Petit Dejeuner: a breakfast series
for carbs, laughter and conversation
with our muses, the Baguettes.
What: Granola
Where: The Smile
Watch out for Callan, because this beauty is just about to make a serious name for herself in New York City. Young and enthusiast, it seems as though she already knows all of New York’s most wanted – keeping a touch of irony that make her absolutely fabulous. She also showed up in snake print pants, so how could one not fall in love?
What is your best breakfast memory?
I was 19 and I had just moved to New York. I was staying in an airbnb and I went to Jacks’ Wife Freda by myself and sat right next to Leandra Medine Cohen. She had just sat down. It was my first morning in Manhattan, and it was simply the best New York moment. I’d been admiring her for so long.
What: American breakfast with a side of bacon
Where: Gotan
Before she started in fashion, Leah spent two years in Texas teaching to high school students. If that doesn’t say enough about her dedication to others, she spends most her Saturdays at a church in the West Village volunteering to feed those in needs. And if that’s not enough, she has the most infectious smile in New York City.
What is your best breakfast memory?
My mother was a fantastic cook. And she often made delicious breakfast on the weekends. My favorite as waffles. But I would often get outvoted because my siblings preferred pancakes. So when I went to college, I’d come home and she would make me waffles. Not just one memory but definitely my mother’s waffles.
Where: Banter
What: Chia Bowl
Simply put, Rachel is “so chic”: the definition of the LA cool chick all of us New York ladies envy (yes, deep down we all do). She has been blogging for so long that she seems to understand all types of social media better than most people. Her impact is real and genuine. What a beautiful soul.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Best breakfast memory, was staying at a hotel compound with a bunch friends in palm springs, and watching everyone slowly emerge from their rooms hungover diving into a huge array of food. It was happening for 3 hours and it truly felt like a big family moment. Another breakfast favorite is waking up from my birthday cabin to my friends making a big breakfast for everyone. I love a community breakfast!
Where: West Bourne
What: Breakfast Sandwich
For a Parisian like me, Maddy is nothing short of a fashion icon. Straight out of a movie about fashion, we met the morning after her birthday celebration with her parents and her best friends; and she still had blue eyeliner on her eye lid but still looked incredibly glamorous. We (obviously) talked fashion but also entrepreneurship (Maddy owns a jewelry line) and future projects and goals. One for the books.
What is your best breakfast memory?
In Portugal on a trip with my family and my best friend. The first morning we woke up, we felt so tired and just needed coffee and food. And my dad went down to get coffee. We didn’t realize but the breakfast there was absolutely amazing. Everything was fresh and natural. The view was spectacular… it was incredible.
Where: Ludlow House
What: Eggs Benedict
Jenna is the type of person that I’ve been in touch with via Instagram for so long, it was simply time we met. We met at Ludlow House just a couple of weeks before her wedding. What a delightful morning talking about her planning, how he proposed and to witness the beautiful smile on her face.
What is your best breakfast memory?
A few years ago, my friend and I decided that we were going to throw a brunch party. We had a few people come over, went to the grocery store. Next thing we knew, we had a wild party at like 3pm on a Sunday. It was a full on party with a lot of eggs.
Where: Cafe Gitane
What: Hibiscus Tea
Finally, another French gal in New York. We’ve obviously been following Christina forever, and this breakfast was simply meant to be. Christina is from the South West of France, and she is just a ray of sunshine. We met her the morning her boyfriend was coming back from a long trip and moving in with her for the first time. She was as excited as it gets. We discussed the best food store downtown for meat and cheese, her favorite recipes and books of recipes… A perfect morning all around.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Ok, this memory made me hate cereal. When I was a kid, I used to LOVE cereal. But one day, we were out of milk, so my dad replaced milk with apple juice. He put apple juice in my cereal. So now I hate it. My dad ruined it for me forever.
Where: Amy’s Bread
What: A scone and a coffee
We met Maria on a rainy morning at Amy’s Bread in the West Village. What a meeting! At 22, Maria is full of the most amazing stories. A true New Yorker. She told us about that time she randomly went on tour for a few months in Brazil with an EDM band, that time her friend took her to Iceland for her birthday, how she got into music after two years in college. But the most inspiring is the stories about how she writes and plays music. The most inspiring young woman.
