: http://www.vistoimages.com Art in Hotels: https://www.nytimes.com/2016/09/04/travel/beaumont-hotel-london.html 25Hours Hotel Terminus Nord: https://www.25hours-hotels.com/hotels/paris/terminus-nord Alex’s NYT Magazine story: https://www.nytimes.com/2015/11/16/magazine/the-uncommon-resilience-of-parisian-street-life.html

The end of season 2 and, perhaps more importantly, the end of 2018, merits a special discussion. Joining me back in the studio for a chat about some of the events that have defined the year in Paris and France is author and staff writer for The New Yorker, Lauren Collins. We talked about France’s World Cup 2018 win, SNCF strikes and, the big-hippo story of the year, the Gilets Jaunes (yellow jacket) movement and whether it’s safe to visit Paris (spoiler: YES IT IS). Mentioned in this episode: Lauren Collins on the Gilets Jaunes: https://www.newyorker.com/news/news-desk/the-gilets-jaunes-and-a-surprise-crisis-in-france SNCF strikes: https://www.railjournal.com/in_depth/sncf-reform-back-on-track-after-devastating-strike Macron under fire (« cross the street » to find work ) https://www.france24.com/en/20180917-macron-france-under-fire-telling-jobseeker-cross-street-get-work-unemployment World Cup 2018 win: on Identity https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/7/19/17590302/trevor-noah-france-french-ambassador-araud-world-cup Gilets Jaunes and Mobility: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/12/20/world/europe/france-yellow-vests-social-mobility.html

#Metoo, body shaming, fatphobia, feminism, PMA, representation. These are among the words, movements and themes that have gone from niche or seldom addressed to the forefront of conversation across nearly all social stratums. In season 1, I invited Lauren Bastide of the feminist podcast La Poudre to discuss the outcome of #MeToo in France and the rising influence of a new generation of feminists who are raising their voices and taking to the streets. Now a year later, I go deeper into the conversation, looking at how #MeToo has or hasn’t awakened the national consciousness, the issue of representation, and the latest discriminations impacting women, with two important voices on the topics, Rebecca Amsellem, author and creator of Les Glorieuses and the book Les Glorieuses, chroniques d’une féministe, and Jennifer Padjemi, journalist and host of the new podcast Miroir Miroir.  Mentioned in this episode: Les Glorieuses: https://lesglorieuses.fr @LesGlorieuses: https://www.instagram.com/les_glorieuses/ Miroir Miroir: https://www.binge.audio/category/miroirmiroir/ Jennifer Padjemi: https://mobile.twitter.com/jenniferpadjemi Serena Williams bodysuit ban: https://www.vox.com/2018/8/28/17791518/serena-williams-catsuit-ban-french-open-tennis-racist-sexist-country-club-sport Rebecca’s commentary on the Serena Williams issue: https://www.nouveau-magazine-litteraire.com/idees/le-retour-de-baton-a-commence Fertility rights (PMA) https://www.ozy.com/fast-forward/a-new-french-revolution-is-brewing-in-fertility/89666 #MeToo backlash https://www.newyorker.com/news/daily-comment/why-did-catherine-deneuve-and-other-prominent-frenchwomen-denounce-metoo Brazil’s Presidential Elections https://www.nytimes.com/2018/10/28/world/americas/jair-bolsonaro-brazil-election.html

It’s 5:30 pm on a Monday evening and that means, it’s time for a drink and a nibble or two. That drink in France would be part of the beloved tradition of l’aperitif or apero as we so commonly refer to it. It’s a shared moment before dinner, usually among friends and with a few snacks to whet your appetite. But it’s also the name for an entire genre of French spirits, consumer during apero hour. Both of these are the focus of a new book appropriately called “Apéritif: Happy hour the French Way.” On this episode, I’m joined by the author Rebekah Peppler to talk about the book, the tradition and how best to celebrate it. Mentioned on this episode: Rebekah Peppler: https://www.rebekahpeppler.com Order the book: https://www.rebekahpeppler.com/aperitif-the-book/ Rebekah on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/rebekahpeppler/

