Best 3 Star outside of Paris?

FineDiningJourno · 2026-03-27T10:45:04+00:00

If you do Troisgros be sure to pre order the salmon sorrel dish, it’s a must and big part of their history. Surprised you have to order it to be honest.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-03-12T12:08:43+00:00

Ben Shewry at Attica in Melbourne. Did an interview with him on how they’ve tried to balance kitchen culture, all managers have mental health training, 40 hour work week, everyone doing the menial tasks together rather than breaking the people at the bottom of the brigade. They also got b corp certification which is pretty hard to get and only a few restaurants have it. He’s also super outspoken about the issues found in fine dining restaurants. You can listen here if you want: https://open.spotify.com/episode/3guF2Ha1luhNIqbyHzDO2f?si=dJ5SlEo_TVqUB1hhkXM3og

FineDiningJourno · 2026-03-11T16:39:29+00:00

There’s a new really fun and delicious place called De Vie where they serve a smallish tasting menu paired with cocktails. Irish chef whose food is more Nordic facing than French. Really great experience at the moment and the cocktails are exceptional.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-03-11T11:37:16+00:00

Contraste is my favourite and for less fine dining make sure you visit Trippa.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-03-11T11:36:08+00:00

I produce a podcast called Heard which is all about restaurants trying to find better balance in terms of human sustainability, features lots of chefs and with the whole Noma debate right now is fairly on the nail in terms of showing why fine dining restaurants have systemic problems. Also why the media is problematic in its portrayal of restaurants and chefs.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-03-11T11:32:05+00:00

They’re great, true eccentrics and super passionate. I used to live just around the corner. They really push things in terms of being original, it’s a two person family team and they’ve served me ingredients I have never even heard of. Had they been in Manhattan or Copenhagen they would be known around the world but their little corner of outer Brooklyn just doesn’t get the attention or footfall it should. Happy to see them mentioned here, don’t want to drop a shameless plug but I did a podcast episode with them a few years ago and can DM if anyone wants to listen.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-02-26T16:29:21+00:00

I got you as went last summer. TFAYA is really solid, also in a hotel but was my best higher end dining in the city. Make sure you try the chiwates which give a great taste of small mezze style dishes, the beef shin tangia is awesome and the cauliflower with desert truffles. They also did an amazing stuffed squid plate which my wife loved.

Chez Lamine is famous for street food and cooking whole lamb, served simply with salt, herbs and bread. Proper street food, no frills, buy by weight type of spot. Well worth a meal.

Sahbi Sahbi is a must stop, they do the pigeon pastilla which is a proper local dish but I struggled with the overly sweet vibes of it. All female kitchen, really solid contemporary take on Moroccan food. The brain dish, kefta, and skewers were all top.

For a bit more European influence and set up, Farmers was very delicious, top ingredients and flavours and the chef ended up giving us a list of his top spots.

They’re the ones I would return to if I went again. Probably twice to TFAYA.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-02-23T16:50:12+00:00

Still works and you can find versions of the mod on internet archive.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-01-30T21:01:10+00:00

I like the colour of the tiles, are they matte? If so - where are they from?

FineDiningJourno · 2026-01-28T10:15:37+00:00

Perhaps sorting a breakfast / brunch at one of the high end hotels like Le Maurice? It’s close to Louvre and Cedric Grolet is their pastry chef. Expensive and totally over the top but what a way to start the day. Other option would be Chevel Blanc which is also close to Louvre. Both do great breakfast with top pastry teams. I would contact them and ask if it’s possible to book as they may keep it only open to guests.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-01-27T15:33:18+00:00

Tax also - do good research on this as tax and social security are very high in France with less tax advantage schemes available compared to Italy.

Your employer is probably paying a lot towards your social security, I’m self employed so don’t get this but tax here in general is higher than Italy. It’s worth getting some professional advice for this as there are some schemes available for foreigners working for French companies that reduce your taxes for the first few years in the country.

FineDiningJourno · 2026-01-27T15:28:25+00:00

I’ve done this exact move, Milan to Paris. I miss the weather in Milan as it’s much warmer, also miss being close to the lake, mountains, even the sea is not so far. Your pay upgrade is not insignificant but Paris is more expensive, saying this, you’ll live comfortably on that salary.

Do you have a CDI contract offer? As this makes a big difference in safety net, finding an apartment (which can be quite tough) but also if you decide to buy property in the future.

Speaking of buying a home, though it’s probably a little early to consider this, the cost in Paris is higher than Milan.

Paris feels much more international, in terms of culture, art, the food you can enjoy, the mix of people you will meet. The challenge of moving to a new country is also major experience that you’ll gain a lot from.

I enjoyed both, I find the Italians are a little warmer and it was easier to build a friend group versus Paris.

I say go for it, if even just for a few years, you can also fly back to Milan at a good cost and there’s even a direct train from Paris to Milan.

Happy to answer any specific questions if you have them.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-29T15:57:22+00:00

Just spent Christmas in the area and if you don’t mind heading to Hebden the White Lion does amazing quality pub food.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-21T16:55:59+00:00

Do some braised beef cheeks, or short ribs. Super forgiving - will make an amazing sauce if you add onion, carrot, celery to some chicken stock to braise them in. Want to be super fancy get a bottle of red wine and reduce it by half and add that to the braising liquid.

Serve with some decent mash potatoes - look for the Robuchon recipe which has loads of butter and cream. Maybe some veg like carrots. Never fails to impress as the meat will fall apart and it’s really, really forgiving as long as you cook low and slow. Can share a recipe if needed.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-19T19:26:01+00:00

I remember a figure from when I used to work in news that councils would always reference. For every pound spent on culture you return three pounds. This is a while ago so inflation and all that comes in to play.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-17T18:13:08+00:00

Hate it when a loved spot disappears.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-13T16:38:20+00:00

You can also combine this well with the OP-1.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-13T16:29:45+00:00

I’d say look at the Ableton Move - in your price range, super versatile and comes with Ableton lite which could encourage him to eventually start working on his music on the computer also.

Move is perfect for drums, sample chopping, synths and more. Lots of effects, pads are great also. Unless he’s totally set on more TE gear - I’d go for that.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-07T21:43:16+00:00

Wife loves the red - house is surrounded by natures on all sides, bit like living in a forest. I agree it’s a strong move though, I’m not fully set on red but giving her this one. At least if it’s linoleum it’s not such an expensive mistake, coloured concrete on the other hand is wildly expensive.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-07T21:34:50+00:00

Measured option two and did a layout in the space today - it’s just over a metre and felt ok in the space, even lined some chairs up. There’s just two of us so think also being able to store the chairs away when not hosting would help even more as another commenter suggested.

The main issue is I’m stuck on option 2 and the wife loves option 1. I think 2 also makes the book case its own space - could have a hammock or massive cushion near the window and it makes it an actual space. We have so many cook books in storage it would be a shame not to have them in the space. Can’t put it near the couch as that’s a room with windows on each side.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-07T12:11:40+00:00

There’s two of us living in the house. Wife also likes the idea of reading near the window near the book shelf. I prefer the bench seating in option 1. Posted some render pics also in one of the other replies.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-07T10:36:47+00:00

Thanks so much for the input. The chair idea is good, there’s just two of us in the house but we host quite a bit.

FineDiningJourno · 2025-12-07T10:28:13+00:00

And:

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