The pleasure of the first coffee on a terrace on May 19th after 8 months of waiting © Harupimedia

Paris was under the rain for the reopening of the terraces on 19 May. This did not stop Estrella Maillet and Philippine Freiman from drinking their coffee outside. The Talent Developer duo set up shop in a brasserie opposite the Tuileries.

The weather was not good. In Paris, it was a shower of sleet that accompanied the reopening of the café and restaurant terraces. Wrapped up in their coats, as if in the middle of winter, Estrella Maillet and Philippine Freiman went to drink their coffee – with croissants – at 8 o’clock in the morning at L’Impérial, a brasserie facing the Tuileries Gardens, a stone’s throw from their office. First impressions of the duo at the head of Talent Developer: “It’s a pleasure! We are delighted to see many establishments reopen. “The very next day, they wanted to repeat the experience at lunchtime at Maison Plisson, Place du Marché Saint-Honoré, “but the terrace was packed“, Philippine Freiman regrets. A Parisian square where the exteriors of the many restaurants are now fully booked, almost every lunchtime. And this, regardless of the weather. Proof that there is a real expectation to find the atmosphere of bistros and restaurants. This is confirmed by an Edenred-Odoxa survey, published on May 19th, according to which 1 in 3 French people wanted to go to a restaurant in the first week of reopening. Another observation from the same source: 69% of French people intend to take advantage of restaurant terraces “to have more convivial lunch breaks”.

The terrace of the Impérial, a brasserie facing the Tuileries Gardens, a stone’s throw from the offices of Talent Developer
© Vanessa
The fully booked terrace at lunchtime at Maison Plisson Place du Marché Saint Honoré

“The Brandevin tartar is my favourite in Paris! “

“During the Whitsun weekend, I took advantage of two terraces,” confides Philippine Freiman. Her choices: “Le Brandevin, in the 16th arrondissement, where I’ve been going since I was a child, and whose tartar is my favourite in Paris! I also went to La Terrasse du 7e, in the Ecole Militaire district, where I like to sit and watch people go by. “She also enjoyed seeing that some establishments, usually closed on Sundays, remained open: “It creates a good atmosphere. “The only downside: “The terraces where social distancing is not always respected, nor the 50% table gauge. You find yourself shoulder-to-shoulder with your neighbours. It’s not serious. “

Beef Tartare at Le Brandevin (Paris 16th), Philippine Freiman’s favourite.

Talent Developer’s gourmet tips :

Maison Plisson : 35 place du Marché Saint-Honoré, Paris 1st.
Le Brandevin : 29 rue du Docteur Blanche , Paris 16th.
La Terrasse du 7e : 2 place de l’Ecole militaire, Paris 7th.

Article written by Anne Eveillard for Talent Developer