Eat your broccoli
Chez Joy, OPLA, The Fat Broccoli, Montmartre real estate, Maison Vérot, Les Sources de Cheverny, Canova, MORE
WORK • Friday Routine
Vegan queen
CHARLOTTE CHENEVIER • co-founder • The Fat Broccoli
Neighborhood you work in: 8th Arr
Neighborhood you live in: Le Pré-Saint-Gervais
It’s Friday morning. What’s the scene at your workplace?
It depends on our professional projects with my husband Antoine. We’ve been working together for over 10 years, and just came out of an intense work phase where part of our weekends was inevitably dedicated — happily — to work. Right now, things are a bit calmer, and we can really disconnect on weekends (until the next wave comes).
It’s always a tricky balancing act, because we have three young children (4, 3, and a 1-year-old) who demand a lot of attention, and with whom we love spending time. Generally speaking, we’re a bit hyperactive, so weekends are always a delightful mix of outings and activities with the kids, along with long lunches and/or dinners with family and friends. We often find ourselves on Sunday evenings saying we can’t wait for the week to start so we can rest.
What’s on the agenda for today?
No two days are the same, and that’s what I love. What keeps me busiest is, of course, the development of The Fat Broccoli, which we envision as the first 100% veggie and sexy restaurant chain in France. We opened our first restaurant on Rue Washington in the 8th arrondissement and are currently working on the next one. There’s also a whole B2B aspect to develop, along with plenty of communication and PR work, not to mention the constant evolution of the menu and interactions with customers.
With Antoine, we’re also shareholders in a few other companies where we occasionally get involved: notably Climate House, an ecosystem bringing together many players in ecological transition in a building in the Sentier, and Paulow, a company aiming to revolutionize the professional clothing sector by focusing on French/European manufacturing and high environmental standards. We also have some real estate investments that take up a bit of our time. In short, life is rich and intense, and we rarely get bored!
Any restaurant plans today, tonight, this weekend?
Oh yes, always! Antoine and I have had a ritual for 10 years of going on a date night once a week. Recently, we returned for the second time in two weeks to our friends’ place Maslow, who opened their third restaurant at the Carreau du Temple. It’s a marvel of good taste — both culinary and architectural — spread over three floors with a cocktail bar nestled at the top.
Last weekend, my brother and sister-in-law treated us to lunch for our birthdays at Mosuke, Mory Sacko’s acclaimed restaurant. I also dream of trying Datil this year, Manon Fleury’s restaurant, whose gentle yet refined plant-based cuisine is getting a lot of buzz!
How about a little leisure or culture this weekend?
Since the past four years, all our outings need to be kid-friendly, but luckily, Paris is full of great options. Off the top of my head: The Cité des Enfants at La Villette, Centquatre (which always has great shows and exhibitions), the Egyptian Antiquities department at the Louvre (you should have seen my son’s wide eyes in front of the sarcophagi), the Great Evolution Gallery at the Jardin des Plantes, or the Musée d’Orsay to admire Monet’s Water Lilies. In the summer, we also make it a point to spend one or two weekends picking fruits and vegetables at Ferme de Gally in the Yvelines.
Any weekend getaways?
In recent years, we’ve often gone to the Country Lodge, a domain in Perche just 1.5 hours from Paris, where you’ll find extremely cozy and well-equipped cabins. There are plenty of activities nearby, and most importantly, every morning, the kids are invited to feed the animals.
For a romantic weekend, I highly recommend Les Sources de Cheverny, near the château of the same name, 2.5 hours by car from Paris. Cozy rooms, two dining options (one Michelin-starred), a Nordic bath under the stars, and a Caudalie spa: everything you need to recharge away from the Parisian hustle.
What was your last great vacation?
Antoine and I promised ourselves to minimize flying as much as possible. The rule: one long-haul flight every three years. Our last big trip as a couple was in the summer of 2023 when we spent 10 days in Los Angeles, and I have such bright memories. Our favorites: wandering around all the restaurants and shops of the Gjusta chain, hiking to the Hollywood sign and taking in the view of the city stretching to the sea, admiring contemporary art at The Broad Museum, escaping for two days to Ojai and sipping orange wine at Rory’s Place, booking a night at the Surfrider Hotel in Malibu, and of course, an early morning surf lesson to enjoy the waves.
What’s a recent big-ticket purchase you love?
I treated myself to the Blue Lines outfit (pants and shirt) from Elise Chalmin, whose joyful and colorful style I adore. Perfect for summer weddings but also for workdays when worn separately.
What store or service do you always recommend?
Françoise Paris, an online shop offering vintage watches of excellent quality at very competitive prices. I found my Van Cleef & Arpels watch there, and I haven’t taken it off for a year.
Where are you donating your time or money?
I was a mentor for several years with Proxité, a charity connecting professionals with young people in precarious situations. It’s a great association fostering beautiful stories and emotions. The mentees come to their mentors’ offices, which makes things much easier. Don’t hesitate to reach out to them to become a mentor!
PARIS WORK & PLAY LINKS: What not to miss at next week’s Paris Men’s Fashion Week • Chatting with Félix Moulin, co-owner of Recoin in the 11th • Shopping the humble boutique Duke on Rue Bréa in the 6th • Paris FC’s stunner.