Ah, Gay Paree. It’s an expression firmly anchored into the collective imagination that speaks to the fin-de-siecle period wherein Paris became known as the capital of pleasure. Today, say Gay Paree and it almost certainly refers to and evokes a more modern understanding. Joining me today to talk about gay culture, history and the continuing fight for acceptance is Dr. Bryan Pirolli, a fellow Philadelphian, journalist, and the founder of the tour company, the Gay Locals. Mentioned in this episode: The Gay Locals: https://www.thegaylocals.com Rainbow crowsswalks in Paris: http://www.thegaylocals.com/blog/15/6/2018/rainbow-crosswalks-project-paris-pride The Gay Games: https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/12/sports/paris-gay-games-2018.html Vandalism : https://www.dw.com/en/vandals-hit-paris-plaque-for-frances-last-executed-gays/a-44976704 Hidalgo fights homophobia https://www.out.com/news-opinion/2018/7/05/paris-mayor-snaps-homophobia-makes-rainbow-crosswalks-permanent

Think it’s only French food that dominates the dining scene in Paris? You’d be mistaken. And some of the best food is cooked by foreign chefs who came to the city to train, learn, handle some of the world’s highest quality products and give back. Some bring their cultures to the dining landscape while other offers their interpretations on Gallic classics. Today’s guest is Peter Orr, an Australian Chef who brings his experience cooking on three different continents to Robert, his new restaurant. Mentioned in this episode: Robert: https://robert-restaurant.fr Bar Martin: http://bar-martin.fr Au Passage: http://www.restaurant-aupassage.fr/en/ Le Grand Bain (Edward Delling Williams): http://www.legrandbainparis.com/en/home/

I met today’s guest 3 years ago at a café. He was conducting research on French Islam, I was writing my book on Paris. That café was a source of comfort for both of us after the Nov 13th attacks which killed and injured hundreds. These attacks, carried out by French or other European nationals affiliated with or inspired by the Islamic State, raised serious questions about France’s security, treatment of Muslims in the country, and policies toward integration and deradicalization. Andrew Aguilar, then a visiting scholar at Science Po, had his own views on the issue. Today, Andrew is a PhD candidate in political science at Science Po and continues his research about what’s really at play when we speak about French Islam. On this episode, I speak to Andrew about immigration, Macron’s new quest to restructure Islam in France and how the country’s Muslims feel about their place in French society. Mentioned in this episode: Andrew’s Letter to the Opinion Editor in the Washington Post https://www.washingtonpost.com/opinions/macrons-plan-is-the-latest-attempt-at-religious-integration-in-france/2018/04/23/9e33c2be-44ce-11e8-b2dc-b0a403e4720a_story.html?noredirect=on&utm_term=.915d0837c3da France attempts to “reform” identity https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/europe/struggling-to-prevent-terrorist-attacks-france-wants-to-reform-islam/2018/04/16/b81a20c6-1d67-11e8-98f5-ceecfa8741b6_story.html?utm_term=.79e1e7580a5d&tid=a_inl_manual A French variant of Islam: https://www.theatlantic.com/international/archive/2018/03/islam-france-macron/556604/ La France Insoumise https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_France_Insoumise

Guest Jessie Kanelos Weiner, author of 'Paris in Stride', talks about the charm of exploring Paris on foot, her artistic journey in the city, creating unique walking tours, and the emotional and creative aspects of her work. She shares insights on staying inspired, challenges in the art market, and future projects in Paris and beyond.

For Frenchman David Santori, Paris has largely been a place to visit. For nearly 20 years, he has lived in the United States, returning each year to his hometown only to visit family. What changes in Paris are most obvious to him, I wondered? Is « The New Paris » part of a subtle shift or something bigger? We talk about the changing city, linguistic codes, neighborhoods and his bi-cultural sense of self. Mentioned in this episode: David Santori, @FrenchieYankee: https://www.instagram.com/frenchieyankee/ #TheOtherDC https://www.instagram.com/explore/tags/theotherdc/ « Du Coup » http://www.lefigaro.fr/langue-francaise/expressions-francaises/2016/08/04/37003-20160804ARTFIG00071-du-coup-aller-sur-ces-erreurs-de-langage-a-eviter.php « Juste » http://www.lefigaro.fr/langue-francaise/actu-des-mots/2016/10/16/37002-20161016ARTFIG00023-10-tics-de-langage-a-proscrire-pour-le-bien-de-l-humanite.php