Tucked away in a tiny back street in central Paris’ Les Halles is a hidden 20-seat jewel box by the name of Yam’tcha (“to drink tea”), which despite only recently opening its doors is already one of Paris’ hottest new foodie havens. Having worked in some of Paris’ best kitchens (L’Astrance and Le Meurice to name a few) and after a 2-year stint in Hong Kong, the creative young chef, Adeline Gattard, draws upon both French and Chinese influences in her explosive-yet-delicate fusion cuisine. Gattard meticulously crafts a daily tasting menu that strikes the right balance between the vastly different cooking techniques and fresh produce of both countries. The melt-in-your-mouth duckling with sauteed eggplant, and the succulent steamed Mozambique prawns are a highlight, along with the luscious desserts such as the homemade ginger ice cream with passion fruit and avocado. Unfortunately the secret is out, where the waiting list is at least a month so make sure you book ahead (although lunchtime is a lot more accessible). Bookings essential.