What is your best breakfast memory?
One of my best friends at NYU had just turned 21, so she decided to fly me and four other friends to Iceland. We were in this beautiful hotel in the middle of Iceland. One morning, we woke up super early to hike on a glacier. We had a very plain breakfasts with croissants etc, but that sunrise view at the crack of dawn… I’ve never been more grateful in my life.
Where: Lafayette
What: Croissant and jam
We met with Maria on a somewhat cool summer morning in New York, one of those rare days when you’re happy just because you know you won’t profusely sweat. We sat outside on the terrace, and had a very Parisian vibe breakfast. Croissants, pains au chocolat and orange juice. Nothing short of perfect. Maria was planning her wedding for a few weeks after we met, but quickly stirred away from that topic to tell us about women’s work wear, which she was writing about. The piece has come out since, and it is sincerely so enjoyable to come by real fashion journalism.
What is your best breakfast memory?
When I travel, I specifically look for places that have breakfast included. I think that out of all places, Berlin definitely has a special place in my heart. Russia too though, where we had champagne and caviar first thing in the morning. That was definitely very memorable.
Where: Cafe Select
What: Gazpacho
Mara is a badass. Her favorite thing in the world: speed. Passionate about cars, motorcycles, travel and fashion, she managed to turn her passion into her job. One woman department, she makes her job what she wants it to be. Such an inspirational woman. True goals over here.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Probably my best breakfast memory is from when I was little. Since I am the worst morning perso and I hate getting out of bed, my mom would wake me up for school and before getting dressed, she would let me lay in her bed and eat my breakfast. Breakfast in bed was a thing for me and not just reserved for the week end.
Where: Maman (Soho)
What: Coffee + Smashed Avocado Tartine
Simply put: Brandon is the coolest. At 22, he’s worked for Vogue, Milk and other fashion quintessentials. His style is on point, always forward but never too futuristic. He’s the first man we’re meeting alone for a breakfast, and God was it worth it. His experience and taste are impeccable. Truly a gem.
What is your best breakfast memory?
I was in Capri, Italy with a group of friends. We rented this historic airbnb villa. Gorgeous. We went out that one night and went crazy. We didn’t go home, just to supermarket to buy breakfast stuff. We set the table outside on the patio and watched the sunrise with brioche and prosciutto. It was incredible.
Where: Balthazar
What: Orange juice + Bacon & Cheese Croissant
Don’t let her French name deceive you, Naomi is American. Though her family has deep New Orleans roots, she was born and grew up in Texas, right at the border of Louisiana. Where the cowboys meet Cajun culture. Now take that, and add her almost 10 year experience working at Elle US. Explosive and cultivated, as you can imagine.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Breakfast is my favorite meal of the day. Whenever I’m at my family’s lake house in Alabama, we always have this amazing proper Southern breakfast, with grits, biscuits and bacon, and eggs. It’s such a feast.
Where: Pause Cafe
What: Water + Chia Bowl
Moving from the East Coast to LA at age 16 to become an actress, Annie quickly realized she wanted to work in fashion and moved out to New York at age 20. Rest assured, her mom joined her a year after she moved. Between school at FIT, her job at Atelier Doré and her own magazine Blush mag, she’s one of these young ladies that you know is going to go far in this industry. Very genuine and lovable, we can’t wait to see her blossom in the big city.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Probably coming to New York each year for christmas time and I would go to Sarabeth’s. It is just the essential Christmas breakfast, and that was just the start of the holiday season. Between that and the Hollywod Farmer’s Market.
Where: Cafe Dante
What: Iced Coffee
Hannah met us in humid heat at Cafe Dante, in the West Village. Right in front of Anna Wintour’s house, and below Joaquim Phoenix’s apartment. Originally from Missouri, she has become a perfect new Yorker. Elegant and stylish, you could barely notice from that it’s 120 degrees outside. Her experience as a beauty and fashion editor gave us amazing insight on where the industry stands. Beautiful, funny and smart, we wish we had stayed with her the whole day!!
What is your best breakfast memory?
