Jumper: Gmar Dagmar Dagm/Blouse: Pop cph, both from Nummer 9, Amsterdam/Dress worn as skirt: Free People/Rabbit fur headband: Kroll, Reykjavik

For my last fine-dining experience of 2012 (and my first time eating out in Paris, as due to my guilt at not speaking a word of French I’ve confined myself to wrestling at home with my one burner and microwave oven in between simple street food and lots of baguettes) I nabbed a reservation at trendy eatery/fun house Deriere, so called because it is located behind another restaurant. And because there’s lots of images of butts and other obscenities scattered throughout the house, which is intimately designed to make one feel as though you are dining (or partying) in a friend’s home. I was seated in the living room downstairs, but in between courses was free to wander up the steep, Alice-in-Wonderland-esque stairs to the bedrooms and parlors above. The best part is that the wardrobe at the end of the upstairs hall is actually a secret portal to a smoking room, pictured above at the head of this post; thus combining my desires to live out a Clue game, pretend to be Lucy Pevensie for a day, and smoke indoors, all in one fell swoop. As I was there in the afternoon, shortly before the restaurant closed in between its brunch and dinner times, I was completely alone while exploring the house and its secrets, which was kind of creepily awesome, although I would love to go back and see the place filled up.

My dishes which were fine indeed — I strongly recommend ordering the carrots and the terrine of the day . Quick fun fact, Europeans have decided to called cilantro ‘corriander.’ Whether it still tastes like soap to some, remains a mystert. Like in many French restaurants the wine is cheaper than water, so feel free to indulge, although directly across the courtyard is one of the allegedly finest cocktail lounges in the city, Andy Wahloo, which sadly was closed at that time. But as both establishments are located in the charming Marais neighborhood, it will be no punishment to return another day for half-priced drinks during happy hour. Stay tuned for the full report!