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In this special episode, I met up with April Pett and had a coffee in Belleville, in the 20th arrondissement. We talked about her and her tours, covered the topic of French coffee and just generally had a Coffee Pot conversation.
What makes this episode special? It marks the 10th anniversary of April in Paris Tours and despite my impeccable planning of the first season, I had nowhere in the running order to place her. So, this is my first BONUS episode.
Here is a list of some of the things we spoke of:
April's hometown is Thorold, in Ontario, Canada
I mention Au Père Tranquille, located at 16 rue Pierre Lescot, 75001, when talking with Nev
The fun fact that April mentions is "9,057 open-terraced cafés in Paris so if you went to a different one every day it would take you 29 and a half years to visit them all"
When talking about communities, I mention that I stayed at Hotel Bridget, 258 Rue des Pyrénées, 75020. In the 13th, with the largest Asian community in Europe, I stayed at Hotel des Ecrivains. Around 270 different cultures live around Belleville
At the time of the release, April had already moved and living in the suburbs
I stayed at Hotel du Parc Montsouris, 4 rue du parc Montsouris, 75014, for the Adidas Paris 10k
And to get to the boulangerie I went to, one must cross the Boulevard Périphérique, walk past Jo and Joe's to get to the Portuguese boulangerie
For the trio of créme Brulée, try L'Ecargot Bar, on rue de la Villette, as recommended by April
It was Cinque Terre that April visited
April stated that she lived in Sheffield for a few months and this could be why she likes Yorkshire Tea
My "local" coffee shop is generally a Costa - although you still can't beat a boulangerie
The fabulous Tim Hortons Canadian donut and coffee company
Wendy's, now also back in the UK, is a burger restaurant that reminds me of my childhood
The Yiddish Yellow Boulangerie in the Marias, Sacha Finkelsztajn, 27, rue des Rosiers, 75004
My go-to beigal bakery in Brick Lane is here at 159 Brick Lane, London, E1. I've been going here since at least the age of 13
The famous falafel place in the Marais is L'As du Fallafel, 34 rue des Rosiers, 75004 - however, the one without the queue that April visits is Chez Hanna, and it's down the road at 54 rue des Rosiers, 75004
The chat I had was with Lily Heise where I spoke about Angelina, not Angelique, the famous hot chocolate place in Paris (and also in Versailles!)
April's Versailles tour is here
The fabulous Ritz Paris has their website here, the address being 15, Place Vendôme, 75001
The posh toilet that April uses can be found at the Hôtel de Crillon, 10, Place de la Concorde, 75008
In this 8-minute Instagram Live/Reel, I doubt myself about the Place de la Concorde
April's off-the-beaten-path tour is here, the one covering Belleville can be found here
The little sing-a-long place is called La Vieux Belleville - pop in and mention my name. They won't know who I am but you can tell them April mentioned them on my podcast!
Three drinking tours; Champagne, Chablis and Versailles
Here is April's website and her Instagram page
April in Paris by Frank Sinatra or Ella Fitzgerald
The webpage on which April mentions other people is here and Sonja "the map lady" has her website here
April's favourite tea is Yorkshire Tea and they actually do an amazing tea bag for an amazing cuppa
Gino D'Acampo, the famous Italian chef who hosts Family Fortunes in the UK
The French quotation marks (les guillemets) look like « »
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Originally posted 25th January, 2024