When I first moved to New York, I was staying with my sister at her apartment on the UWS. I was really nervous, thinking “Can I be here? Can i do this?”. We went to this really famous bagel spot called Absolute Bagels. I got a lox bagel with cream cheese, and coffee in one of those blue Greek coffee cops. We are walking down the street and i was like “Okay, I can do this.”
Where: Little Dom’s LA
What: Thin Crust Pizza + Iced Tea
First of all, we sat down with Olyesa and Ryan Gosling was just a table away. We had just landed in LA… Pretty major moment. But that didn’t take away from the amazing moment we spent with Olyesa, a true LA native, who’s not shy to sy it like it is. Why she decided to fly solo as a model, how she almost asked a random guy to ride on his scooter in Paris. She’s not shy to tell it like it is and we could only love her for it.
What is your best breakfast memory?
I think my mom. My mom liked to wake me up and make these super Russian French toast. She just dips it in eggs and she comes to the bed and goes “Waker Wakey” with her funny Russian accent.
Where: Dumbo House
What: Iced Matcha Latte + Coconut Granola
Between her trips to LA and NY, we finally found a moment to catch up with serial entrepreneur Marta. Marta is the kind of person whom you have so many friends in common with, you just feel like you know her. But don’t let the pink hair and the chill vibes deceive you, she is the busiest bee, always onto the next project. From an hour sitting down with her, it simply feels like there’s nothing she can’t do. Our personal favorite endeavor of hers: @hotgirlseatingpizza.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Two of my friends, Chelsea and Sarah, have a breakfast series in LA, at Soho House in Hollywood, called “The Good Mornings”. every month, they have a new topic. For some reason, i’ve been able to attend 3 or 4 of them. They’re awesome because you just get to meet a lot of people, always collaborative. They’ve made me enjoy breakfast.
Where: Cafe De Flore
What: Orange + Grapefruit + Lemon juice
Deb is the perfect Parisian.We met Cafe de Flore during Couture Week in Paris and she explained to us her switch from being a journalist to creating her blog, thus staying relevant and keeping a seat front row. She’s not just an influencer but a true fashion lover and expert. Elegant and stylish like a French woman, she carries the weight of years of experience in the industry and is not scared to talk about all of its flaws.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Oh my best memories are from before I stopped eating gluten. Breakfast was so much more fun then!
Where: Rintintin
What: Poached Eggs + Roasted Potatoes
Kristia’s joie de vivre is contagious. We met at the beginning of summer, when it’s so hot but the feeling is brand new and you still want to sit outside and enjoy looking at everyone being happy. Born in Cotonou, Benin, Kristia moved to New York with her family in high school. She carries with her that Benin mind set and warmth New Yorkers often lack.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Sitting across from my dad drinking tea and eating bread with fromage while he sips on his coffee. He’ll tell me to make sure I have a good day today, to stay focused in class. We bonded over breakfast everyday.
Where: Banter
What: Poached Eggs + Avocado
Meeting Alyssa is like meeting the quintessential New York fashion girl. She’s done it all,climbed the ladder “Devil Wears Prada” style and now owns the best reputation an influencer can have. She deserves that reputation more than she knows it, and her insights on the industry are not only true but also powerful and great food for thought.
What is your best breakfast memory?
My best friend and I always get breakfast during the week. That’s just something we do every week because we used to work together and now we don’t so it’s our way of making sure we see each other enough. Plus we might need shoot outfit photos. But recently, our breakfast in Positano, every day was… Stunning. I was with that best friend and my mom. And the first morning, my mom found it so beautiful, she just looked at the view and started crying. Crying of joy I mean!
Where: The French Cheese Board
What: Cheese + butter + croissant + bread + orange juice
Mitra and Viktoria are best friends, companions not only in what they do but also fellow expats from Sweden. They’re both incredibly smart and beautiful, into yoga, meditation and spiritual books. Mitra has the best book recommendations! We met with them for a very French brunch at The French Cheese board and none of us hesitated to dive right in. The spread was absolutely incredible. So was talking to them about Swedish communities in New York, etc.
What is your best breakfast memory?
