Paris is my seduction, says designer Ritu Beri
Designer Ritu Beri had a blast working on a book on food and fashion with author Rashmi Uday Singh in France
It’s a well-known fact that food binds people together. But in this case it was also an underlying connection with the capital of France — the hub of food, fashion and high society among other things — that brought author Rashmi Uday Singh and well-known designer Ritu Beri together for their first book titled Food and Fashion in Paris (working title). A symphony of food and style, it includes visits to Michelin star eateries and their treks through little offbeat rues, patisseries and bistros there.
“It all started last July,” informs Rashmi. “I was there filming my TV show and was staying at the George V and invited my pal Ritu (who has a home nearby) over for lunch.”
As they caught up over the meal, one thing led to another and the idea for the book was born, much egged on by their love for Paris. “I think I have a lifelong affair with the place. Here I feel like Alibaba when he said khul ja sim sim; no other city can match the experience of food and shopping here,” says Rashmi.
Ritu joins in to say, “Since I was ten, it was where I wanted to be. Paris is my seduction. I was seduced and in turn, I seduced,” she laughs.
And their gastronomic journeys provided as much learning as did the fun element. Rashmi admits, “I’m a self-confessed fashion illiterate. Ritu acquainted me with Paris and its hidden fashion secrets. On our food tours, we’d start off at the Michelin starred restaurants and did plenty of tasting sessions at street side cafes too. Among the various places, we visited Laduree (temple to the art of the macaroon), Fauchon (the upscale mega delicatassen- cum-epicerie), cheese shops in Barthelemy and the Jules Verne restaurant atop the Eiffel Tower.”
Ritu likes to cook “personal favourites for Bobby (her husband) and my daughter Gia, and if I’m entertaining at home, supervising everything from the menu to the final presentation of each dish.” She also shares a penchant for dark chocolate with Rashmi. For someone who believes fashion and food are both sensual, creative experiences, would Ritu open her own patisserie someday? “It is a dream to do a fun space for different chocolate forms,” she ends.