Why you should always bring the bubbly.
I'm from France, so Champagne is a big part of my heart. You never know when you’ll have a special moment that calls for celebration, so I always take a bottle of Billecart-Salmon Champagne with me. I prefer the brut rosé. I believe whenever you go to a new destination, especially if you're on vacation, then there is always something to discover. It creates a moment wherever you might be—you’ll always remember popping the bottle on a safari trip to Kenya or at the top of Mount Fuji. One time, my friend and I put a whole case of six bottles in a suitcase, so we only had Champagne in there. But even at altitude it never exploded.
I have a soft case from Veuve Clicquot—not my preferred Champagne, but it’s the only that has made such a case. It folds up easily, and it keeps the bottle chilled as well as protecting it.
The best travel memories are ones you can recreate at home.
I always pack an “inspiration” book and suggest others should, too—a pocket-size notebook to quickly jot down new products or flavors, wine pairings. It’s like a little piece of gold to me. Whenever I go to a new restaurant, whether I’m in South America or Asia, I try to guess what’s in the recipe, and then reproduce it at home using different ingredients—then you’re always coming up with new dishes.
This one time, I went to Acapulco in Mexico, to this one little restaurant by the bay. Nothing to do with Michelin stars, but they served us a grilled fish that was marinated in something. I couldn't quite guess what it was, but I tried to come up with the same thing when I got home. Now we call it the “Acapulco marinade.” I came pretty close to what we were served there. Every time I make it, it transports me back to that destination. It’s something you can feel, you understand?
For the ultimate tropical paradise you’ll want to go island-hopping in Africa.Nosy Be, off the north coast of Madagascar: Think of Costa Rica being an island, that’s how I can describe it. It’s the ultimate remote experience to relax, enjoy water sports, snorkel, and scuba dive to discover strange and wonderful creatures, and go island-hopping. I’d definitely recommend watching the sunset at the now extinct volcano Mont Passot, too. You can’t find more fresh and flavorful seafood anywhere else. The prawns and crabs are some of the best I’ve had in the world.
A short boat ride away is Nosy Iranja, made up of two paradise-on-earth islands that are joined by a narrow strip of white sand and surrounded by turquoise waters. The lush coconut palms and tropical flowers are an Instagrammer’s dream. The south of the island is an important breeding reserve for hawksbill turtles and attracts rare species of birds. The best time to go is from November to March, and you should stay at Home the Residence. I recommend it for its beachfront retreat with private pool surrounded by turquoise waters with the best spots for snorkeling and the ultimate proximity to nature with its tropical flowers and wonderful creatures.
The best street food in the world is about more than mere eating.
Street food is all about the whole family, everyone participates in making your lunch or dinner, whatever it might be. The best is in Bangkok or Mexico City. In Mexico, grandma can be making your tacos, or the dough for the tortillas, the daughter might be frying the things to put inside, and then the boy behind is doing your side of guacamole. You get to meet the whole family basically just by waiting to eat, whether it’s two o’clock in the morning or in the afternoon. For carnitas, go to La Reina de la Roma and for tacos al pastor to El Huequito. You sit on those wiggly plastic chairs, and you don't know if you're going to fall or not, but it’s nice.
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