We have a memory together! A Sunday morning, we were having breakfast in Williamsburg and it felt like we were in Paris. We were just talking, and crying, talking about our past and how thankful we are. You know, old memories, good memories, sad memories. We cried happy tears! It was a truly magical breakfast.
Where: Cafe Dante
What: Pain Au Chocolat + Orange Juice with Extra Pulp
Fun fact: no matter the temperature, Zuri doesn’t take off her sweatshirt. She’s from Kingston, Jamaica, so she’s used to the heat. But she hates it. It was probably 2,000 degrees the morning we met, so the heat was a huge part of our conversation, and how it doesn’t help the streets and the train to smell better. But when she talks, you can hear why Zuri’s voice is one of a singer. And all you want is to hear her sing her songs.
What is your best breakfast memory?
I love breakfast. I’ll have breakfast at any time. All my breakfasts are memorable. but when I was younger, my nanny had made me a waffle, regular Eggo waffle. But when I bit into it, my tooth fell off!!! I think that’s the time that I got Tiffany from the tooth fairy.
Where: Laduree Soho
What: Rose Croissant + Matcha Tea for her / Eclair Au Chocolat + Iced Coffee for him
Let’s talk about love, let’s talk about Nelson and Isabelle. Now imagine what love would look like if it was a place. Probably a very comfortable pink room with pillows and feathers. That’s what Nelson & Isabelle feel like, a cloud of love and laughter. Not only do they perfectly match their outfits, but they are also never apart. They work, live, breathe and eat (they do a lot of that) together. An inspiration. Straight up GOALS.
What is your best breakfast memory?
The first breakfasts with each other’s parents. His family is from Nice. So sitting on their terrasse, watching over the mountains and the sea at the same time while his mom cooks breakfast. Meanwhile, when we first moved in together, her dad was staying with us too. So we lived with him and in the morning he always drinks a huge bowl of “cafe au lait”, coffee with milk. Those are the best memories, meeting each other’s parents over breakfast.
Where: Two Hands Tribeca
What: Banana Bread
If you haven’t met a Vogue editor a week before the Met Gala, you should. Naomi walked over with her soothing voice and her funny insights of the fashion event of the year. The conversation soon drifted to her path to working at Vogue and her upbringing in Florida with parents from Haiti and her sister born in Montreal.
What is your best breakfast memory?
You know, my best memory is really memories, just like breakfast being an actual meal that with it down with your family for. It’s very nostalgic for me.
Where: Cafe Mogador
What: Fruit Bowl + Drip Coffee
We met with Anahita at Cafe Mogador on the first real humid day of summer in New York. Meeting with a fashion editor the same week as the British royal wedding is the most exciting thing: we highly recommend it. Anahita has been at The New York Post for over 10 years, and she tells it like it is. The Fashion industry has no secret for her.
What is your best breakfast memory?
I’m not really a breakfast person, at all. Usually coffee is my breakfast. But when i was little I would make breakfast for my mom and my sisters. And I would make waffles in the shape of Mickey Mouse with what I called magic water – which was essentially just water and sugar. My mom was such a good sport for pretending to drink it.
Where: Cafe Cluny
What: 2 Poached Eggs + Half Avocado + Extra Crispy Bacon
We met with Gabriella at Cafe Cluny on a gloomy morning. Gabriella is the definition of a badass + such a ray of sunishine. She walked and automatically we knew it was going to be the start of a friendship. Her enthusiasm, her knowledge and expertise, without mentionning her perfectly contiagious smile… This breakfast was one for the books.
What is your best breakfast memory?
My favorite breakfast memory: when we were kids, we never really did birthday dinners. But we would do birthday breakfasts, with my twin sister. It was a big thing, you knew that on the day you woke up, mom would make your favorite thing. Ours was fried apples: apples with cinnamon and sugar. We would wake up to the smell of fried apples… hat was the best.
Where: Janis’ house in Normandie
What: Babercue with what Normandie has best to offer
Babeth and I met like we always do at my house in Normandie for a sunday brunch. Trouville is where we met. Babeth was my first introduction to the fashion world when she offered me an internship at Numero. She’s such a figure, such an inspiration and role model to follow. I am honored to consider her a friend and an advisor.
What is your best breakfast memory?
