I booked a one day private tour and a cooking class for my friend and I on my last trip to Paris. All we have to say is that Philippe has been amazing. His tour got us to discover way more than we could have seen on our own including many of the real Parisian secrets, hidden gems and secrets the locals don't share usually. Philippe is a real Parisian, born and raised in town. He has also lived for a long time in Los Angeles ans knows how to link French culture to our concerns.He has an impressive memory and an extensive knowledge of the history and the arts with a very personal and fun way to tell stories. The time flew...and all his recommendations for shopping and for restaurants and bars were great!
Two days later we had booked his in home cooking class and farmers market tour. We met near his place with 2 other couples and Philippe took us to his nearby farmers market. What treat, it seems he has lots of connections with the vendors and all of them have been very nice to us. Philippe explain the art of picking the right seasonal produce and the best quality based on origines and terroir. Once the shopping done we headed to his apartment across from the market. A nice an airy space with a touch of design. His kitchen could have accommodated more guests but he likes to keep it intimate, maximum 7 guests per class. We started preparing the meal which consisted in an appetizer, an entre, cheese tray and desert equipped with aprons and all the tools everyone should have in its kitchen. We followed the instruction of the chef and learned some good knife techniques and cooking tips.
Amazing how easy it appears when you have the right technique! The experience was fabulous and probably the best meal we had in our all trip. The company, the conversation,the food, the table, everything was perfect in a very relaxed atmosphere.
We heard that Philippe was also giving tours of the Louvre on Wednesday or Friday when the museum opens late and is more quiet. We decided to join him the day after and enjoyed a great time in this overwhelming museum.Philippe was waiting for us near the subway stop with the tickets so we didn't waist time lining and cut the line! The palace of the Louvre is so big with so much to look at it makes you dizzy. Thanks to Philippe who is like a fish in a tank, we got a selection of the pieces you have to see when visiting the Louvre. Over 25 pieces with great anecdotes. Philippe's family were involved in art and he feels like at home in the Louvre he visited intensely with his grandfather when he was younger.
If planning a trip to Paris, Philippe is the man to meet to make it a success! read more