REAL ESTATE • On the Market
Three duplexes currently on offer in the 18th arr:
→ Butte Montmartre (metro Simplon) • 2BR/2BA, 117 m2 duplex • Ask: 1.8M € • on top floors w/ charming wooden staircase between floors • Annual maintenance/condo fees: 4224 € • Agent: Thomas Deroudilhe, Sotheby’s.
→ Rue Versigny (metro Jules Joffrin, above) • 4BR/3BA, 158 m2 duplex • Ask: 2.9M € • top floors w/ large roof terrace featuring views to Sacré-Cœur • Annual maintenance/condo fees: N/A € • Agent: Séverine De Freycinet, Daniel Feau.
→ Montmartre (metro Blanche) • 3BR/3BA, 159 m2 duplex • Ask: 2.99M € • renovated loft with modern touches in building dating to 1850, plus outdoor space • Annual maintenance/condo fees: N/A € • Agent: Eric Schiffer, Barnes.
GOODS & SERVICES • FOUND Shop
Aged to perfection
Some things don’t need reinventing. That’s the case with the feuilleté au jambon (ham puff) at Maison Vérot: white ham, Emmental, béchamel, and a shattering puff pastry. Created by Pierre Vérot and unchanged since, it’s the kind of thing you eat standing up in the kitchen, or serve with a green salad (and pretend it’s a meal).
Maison Vérot has been doing things the right way since 1930. Now helmed by Gilles Vérot and his son Nicolas, their flagship shop on Rue Notre-Dame-des-Champs is a temple to French charcuterie, offering both classic and inventive creations. The sourcing is impeccable (pigs raised in the Perche, flour from the Moulins de Versailles) and their range covers every craving, from pistachio-flecked charcuterie that gleam like a stained-glass window to nose-to-tail terrines, boudin noir, and their now-iconic pâté en croûte.
Other standouts? Delicate poulette terrine with purple carrots and yellow zucchini, spice-flecked tongue terrine, and the Oreiller de la Belle Aurore, a 15-meat masterpiece worthy of its own dinner party. –Victoire Loup
→ Maison Vérot (6th arr, additional locations in the 3rd, 4th, 9th, 15th Arr) • 3 rue Notre-Dame des Champs • Tue-Sat 9h-20h.
Photo: Géraldine Martens
CULTURE & LEISURE • Runway
Soulwax • Salle Pleyel (8th arr) • Fri @ 20h • cat 1, 62 € per
Henny Trap Fashion Show • Palais de Tokyo (16th arr) • Sun @ 20h • VIP, 55 € per
Dave Chappelle • Alhambra (10th arr) • Thu @ 20h • carre or, 167 € per
GETAWAYS • Provence
Simple beauty
When I first met Francesco Consolini in 2022, he was still a daytime chef at another restaurant in Provence’s coastal city of Toulon, then would head over at night to run his own, Canova.
At the beginning, Canova was a simple concept: every dish €10, wine by the glass €5, bottles €25. There was always a handmade pasta dish on the menu, honoring his Italian roots, alongside seafood, raw and cooked, dressed in vibrant sauces in nearly every color imaginable. A few tables outside, checkered tablecloths, a cheerful host — pure trattoria spirit.
You had to book early; it filled up fast.
I remember my first meal there vividly, a burst of colors and aromas that exploded onto the plates. The place has grown since then. Francesco can now devote himself entirely to his “baby.” The terrace stretches down the little street, though reservations are still essential. I’ve never seen Canova anything but full.
Today, the format has evolved to a set menu at 42€: one amuse-bouche, two savory dishes and one dessert per person. Each additional plate is 10€. Wines still start at 5€ by the glass and 25€ by the bottle. The portions are generous, the flavors, irresistible.
Late last September, the menu still had the brightness of Provence’s summer, peaking in fall’s direction, slowly welcoming warmer flavors. Tatin-style puff pastry, caramelized onions with Banyuls vinegar, Comté and Vin Jaune emulsion; aged tuna crudo with sumac, ajo blanco of melon and cashew; cod with clams, chorizo, white wine and smoked yogurt; scallop carpaccio, tom yum reduction, Sichuan pepper chili oil.
Every element is cooked to perfection, fish with flawless doneness, sauces with precise balance, meats slow-cooked to tenderness.
The combinations hint of inspirations stretching from Southeast Asia to the Pacific coast of South America. You can’t help but wonder how he manages the feat of turning out a menu of nine dishes and two desserts from such a tiny kitchen.
On the wine list, he always has Domaine Les Terres Promises, by far the most interesting wine estate in the area. It’s a perfect choice as you linger over Canova’s gorgeous plates. –Candice Chemel
→ Canova (Toulon) • 19 Rue Richard Andrieu • Tue-Sat 7h30-23h • Book.
GETAWAYS LINKS: Live vertically in a 17th-century Amsterdam canal house • Wilde Aparthotels continues European expansion with new hotels opening this month in Lisbon and Vienna • In Zermatt, the divine influence of the mountain view • Cabins, but make them floating.
ASK FOUND
Three PROMPTS for which we seek your immediate attention
What new restaurant opening has you most excited?
Which gym are you joining this month (or returning to)?
Where are you booking for a ski trip this winter?
Got answers or more questions? Hit reply or email found@foundparis.com.
RESTAURANTS • FOUND Table
Choose joy
There are market streets, and then there’s Rue Daguerre. Something sets this street apart; maybe it’s how Agnès Varda captured its everyday rhythm, turning it into poetry by way of her film Daguerréotypes. Or maybe it’s because two of its storefronts belong to the same family: Chez Joy and OPLA.