the best of modern paris
BEST MENS cLOTHING - fRANCK nAMANI
Franck Namani sells the most luxurious clothes in Paris. They are elegantly crafted using the finest materials, and hand made in extremely low quantities - only four of each item in each size (two for the two stores in Paris, one for London and one for Geneva). Unlike Brioni, Zegna and Loro Piana, the fit is consistent. If you wear a size 50, all items in that size will fit you perfectly. This allows the store to implement a "Dressing Room Concept" where each room is devoted to a particular chest size (size 50 shown).
In Paris, the store at 4 rue Marbeuf is by far my favorite. Michel, in menswear, has a great eye for color and style. David, in the women's section, is always fun to work with.
BEST LUNCH - lE SOUFFLE'
Of course, this is no exciting discovery - Le Souffle is consistently rated at the top of Paris restaurants. Delicious and inexpensive. Skip La Tour D'argent and eat here. If you look them up on the web, be sure to read the proprietaire's responses to the few negative reviews, they will make you laugh. I have been eating here for 28 years and never regretted a meal. Just do not order a souffle appetizer, souffle entree and souffle dessert or you will feel like Cool Hand Luke.
best week away from paris
This secluded house in Corfu (an Airbnb rental) is light years from downtown Paris but only 2.5 hours by plane. You don't know how badly you needed to get out of the 16th until you see the sunrise over the straight between Greece and Albania. Last August, the island had 20,000 tourists, compared to the normal 200,000, proving even an ill wind blows some good.
best Bread
France is famous for its bread but most boulangeries are too lazy to offer it hot from the oven unless you are out at 6 AM. Desgranges, on the other hand, makes their special Passy Passion bread fresh every morning and every afternoon, and sometimes at lunch too. The Passy Passion is a white loaf like a baguette with a shorter cooking time for a softer feel. Delicious.
best INTERNATIONAL SCHOOL
We moved to France with two children, ages 11 and 14. After looking at all the international schools, we chose Kingsworth International and have never regretted it. Small, caring with good teachers. Located in the 16th (Passy). I would not recommend ISP, and the majority of other international schools are not centrally located.
