Reyna Named Among Bon Appétit's Best Restaurants in Paris

(SPOT.ph) We're seeing more Filipino food representation in different parts of the globe. In Paris for example, there's Chef Erica Paredes' Reyna, which went from pop-up venture to full-on restaurant as they opened their brick-and-mortar spot in 2022. In serving modern, feisty (albeit untraditional) plates predominantly with Filipino and Southeast Asian influences, Reyna has gone on to win over the hearts of the likes of Le Monde, Vanity Fair France, and more recently, Bon Appétit as they were hailed by the American publication for being among the best restaurants in the City of Lights.

Also read: 
Reyna Paris' Chef Erica Paredes Is Holding a Pop-Up in San Juan 
This New Restaurant in Paris Shines the Spotlight on Filipino Flavors

Reyna as one of the best restaurants in Paris by Bon Appétit

Published on July 11, Bon Appétit's Best Restaurants in Paris list includes 17 staff picks of dining spots in the city—and among them is Reyna on Rue de Montreuil, chosen by food director Chris Morocco. "Traditional French food was one of my first loves, but as my palate has expanded as a cook and recipe developer, I often crave foods that go past the subtle layering of flavors and reach for pure dynamite. That is Reyna’s approach, melding French and Filipino techniques and ingredients to create dishes that are bold and thrumming with assertive flavors," Morocco writes. 

Morocco gives special mention to the Kinilaw of raw scallop and coconut "energized by the sharp edges of calamansi and trout roe"; the dish of butter-draped grilled asparagus (presumably, the Duo Asperges Rôti) lent "bracing energy" by pungent bagoong ; the Kare Kareng Talong that features "pillowy" eggplant that "clings to skewers, cloaked in vegan XO and kare kare sauces"; their "crackling-crisp" Poulet Frit (fried chicken) that he could have "happily made an entire meal of... if only for the sake of experiencing the three glazes available with it," and the dessert (though not specified, he's likely referring to the Pavlova) with "pandan-scented yogurt with first-of-the-season strawberries and tuiles" that "sent me off into the night with a renewed sense of what French food can be."

In an exchange with SPOT.ph, Chef Erica shares she found out about the news as friends tagged her in posts on social media. "I was not expecting [the inclusion in the list] at all." Paredes celebrates the achievement, but also explains how it serves as motivation for the them at the restaurant to keep up their streak: "It's nice 'cause I feel like at Reyna, not just me but my whole team, we all work really hard to give the best food and stuff, so these things for us are less like, 'we can relax na 'cause everyone thinks we're good'—it's more like encouragement for us. I always tell [my team] like, 'Hey guys, we have to stay consistent,' you know, we're being blessed with all this recognition, but that only means that we have the responsibility to make sure that we stay consistent and do better every time."

"These things for me are like great because it encourages us and helps us realize, hey, we're doing a good job. We work long hours, it's hard sometimes and tiring and whatever, but people are recognizing the hard work that we put in. And my team's amazing, I'm so happy with my team right now."

Paredes started Reyna as a pop-up and private-dining venture would occasionally host kamayan dinners. She will also be hosting her Guest Room pop-up in Manila later this month, together with producer-DJ and partner R3Mi.

For more information, check out Reyna Paris' Instagram page.

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