Not enough people know about the fabulous and talented Parisian woman cooking side-by-side with Daniel Rose at Restaurant Spring – Marie-Aude Mery – nor that her childhood ambitions involved acting, not cooking. “Acting helped me deal with shyness, opened my mind and was part of my education along with English language, literature and civilization at la Sorbonne.”
When she realized that she needed a “more practical” career – Marie enrolled in the left bank Ferrandi cooking school and joined the kitchen of Guy Savoy’s Bouquinistes as an apprentice – followed by Pierre Gagnaire as commis, and then back with Guy Savoy as Chef de Partie at restaurant Chiberta. Impressive.
After working with some of the biggest Michelin-starred chefs in the industry, fate would change her life in ways she could have never imagined when she met American transplant Daniel Rose in 2007 at his first Spring restaurant – well before his name was emblazoned in the culinary lights of Paris.
She traded in the grand haute temples in posh neighborhoods for the chance to learn from a brilliant young chef working in a tiny kitchen – serving customers in a dining room with only two tables on a dark street in culinary siberia. Marie-Aude have may started out as an assistant to Daniel but today she is more than his right hand in the new kitchen; she’s his best friend and future wife.
What is most often a rocky road with a dead end for couples who work together in high-pressure high-profile restaurants; Daniel and Marie are a unique couple and talented chef team.
Marie Aude says, “I think I helped him realize everything he had in mind for Spring’s future because we both had the tools and skills, but we are good at different things and also have the patience and understanding of each other.”
Well said. Daniel doesn’t just reach for the stars, he stays awake at night charting galaxies yet imagined.
Marie smiles, “He created the first Spring by himself and the new one we did together. I’ve learned to work with him during these 4 years, and understand now all the details that matter to him that have made him a great chef. The best thing is that because we are so complementary and such a good team, we were able to create this new Spring that has now 10 new wonderful characters. So I guess today I am his right hand chef and his partner in crime! He knows that he can rely on me and that I can translate what he needs to the team when he’s not around.”
Her story may have started with Guy Savoy, Pierre Gagnaire and Daniel Rose, but look out world, Marie-Aude Mery is making a name for herself.
From a romantic place to have a drink with Daniel to where she shops for cooking supplies, Marie-Aude takes us on a local’s tour of the city she was born in and loves.
Marie-Aude’s Paris
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My favorite late night wine bar is Le Garde Robe on our street, because the place is so cute and the team adorable, plus they are our neighbors and as we finish work late it is very easy to reach! I really love their selection of biodynamic wines, i love that you never get a headache in the morning if you’ve had too much!
For a romantic night out I would have a drink at the Park Hyatt’s bar then I would have dinner (especially on a hot August night) on the terrace of “Laurent” and during the cold winter months, steak and frites at Relais de l’Entrecote because we both love it so much! Or, the simple great products that you find at Pierre Jancou’s Vivant.
One of my favorite dishes in town is Greg’s signature smoked trout at Frenchie, it is del-i-ciousssss
My idea of a perfect day eating and drinking in Paris would be on Sunday (a day off from the restaurant) and as quiet and easy as possible since my Sundays are dedicated to that. So I would get breakfast either at home with the help of my Fannie Farmer’s Baking Book and “juice” some nice organic fruits and vegetables or I would go to the Rose Bakery on the rue des Martyrs in the 9th for her delicious scones and quiches. Also I like Le Coffee Parisien on the rue Princesse in the 6th for the Eggs Benedict.
I can’t pass up the pistachio gelato at Grom’s that I can take home for later in the night.
I love to have an apero at L’Avant Comptoir, the anchovies and ham croquettes with a glass of white Anjou is heaven.
Le Grand 8 is a great bistro on the side of the Sacré Coeur, so pretty there, a great view of Paris and very friendly owner and staff. Great wine and simple good food. Perfect too as they are open on Sundays.
We love to go to the Bar du Passage (above Alain Senderens), it is open every day and they have a delicious menu for 36e and always great selection of wine.
In the kitchen I can’t live without a well-sharpened knife or a maryse spatula because you never lose a drop with it. You can find one at E. Dehillerin or Mora.
One of my favorite outdoor markets and food vendor is at the Organic Blvd Raspail Sunday market, the guy who sells the cider makes delicious crepes de sarrasin that are fun to eat while doing my shopping.
Spending time browsing for cookbooks at the Librairie Gourmande on the rue Montmartre is fun because this is where treasures CAN be found, old books are the best for inspiration because they hold all the basics that allow you to make new recipes. The collection Robert Lafont is my favorite with all the grands chefs Guerard, Gagnaire, Chapel, Senderens … when they were just beginning!
Great tips, much thanks! love to eat at Spring next time i am in Paris, if i could get a reservation … it has been on my list since Daniel opened the first Spring
Wow. Great article. Can’t believe she was willing to share such a wealth of info with the rest of us! Congrats to Marie-Aude & Daniel.