An Exquisite Private Dinner by Chef Valentin Neraudeau
Hi friends!
Happy first day of July. I can’t believe that we are already half way through the year. The first half of the year was filled with school work, class trips, thesis review sessions, and group projects. Now that I’m working full time as an intern, my whole world has revolved around transitioning into the work force.
On a more exciting note, last night I had the incredible opportunity to attend a private dinner hosted by The Fambase Agency. A social media agency based in Paris that specializes in exclusive and intimate experiences for luxury brands. Originally, I was supposed to attend with my dear friend, Sèva, as her plus one but in the end she couldn’t attend. As a result, I was a bit intimidated to attend such a formal influencer event on my own since I still have a rather small following and going into an event not knowing anyone is naturally scary. But when I weighed the potential pros and cons, the potential to make new friends and discover new food outweighed any fears I had about being alone.
After work, I changed into my Reformation dress that I’ve had for years and paired it with red shoes I thrifted a few summers ago. I was a bit frantic because I was running late and I did my make up sitting on one of the public seats in the metro before quickly walking over to the dinner destination in the 17th Arrondissement. Was I going to be underdressed? Overdressed? Stand out in a bad way? are thoughts that crossed my mind as I stumbled into the building.
A girl named Melina welcomed me into the private apartment where the dinner was being hosted. When I entered the room, a handful of girls in perfectly chic outfits graced the salon like a scene out of an old French film. The apartment was beyond stunning. With high ceilings, marble fireplace, electric green chandelier, and ornate decoration scattered around the room, this apartment is what Parisian dreams are made of.
The dinning experience started with a series of appetizers all made by chef Chef Valentin Neraudeau and his team. As I took in the beautiful space and observed the table setting, I couldn’t help but feel as if I was living in a dream. It might sound cliche, but when you’re sipping champagne out of Baccarat glassware surrounded by the beauty of a Parisian apartment, life feels nothing less than divine.
The dinner started with a speech from the chef. Since my French still needs improvement, I couldn’t make out all of the intricate details of each dish, but you don’t need to speak French to understand the artistry that goes into preparing the dishes.
As we waited to be seated for dinner, the Chef Valentin Neraudeau served a series of Amuse-bouches, AKA a series of small bites to discover the chef’s culinary style.
The appetizer: Fresh white fish with citrus, guacamole, berries, and caviar
The main: royal dorado fish with fresh greens topped with truffle
For dessert, we were all invited into the kitchen to watch Chef Valentin Neraudeau prepare the dish in front of us. Dessert is my love language and I watched him closely as he used caramel cream, vegan mouse, white chocolate, fresh jam, mint, and pistachio to create an edible masterpiece.
Overall the experience was nothing less than exquisite. Even the dinnerwear was thoughtfully curated by a small French porcelain atelier called Barbeau & Barbotine. Hand-painted and customizable, Barbeau & Barbotine offers exceptional porcelain pieces for those with a discerning eye.
Many thanks to The Fambase Agency for granting me the dining experience of a lifetime. It was truly one of the most magical moments I’ve had in Paris so far and I look forward to many more to come. Shout out to my dear friend Sèva who was kind enough to invite me as her plus one. I never would have had this opportunity without her support!
Even though I like to share the highlights, life as an expat is full of constant challenges. But it wouldn’t be an adventure without the highs and lows. I came here looking for a new chapter and attending an event like this on my own unlocked a brand new main character in me. Stay tuned for more!
À bientôt xx
Kiana