The Smallest Restaurant In Paris

In this warm, illustrated memoir, Rachel Khoo reflects on the years that took her from a secure London office job to a Bastille bedsit, and ultimately to finding her voice in food in Paris. Written with humour and heart, the book charts her early adult life as a young Brit abroad, navigating independence, ambition and creativity in a city far from home.

Drawing on her British, Chinese-Malaysian and Austrian heritage, Rachel offers a layered and personal portrait of Paris in the noughties, far removed from postcard cliches. She captures the everyday realities of life in the city, from cultural missteps and moments of wonder to the friendships, fashions and food obsessions that shaped her experience. Along the way, she studies at culinary school, experiments in the kitchen, and supports herself through a patchwork of jobs, including au pair, tour guide, English teacher, bookseller, recipe tester and perfume sales assistant.

As she struggles to make ends meet and finds herself questioning her direction, Paris is in the grip of cupcake crazes and experimental food trends. Rachel dabbles in pop-ups, bento boxes and picnic projects, yet by the time she approaches thirty, she feels she is still at the very beginning and prepares to return to London.

Everything changes during a series of intimate dinner parties in her tiny flat. With just 21 square metres, one table and a couple of chairs, these evenings spark an idea that leads to the creation of what would become known as the smallest restaurant in Paris. Hosting guests single-handedly in her home, Rachel creates a space that captures the imagination and quietly lays the foundations for her future work.

Each chapter is accompanied by a hand-drawn illustration and concludes with a recipe inspired by her time in Paris. Part memoir, part food writing, The Smallest Restaurant in Paris offers an intimate account of resilience, cultural curiosity and the small beginnings that can lead to unexpected change.