Diary
The Radar: Pierre Touitou
The chef’s Paris essentials
Pierre Touitou. Photo: Victor Jacques
In this edition of The Radar—Ursula’s uncommon cultural recommendations from our friends and colleagues around the world—Pierre Touitou, the chef and owner behind 19 Saint Roch in Paris’s 1st arrondissement, takes us around the city of light.
Stand Tora
This tiny kissa bar is run by the Nomoto family, who are also behind one of my all-time favorite restaurants, Kunitoraya. Stand Tora is on the same block as my restaurant and I would go there a lot when we were doing construction, before we opened. I really grew to love it. It’s also the only place I know of that serves both oden and a cheese plate—a union of Japan and France, which also perfectly complements their great selection of sake and whisky.
Chez René
I’ve been coming here since I was a kid, so it’s nostalgic for me. But when I’m here I start to feel like time travel might be possible. It’s a traditional French restaurant, and the menu includes classic brasserie staples, but in the winter they serve a Swiss chard gratin that I love. The layout of the dining room is also amazing.
Interior galleries at the Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine. Photo: Image Professionals GmbH / Alamy
Cité de l’architecture et du patrimoine
This is one of my favorite museums in the city. It’s dedicated to architecture, and they have a vast collection of materials ranging from models and drawings to full-size elements of buildings. I often go without looking at the exhibition program beforehand, and I’ve ended up attending some great talks there. The sheer amount of space they have allows them to create exhibitions in which you can truly get lost—but in the best possible way.
By Foot and Bike
As in any city, I find it’s best to walk or cycle around Paris as much as possible. I try to apply this principle wherever I travel, even to places I’ve been to several times. It’s great to have a “starting line” planned, like a bakery or a breathtaking viewpoint, and a finish line where you’ll stay once you arrive. On your way to the starting line, you can scoot around and explore. I like to do the same thing in markets and shops: I make a quick first loop, then go around a second time. By the time I’m done, I already know where I want to stop.
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Pierre Touitou is the chef and owner of the restaurant 19 Saint Roch in Paris’s 1st arrondissement. His cooking style is rooted in Paris, his hometown, and also inspired by Tunisia and Japan.