My Paris: Interview with Pastry Chef François Perret
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“François Perret is a taste magician.” — Pierre Hermé
François Perret, executive pastry chef at The Ritz Paris since 2015, has won prestigious awards for his contemporary, feather-light creations. Voted “Best Pastry Chef in the World 2019” by Les Grandes Tables du Monde, Perret says, “There’s sensuality in pâtisserie, it’s the key to all life’s joys — family events, marriages, baptisms, anniversaries. When you punish a child, you deprive him of dessert not pot roast, n’est ce pas?!”
Where were you born?
Viriat, a pretty village in eastern France near Bourg-en-Bresse, 361 kilometers from Paris. It dates to Celtic times. (Birthdate: June 1980)
François Perret – Ritz Paris ©Cecile Gabriel
With whom would you enjoy a bottle of wine, a Parisian past or present?
In the past, it would definitely be Victor Pouzet, the revered and highly respected knifesmith, who, in 1920, invented the indispensable Econome Vegetable Peeler. Philippe Starck makes a modern version. And in the present, with my wife and two children! I have a collection of fine wines celebrating their birthdays.
Vintage advertisement for a vegetable peeler. Public domain.
A local you admire?
Vincent Girodet, who I met at Le Meurice where he worked with Yannick Alléno. In 2019 Vincent abandoned his regular job to collect herbs, source unusual products and follow his dream creating a distillery called L’Alambic Parisien.
L’Alambic Parisien. Photo: Mairie 20
Your daily impression of Paris
As I walk through the different quartiers, everything changes. The contrasts are incredible: one minute you’re among chic shoppers, the next it’s Bo-Bo Land!
Every Parisian should own?
A Metro Map.
Paris Metro map
An item you can’t live without?
Two actually! Telerama, and M, the marvelous magazine of Le Monde newspaper.
Favorite address for lunch in Paris?
Chez Chloé Monshalin and Benjamin Rousselet at Le Grand Café d’Athenes, their “Mykonos-sur-Seine” style taverna combines the love of Greek food and good living. La vie est belle ici.
Best spot for coffee or cocktails?
A café called Maison Sauvage, located at 5, rue de Buci (6th), in the heart of Saint-Germain-des-Prés. On the terrace, bien sûr.
Maison Sauvage, rue de Buci. Photo credit: Margaret Kemp
Where do you buy clothes?
Chez Figaret and Balibaris– very simple!
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Where do you shop for products and groceries?
La Grande Épicerie and Le Bon Marché, Rive Gauche. There’s everything from a pin to an elephant here!
La Grande Epicerie de Paris
Your favorite Paris ‘hood?
From Les Tuileries via Le Louvre, Place Vendôme, Concorde and for pure elegance the Ile de la Cité.
The most fun thing to do in Paris?
Play pétanque on the banks of the Canal d’Ourcq. Refreshments at Bar Ourcq, 68 Quai de la Loire, 19th.
Pétanque in the Jardin du Luxembourg by Virginia Jones
Where do you go to relax with the family?
Marché aux Puces, Saint Ouen. And then chez Paul Bert (l’entrecôte’s, top!)
Treasures at the Marché aux Puces de Paris Saint-Ouen / by Diane Stamm
A building you would love to acquire?
Musée de la Vie Romantique, 16 rue Chaptel, 9th.
Musée de la vie romantique in Paris
Favorite city to visit (outside Paris)?
London, of course!
An annual event you look forward to?
La Fete de la Musique on the 21st of June – there’s music everywhere. In Paris, stages appear all over the city, on major squares and parks. The biggest and best-known are generally in the Jardin des Tuileries, Le Petit Palais, Institut du Monde Arabe, Le Louvre, Jardin du Luxembourg, on Place Denfert Rochereau and along the banks of the Seine. However, amateur bands playing all different kinds of music offer surprises on every corner.
Fête de la musique à Paris. Photo credit: Dalbera, CC BY 2.0
A place to take a guest in Paris?
Les Buttes Chaumont – we all need some green and pleasant experiences from time to time, n’est ce pas?
Parc des Buttes Chaumont. Photo by: Clem/ Wikimedia Commons
You have €25 left – how to spend it?
A delicious Shawarma chez my friend Alain Geeam. Not only for the food but for the warm welcome!
241 rue Saint Martin, 3rd
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Lead photo credit : François Perret at the Ritz Paris. © Cecile Gabriel
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