frédéric the great.

frédéric simonin is following the new trend of head chefs from major restos striking out on their own and opening in out of the way locations. having worked alongside le grand chefs like joël robuchon in paris and london, simonin opens his eponymous resto and brings his healthy and uncomplicated fare to a modest but still luxurious room. dishes like avocado puree with crabmeat and a yuzu (japanese citrus) gelée, cote de veau with baby peas, and wild strawberries with chatreuse sabayon will seduce your palate. 25 rue bayen. near avenue niel, 17e. 01.45.74.74.74. www.fredericsimonin.com

house of yes.

chocoholics will probably need smelling salts during the first annual nuit de gateau at la maison du chocolate. samples of their decadent chocolate tarts, pastries, macarons and more will be offered to visitors free of charge at the place madeleine shop from 7pm till midnight. can you stand all that chocolate? mai, oui and bien sur. le 3 juin. 8 boulevard de madeleine. near place madeleine, 9e. www.lamaisonduchocolat.com

don't wine.

even the snootiest wine connoisseurs will be impressed with the new wine shop at galleries lafayette. bordeauxthèque is the new 2,700-square-foot space dedicated solely to wines from bordeaux. with a range of over a thousand labels and 12,000 bottles stored in their cellars, bordeauxthèque promises an elevated experience of one of the world's greatest wine regions. nine exceptional bordeaux grands crus lafite-rothschild, latour, margaux, and so much more are offered. galleries lafayette. 40 boulevard haussmann. near rue chaussee d'antin, 9e. www.galerieslafayette.com