I love all breakfasts. For me it’s a wonderful day starting. So my best memory is this morning.
Where: Maison Sauvage
What: Café allongé
Estelle is everything you never see: a fashion girl who doesn’t take it too seriously. There was not one second during our breakfast where she didn’t smile. Her souther accent is like a breeze that freshens up the air. her stories from the south of France to Londong, going through Dubai, are always the most entertaining!
What is your best breakfast memory?
My best breakfast memory… The last one I had with my mom on our balcony in Sète. I’d come home and she’d buy everything I loved when i was a kid. Croissants that I would fill with marroon cream, grape juice, a bowl of coffee and her bowl of black tea. We would take about everything and nothing. It was simply great. Breakfast was very imprtant for her, as it is for me.
Where: The Standard Grill
What: A Fruit Bowl
Caitlin is fresh and always ready for a good laugh. After working in several kitchens over a few years, she finally decided to partner with a friend of hers and launch Savta (savta means grandmother in hebrew): a series of pop up brunches where the recipes are based of family traditions. Follow them on instagram @savtabk to stay tuned and be lucky enough to try their recipes!
What is your best breakfast memory?
Every Sunday growing up we used to wait in line at the bagel store for fresh everything bagels… when we got home we would put the bagels into a basket (but save the bag they came in) and my dad would make a huge pan of scrambled eggs- then dump the bag that the bagels had been in into the eggs, and mix in all the everything bagel seeds that fell off
it’s the inspiration for the soft scrambled egg bowl on my menu that’s topped with everything bagel seeds
Where: At Sandy’s Studio in the LES
What: Goodies from Balthazar
We met Sandy at her studio in the lower east side – which is nothing short of a haven a beauty. Clothes everywhere, color, patterns, textures. the studio, just like Sandy, breathe creativity and querkiness.
What is your best breakfast memory?
My best breakfast memory is probably just eating cereal as a kid. Like in elementary school when you would sit down with your sibling and eat cereal.
Where: Janis’ apartment in Soho
What: Wine + Cheese
Eleonore is Janis’s oldest friend and a board member of Janis Studios. They actually learned English together when their parents sent them and their sisters to summer camp in New Jersey at age 10, right before middle school. She has a private fund with her family and works for Kima Ventures… A #girlboss.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Arriving in Courchevel in the Alps during the night when everything is dark. Waking up in the morning with a warm hot chocolate by the fireplace in front out the clear and cloudless mountains. First day of holidays…
Where: Gracias Madre
What: Nachos off the secret menu
Paige is a comedian, a writer, an actress, an influencer, a beauty queen… She’s all of it in a little human. As she told us about where she got to where she is, she also managed to talk about how she almost adopted a pig and how black widows are a plague in Los Angeles.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Oh Lord! Breakfast in bed is my favorite.
Where: Buvette
What: Tea
Blanda and Janis have been friends since Janis started her embroidery business, and kept in touch since – across the country. Blanda’s voice is soft, and her words are always inspiring. She never stops. After 7 years in New York, she moved to LA where her art florished and is now getting ready to pack her suitcase and move back to Europe.
What is your best breakfast memory?
Where: Cafe Gitane
What: Baked eggs + bread
We sat with Sophia outside in the beaming sun of Nolita… The start to a perfect day. Sophia is a bold, multitalented woman, who left Vogue after almost 5 years there and now is a freelance director. Between campaigns, she also runs the organization HER, a community of global women, united by the values of vulnerability, authenticity & genuine connection.
What’s your best breakfast memory?
Growing up I would go to China almost every summer and my favorite part was how each set of grandparents prepared breakfast. My grandpa would use veggies from his own garden and my other grandparents would always have youtiao waiting for me when I woke up: basically a fried breadstick + two fried eggs cooked inside that you would eat with some sort of soup. With both set of grandparents, the whole family would eat together and you would start your day like this.
Where: Balthazar
What: Crepe with spinach + scrambled eggs with grilled onions
We met Phoebe at Balthazar, and it was such a delight to meet a fellow European with very similar “foreigner” experiences in the US. Quirky, incredibely smart, Phoebe had the best advice on how to start a business and making a difference in the industry. Mind you, the best advice we took from that breakfast was where to get the best lash extensions in NYC.
