When the Samaritaine department store closed a few years ago, it was the rooftop café that I missed, not the shopping. Although the food

wasn’t the draw, it was a quiet place to enjoy a bite to eat and sip cool drinks overlooking the river and city.

Thanks to the new Patrick Jouin designed terrace restaurant on the top of Galleries Lafayette – the monumental views of Paris are back with gorgeous food created by former Arpège protégé Fumiko Kono and Master Pâtissier Pierre Hermé.

French designer Patrick Jouin and his Japanese colleague Sanjit Manku joined forces to create a contemporary open-air space and kitchen on the 8th floor with thoughtful planning that includes both shaded and sunny dining areas where every single seat facing any direction has a breathtaking view of the skyline and monuments of Paris.

Adorable Chef Fumiko Kono’s modern menu reflects her Japanese heritage and experience as former second in command at Arpège focused on fresh vegetables, seafood and herbs.

Fumiko has a great story – having come from Tokyo she married a Japanese TV journalist here while studying at the Sorbonne.  Without a job, she grew bored in Paris, daydreaming about youth and having spent treasured time with her uncle in his potager garden.  Wondering if food was a potential direction, she registered for classes at the Cordon Bleu.

It was only when she was invited to lunch at Arpège that Fumiko knew, it was her direction.

Two days later she knocked on the door of Alain Passard, explained her story… and he offered her a job most people would turn down… she accepted the job of cleaning the refrigerators and taking out the garbage with pride.

During her time she watched the kitchen like a hawk – deliveries, stations, technique, everything.  When a kitchen staff member had an unexpected leave of absence, Fumiko was asked to fill in – and fast forward, she eventually became the second in command of three-starred restaurant Arpège's stoves, followed by directing Fauchon and now, the La Terrasse menu for Galleries Lafayette.

During the launch party yesterday we sipped Champagne and strawberry Caïpirinha’s before sampling a few dishes off of the a la carte menu such as the gorgeous tri-color heirloom tomato salad bathed in ponzu and shiso – especially refreshing when the heat these days has been unbearable.

Th

... followed by a white Lotte fish simmered in lemongrass and...

baby leeks and shiso.

Of course the icing on the cake was a “Miss Gla’ Gla” - litchi raspberry sorbet inside a rose syrup macaron and...

it wouldn't be a Pierre dessert menu without a strawberry-wasabi macaron.

Other menu choices include poached salmon with green apple and avocado to octopus salad with Ponzu vinaigrette and steamed shrimp in sesame and honey with cool glasses of wine such as red Burgundy and white Bordeaux.

Whether you choose the outdoor terrace overlooking the Eiffel Tower, Arc de Triomphe, Invalides, Pantheon, Notre Dame's bell towers and the Opera House next door (complete with Urban Honey harvested in the rafters) ...

...or the private corner table for 12 with a stunning view of Montmartre...

...La Terrasse is a breath of fresh air option to the Paris dining scene this summer!

The restaurant is open until the fall (great weather permitting) from noon to 6pm, Monday to Saturday.

Galleries Lafayette, 8th floor, noon to 6pm, Monday to Saturday M° Opera. Tel: 01 73 71 90 50. A la Carte Menu from 10 - 20 euros.