Ah New Year’s gifts! Whether they are discreetly hidden under your plate by granny, tucked between two branches of the Christmas tree by grandpa, or slipped directly into your pocket by your favorite uncle, the question arises, what to do with them? How best to spend them? Depending on how lucky you are this year, here are a few of our best ideas….
Where to spend €400 (or more): Avoiding most of January (it’s closed between January 5th and 25th), the nicest way to honor such a sweet gift is at Alexandre Gauthier’s restaurant, La Grenouillère, who was Le Fooding’s 2016 Man of the Year. Dine, sleep and wake up with breakfast like a king for four hundred euro bills. A taste of the good life!
Where to spend €250: At a place that shares a name with thecrème de la crèmeof French cinema, Le Grand Restaurant, of course! Jean-François Piège’s new “chez moi” has modern decor and a €180 prix-fixe menu that leaves you with a good €70 to blow on booze.
Where to spend €100: Hidden away in the underground dining room of Le Petit Commerce in Bordeaux, where Stéphane Carrade puts together an unstoppable gastronomic menu, going under the name of L’Etoile de Mer…. The most authentic and chic insider address of this holiday season, ideal for a culinary blast from the sea.
Where to spend €65: Camping out in a hut or a yurt, after having taken off your snowboots and prayed for the Snow Queen to stop pouting. Alone or with company, but not too many people either — two guests per hut, four per yurt. Our most Spartan bedroom pick yet!
Where to spend €35: Ahhhh, the husky and smooth voice of François-Régis Gaudry on France Inter around brunch time….On va déguster, the enoooormous bible written by the radio personality and culinary journalist is sold at all good bookstores. For exactly €35.
Where to spend €24: At Oïshinoya, the fast and chic second location of Passage 53, for a rice bowl…. The most expensive one in Paris? Yes, but it’s topped with wagyu beef! €24 for a bowl of pure bliss.
Where to spend €12.90: If you haven’t already, get on it! Pick up your 2016 edition of Le Guide Fooding, and learn all about the gastronomyths and faubourgeoise cuisine…. Sold at bookstores and newsstands.
Where to spend €10: At La Bonne Mère in Marseille, selected as the Best Pizza of 2016 by Le Guide Fooding! Crispy crust cooked in a wood-fired oven, topped with fresh anchovy filets, pistou and drizzled with organic olive oil…