Building bridges
ROMAIN TAIEB • Groupe Happy Days, DOKI DOKI
WORK • Friday Routine
ROMAIN TAIEB • president • Groupe Happy Days, DOKI DOKI
Neighborhood you live in: 16th arr
It’s Friday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
I work all the time managing my restaurants and developing new projects, and my teams are always connected. We work in small groups, like a family, and we’re all driven by what we do, so the weekend isn’t a break but a continuation of the week. I don’t always have time for the weekend, but sometimes Friday involves a boozy lunch with my friends for whom Friday marks the start of the weekend, or it can feel like a Monday because it’s the peak of activity. Honestly, I enjoy when Paris empties out; it’s a pleasant time to walk around or work.
What’s on the agenda for today?
Right now, I’m working on the national and international development of DOKI DOKI, which is a bridge between Japanese cuisine and NY, my favorite city. We’re designing Temaki bars with the best products and a cool, affordable experience wherever we can set up. We’re also working on creating an elegant bistro in a stunning 1920s white stone building with a large terrace, designed in an art deco spirit, with a deep wine list and a very Parisian food menu. On top of that, I try to do sports every day, preferably in the streets of Paris, and I try as much as possible to be home early to spend time with my four-year-old daughter, which is the activity I care most about.
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Bon Georges in the 9th arrondissement is an excellent bistro with one of the best wine lists in Paris, particularly great for a business lunch or dinner.
Vivant 2, for a romantic dinner for two, with soft candlelight, marble counters, and food that’s both edgy and delicate, best enjoyed as a pair.
I like to go to Jais, the bistro in the 7th, where there’s always a friend around — it’s kind of the spot of the moment, and the friendly atmosphere at Jais is a classic.
I go to Double Dragon when I have a nostalgic craving for Asian flavors, often after a party or just for fun.
Finally, whenever I crave something sweet, I rush to Gramme for pastries that aren’t exactly coffee shop-style or French, nor really American, but full of poetry — delicious and addictive.
A little bonus: a sandwich at Cosi after the cinema in Saint Germain or after a drink at the bar of the market.
Any weekend getaways?
Let’s opt for a weekend in Normandy: I take my car and drive 1 hour and 45 minutes toward Deauville. I choose a charming hotel in Beaumont en Auge, like Maison Mouche; the village is stunning and overlooks the Auge Valley. If I have kids, I take them to the Ouezy organic farm and the Cerza zoo, which is extraordinary. I recommend having lunch at Les Vapeurs in Trouville because it’s a local institution, and you must try the catch of the day. Afterward, I go for a walk on the cliffs of Etretat and perhaps end the day with dinner in Honfleur before heading back to sleep, feeling like I’ve traveled in just 24-48 hours.
What was your last great vacation?
Thailand, Chiang Mai: elephants, night markets, and temples. We stayed at the Four Seasons. In Koh Samui, we stayed at the Napsai Samui (formerly Belmond), chilled, and did a boxing camp at Lion Heart. In Koh Phangan, we stayed at the Anantara, nestled between the jungle and the beach. Thai cooking classes and sunset with my daughter, and then Bangkok, where everything is crazy: the markets, malls, extraordinary restaurants, and the city’s urgency. We stayed at the Sukhothai.
What store or service do you recommend in Paris?
I recommend the Lamartine bookstore in the 16th or L’Écume des Pages in Saint-Germain to pick a good read. The tea ceremony at Jugetsudo in the 6th. Pistil in the 18th, with whom we work, for buying beautiful flowers.