What’s your best breakfast memory?
I always feel most liberated when I’m exploring a new city on my own, and going out for breakfast is one of my favorite things to do when I’m traveling solo. A couple of years ago I made it Tokyo after fantasizing about it forever, and had the perfect traditional Japanese breakfast by myself in a rooftop hotel restaurant, looking out at the city beneath me. Rice, miso soup, fish, pickles, and green tea – served in the most tranquil environment. A literal dream come true.
Where: Once Upon a Tart
What: meatless breakfast sandwich
Our Petit Dejeuner series kicks off with our girl crush, Gia Seo. We met with Gia at Once Upon A Tart and she ordered a meatless breakfast sandwich because they ran out of bacon. Gia Seo is a creative consultant and stylist in New York City with a insane career history and she’s just started! First off, she’s from Alaska and triple majored at NYU – one of a kind. She was a buyer at The Webster and now is a freelance creative and model. Have you seen her H&M campaign with Adwoa?
What’s your best breakfast memory?
“I don’t eat breakfast, but have you heard of the one cup diet?”
… We started talking about K POP shortly after this question!
Where: 11 Howard
What: fruit bowl
We got a hold of Amrit! She has a full time day job, while DJing parties at night! We sat down with the busy gal at 11 Howard, spoke about upcoming events, life as an Australian living in New York, and how Australians are taking over the New York food scene.
What’s your best breakfast memory?
“My best breakfast moment is a current one, it happens on the rare occasion that my boyfriend and I have a Sunday off together (doesn’t happen very often, but when we do) my favorite thing to do is to go into Brooklyn, and get pancakes together at 5 Leaves. “
Where: 11 Howard
What: coffee
We met with Banna for about 8 minutes until she had to run across the city for a quick meeting. Just two days before she moved to London! Banna is the co-founder of @glazednyc, a space to share their infatuation with vintage art, music, film and fashion through their accessories.
What’s your best breakfast memory?
“Going to Keren Eritrean Restaurant in DC and eating Shahan Ful. It’s owned by family friends so they had this photo of my grandfather’s soccer team from the 40’s framed on the wall. My Grandfather is one of my biggest inspirations. Keren is also named after the village in Eritrea my mom’s family is from!”
Where: Le Pain Quotidien
What: salmon tartine + turmeric latte
Matilda walked into Le Pain Quotidien like New York is her catwalk. Impressive beauty, she’s also the perfect amount of cynical and quirky Brit we all need a good dose of in the morning. We spoke a lot about the outdoors, the beautiful English countryside, hiking and Matilda’s transition from modeling to photography. We can’t wait to see what she gets into next.
What’s your best breakfast memory?
“Full on English Breakfast at Glastonbury at 3am on a hill.. Summer 2017!”
Where: Banter
What: pink beet hummus + tea
We caught up with Anaa Saber at Banter and discussed her life over some bright pink beet hummus. She’s a freelance writer and blogger for her very own, Our Second Skin. She is the perfect girl for the Darka bag: feminine streetwear afficionado.
What’s your best breakfast memory?
“4 years ago, I taught English in Turkey. The first day in the village, I was greeted with a breakfast unlike any other. The spread was lavish; tomatoes, cucumbers, cheese, hard-boiled eggs, all kinds of homemade bread, jams, and pastries. But what made the memory this special was the hospitality, the kindness and compassion foreign teachers had greeted me with, I felt right at place.. It was a moment of unity, a breakfast I’ll never forget.”
Where: The Standard
What: soft boiled eggs + potatoes
“My mom is the ultimate source of inspiration, the perfect #baguette. She built her art business from the ground up, after she graduated from engineering school. She comes see me in New York every year for the Armory art fair and I’m always more impressed but how she is welcomed by the art scene, across the Atlantic. I’m so grateful to have such an inspiration and role model to look up to.”
What’s your best breakfast memory?
“I was in the desert in Israel with artist/friend Herve DiRosa. We woke up after a night under the stars and the bedouins delighted us with mint tea, crepes… Right here in the middle of the desert. It was so surprising, the best sharing experience I have ever had.”