Craft, Cuisine & Culture – A Week in Paris

Celebrating life in Paris, Paris Makers, and the strange, new, true and beautiful – forever!

🖤 Fresh from the Tate in London, the Musée d’Art Moderne presents a retrospective of the heroic Lee Miller, tracing her journey from sought-after 1920s model in NYC to pioneering photographer. A central figure in the Parisian avant-garde, she collaborated with her lover Man Ray and appeared for example in Jean Cocteau’s surrealist opus Le Sang d’un poète (1930), while apprenticing at French Vogue, and opening her own photo studio. Spanning her full career – taking in fashion shoots, society portraits, surrealist experimentation and war reportage – the exhibition demonstrates her fearless, experimental vision. Opens Fri!

🍜 The ultimate residency at Mokoloco is currently underway before the tiny 11th arrondissement counter undergoes an exciting – and still secret – transformation. Owners Moko Hirayama and Omar Koreitem of Mokonuts will unveil a new concept there in May. Don’t miss your last chance to experience Mokoloco in its current form, where Korean chef Minsoo Kim (ex-Septime) is serving a seasonal sharing menu that blends the bold flavors of Korea with the elegance of French cuisine, until 25 April.

🍸 Out tomorrow! Cravan: Cocktails and More: Recipes from Paris (Rizzoli) a new book by Franck Audoux, Paris Maker and founder of Cravan, Paris’s most inspired bar americain. An abecedary of cocktail culture, the book features recipes for drinks and bar food alongside conversations, reflections and offbeat images, tracing the cultural influences that nourish Cravan – starting with its namesake, the surrealist Arthur Cravan, poet, boxer and provocateur.

🐖 Yves Camdeborde’s much-loved, standing-room-only wine bar/ small plates concept L’Avant-Comptoir expands to the Right Bank, now in the hands of his nephew Julien Camdeborde: Avant-Comptoir du Grouin (8 rue de Belzunce), in Thierry Breton’s former haunt near Gare du Nord, and Avant-Comptoir des Halles (49 rue Montmartre). A new generation, but the formula remains the same – raucous, convivial and unapologetically delicious – celebrating the French terroir with lots of bold nose-to-tail dishes and quality wines from independent growers. Open daily from noon to 11 pm.

🌿 Next weekend, a new festival Le Printemps des Manufactures, organized by the Mobilier National, celebrates France’s living craft heritage nationwide. Seven historic workshops – from Aubusson and Beauvais tapestries to Alençon lace – open their doors for demos, hands-on ateliers and encounters with artisans. Just outside Paris, the exceptional Manufacture nationale de Sèvres welcomes visitors to explore the secrets of porcelain-making, meet designers in residence and see centuries-old techniques reimagined today. (Sat 11 April, free entry)

Thanks for reading :)

Kate

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Welcome to Paris, Puces. on Substack. Expect the best of : LIFE IN PARIS 🇫🇷 each week, plus expert intel and tips from the world’s most epic FLEA MARKET✨ Art, Fashion, Design !

On Mondays: Life in Paris postcards - a curated mix of sights, bites and delights, celebrating Paris Makers, and the strange, new, true, and beautiful, forever!

On Fridays: Flea market intel - in-depth guides, behind-the-scenes stories and practical tips (this content will eventually be paywalled, but Life in Paris will remain free).

👉🏽 After years exploring the Puces de Saint-Ouen and researching for my book ‘The Paris Flea Market’, I now share that insider knowledge through bespoke buying and research tours – for collectors, decorators, architects, or anyone who wants to explore the markets with a deeper eye. Hit me up!