David Douard (Galerie Chantal Crousel)
Paloma, 93 Rue Julien Lacroix, 75020 Paris

I used to spend all my time in this neighborhood back when I was part of castillo/corrales, a contemporary art space run by an artist collective. I still live there, just around the corner. Paloma is a restaurant serving small sharing plates, founded by former students from the Beaux-Arts de Paris. Yet the place isn’t some insular artist hangout – it’s a genuine neighborhood canteen. I think there’s a real coherence between art and cooking: we work, make choices, and build something together.

Johanna Mirabel (Galerie Nathalie Obadia)
Jah Jah by Le Tricycle, 11 rue des Petites Écuries, 75010 Paris

Jah Jah by Le Tricycle is a place I’m particularly attached to, because it manages to reinvent I-tal cuisine - a diet associated with the Rastafari movement - in an entirely vegan version while preserving its authenticity. What I love is this ability to combine familiar Afro-Caribbean flavors with carefully prepared dishes, with a generosity that makes every meal both comforting and refined. I usually go for the warm bowls: A single plate bringing together different preparations – rice, legumes, roasted vegetables, aromatic sauces – creating an ensemble rich in textures and contrasts. It’s a dish where you discover several things at once, in beautiful harmony. For something more familiar, their portobello burger is an option I recommend: The grilled and marinated mushroom, paired with fresh toppings, makes for an indulgent and satisfying result. The roasted plantains are essential for me – they bring a sweetness that perfectly balances the plates. For drinks, I often choose the bissap, refreshing and delicate, or their ginger juice, more intense and spicy. Finally, the plant-based cheesecake, which changes with the seasonal fruit, remains one of my favorite desserts: light, refined, and always perfectly executed.

Louise Sartor (Crèvecœur)
Aoi Thai Spicy, 33 rue Caillaux, 75013 Paris

I grew up in the Asian quarter and now live there again. Rue Caillaux is particularly well stocked with good addresses. I’ve been going to number 33 for a long time. It used to be a delicious dumpling restaurant where I’d have lunch with my mother, and it was recently replaced by Aoi Thai Spicy. Its small dining room and popularity mean there’s often a queue, especially since the singer Lisa was spotted there with her stylist Nanist after a day of shopping. The trick is that their closing day is unusual (Friday) and they’re open on Sundays and Mondays, when it’s much quieter. On weekdays, for a quick lunch, I get their pad see ew in the vegetarian version with seitan (having that option is fairly recent in the neighborhood). But their specialty is really som tam, the green papaya salad typical of the Isan region, in various iterations. For a dinner to share, the large papaya salad with a ʻmix of everything’ makes a good introduction, along with a noodle or rice dish. I’m waiting for winter to try the soups. Fair warning, as the restaurant’s name suggests: It’s spicy!