In Conversation With PTEE's Director Terrance Gelenter
When did you first come to Paris?
In the summer of 1965 for a few days with my sister and a cousin (a real one !). We stayed on the left bank and my sister let me smoke “Gaulloises Disque Bleue” and drink wine with meals – so very “grown-up”!
When and why did you come back (to stay?)
I was doing nothing in Provence having just returned from vintage at Jordan Winery in the Alexander Valley, California, Mark (Williamson) had just opened Willi’s in October and asked me to come and work with him.
Where do you live (arrondissement?
In the ninth – “the foothills of Montmartre” – Rue des Martyrs.
Why?
I liked the area very much – schools for the children – Three excellent bakers, butchers and generally good food shopping. It still is a good area, except prices have changed – its very “bo-bo”(yuppy-ish !)
What’s your favorite café?
The Safari in the flower market in Nice – except its more a real Pizzeria, but so what! The Exeter in Adelaide – Coopers on draught, but its more pub, or the Café Anglais in London, owned by Rowley Leigh, but it’s really a great restaurant. Maybe I’m not a very “Café” person –too busy to lounge about!
What’s your favorite wine?
That’s a silly question – like asking do you prefer blondes to brunettes. There are so many wines that I LOVE, it would be impossible to pick one out. I guess Mouton 1945 is one of my all time favourites. I was lucky to drink lots of it – one of my friends dad’s had bought 10 cases when it first came out. I suppose a great Condrieu (André Perret – Coteaux du Chéry) – Cornas from Clape - any vintage is fine, or an old Beaucastel Chateauneuf du Pape, but it could be California, Margaret River, Barossa or Victoria and that’s without scratching my favourites fom Spain (Mauro & Alion – no not Vega Sicilia!) or Italy (More Piedmont than Tuscany or whites from Sicily or the Veneto). No, I certainly do not have a single favourite !
What do you drink when just kicking back at home?
This is a tough question, Prosecco from de Faveri, Lustau Fino Dry Sherry, Cooper’s Sparkling Ale, or a nice glass of Pol Roger, would all be fine with me!
What’s your favorite starred restaurant?
Carré des Feuillants – Alain Dutournier. Has ALWAYS deserved three stars. Alain is one of those generous giants who has understood that food doesn’t have to be fussy to be inventive – just really good, fresh produce and simple genius !
What’s your favorite bistro du coin?
The Comptoir de l’Odeon – open all afternoon, Yves Cantaborde really understands BISTRO. “Cul de Poule” opposite my home in the Rue des Martyrs – cheap and cheerful, vegetables from Alain Passard’s garden !
What’s your favorite market?
The professional market out by the airport in Barcelona, in the spring with all the wonderful new veggies. Palma market in Majorca in the summer – amazing fish. The Sunday market in Padrone (Gallicia), the black truffle market in Richerenches (Tricastin), or flowers in Nice. For pretty, try Vaison la Romaine ( particularly for raspberries and old varieties of tomatoes), or why not RUNGIS – the home of EVERYTHING !
What’s your favorite park or garden?
The Parc de St Cloud with its magnificent trees and Alleys and the view of Paris. Or Ashridge Park in Hertfordshire, England when the Rhododendrons are in flower – sensational !
What’s your favorite time of the year?
The spring and the return of life, or the end of autumn when it’s still warmish, but one can eat winter food.
How or do you stay connected to Scotland?
Rugby, soccer, single malt
The rugby, except it is a fairly humbling affair at the moment. Of course the Whisky – I have my own barrel of Malt that I bought for my twentieth anniversary of Juveniles.
How has Paris affected your work?
I have been lucky to meet so many fascinating people in my work – and people do not go out to bars & restaurants in order to have a bad time ! If they do, you probably have something to do with it.
How has Paris affected your life?
It has made it very difficult to imagine living in any other city in the world.
Thank you
And you !
