Two Americans in Paris (Hidden Kitchen)

Paris,

Over the last few years there has been a suprisingly high and quite successful invasion of American chefs into the Paris cuinary scene. They bring with them a refreshing and innovative American-style entrepreneurialism and experimentationwhich when combined with France’s gastronomic passion is creating a great success and quite a buzz in contemporary Parisian dining scene.

Two pioneers in this delicious movement are American chefs Braden and Laura. In 2007, the couple moved from Seattle to Paris to set up Hidden Kitchen, an underground, word-of-mouth, dining destination located in their Parisian flat. Hidden Kitchen is a sophisticated supper club where food-loving strangers come to meet and eat.

It is intersting to note that Braden and Laura initially conceived of hosting a short-term series of "speakeasy" style dinners. Calling their project a "dinner club" in order to avoid the often laborious and expensive French regulation system.  Since then, Braden and Laura have become darlings of the local Paris food scene.

 

Mainstream journalists followed bloggers, and Hidden Kitchen is now one of our city's most sought-after reservations. I scored my own seat by making a reservation at their web site, hkmenus.com. Confirmation came immediately, along with a series of ground rules: The menu would offer no choices, but I could alert them to any strong preferences. The location would be disclosed by email shortly before the date. What's the price you might ask? Well it is typically a "suggested donation" of €80 ($100) per person. I can tell you that the price including fabulous 10 course cuisine and wine pairings is well worth it and then some.

Also included in that price is the fun of meeting some really interesting people. Braden and Laura's spectacular flat is a joyful escape from the Parisian norms, the seating is family style at a large table with a diverse crowd whom you will strike up conversation and even friendships with. English seems to be the common language diners use, though French is of course on the menu.  I cannot tell you was a pleasant escape the Hidden Kitchen, secret, special and spectacularly brilliant in today's dead common world where so few surprises remain.  Thank you Braden & Laura... I will be back!

 

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