Sicily in Paris on The Hoxton's summer terrace

A touch of Sicily in Paris - but without the scorching temperatures - with The Hoxton Paris hotel's new ephemeral terrace, carefully hidden, as every year, at the back of the courtyard. This year, in collaboration with Maison Italicus, we're setting sail for the Italian island, with a riviera-style terrace.

With large tables for groups of friends, striped umbrellas, handfuls of citrus fruits on the tables and a long bar covered in bluish bottles, Mercatino is in all its splendour, with the soundtrack throughout the evening of the most beautiful songs by Lucio Battisti, romantic singer before the Eternal.

The pastel-pink plates on the menu are classics of theItalian aperitivo, with the difference that here it's not just a question of assembly, but of dishes cooked down to the smallest detail: Nanina's burrata is accompanied by a spicy tomato, caper and olive condiment (14€), Bolognese-style, while zucchini flowers in tempura are stuffed with sheep's milk, to be dipped in a sumac mayonnaise (12€), eggplant is fried and served with fior di latte mascarpone, basil pesto and a tomato and parmesan sauce (10€), while watermelon is pressed pastrami style (12€), and there's no denying it.... you'd almost think it was a meat dish.

What we didn't mention is that the entire menu is vegetarian - not vegan; and it goes without saying that such finely-crafted fruits, vegetables and herbs are sure to turn people's preconceptions of plant-based cuisine on their head.

To accompany these colorful dishes, there's nothing like cocktails in collaboration, of course, with the Maison Italicus. In fact, the 6 cocktails created contain at least one dash of this liqueur with notes of citron and bergamot. We opt for the long drinks, the Rosolio Spritz (Italicus, prosecco, sparkling water, raspberry and peach; €14) and the Spigo Highball (Italicus, lavender and apricot, spuma soda rhubarb; €16), both sweet and refreshing.

The dessert menu is also in tune with the season, with two crunchy cannoli filled with mascarpone and poached rhubarb (8€) and Fontainebleau strawberries (12€), topped with cat's tongues and presented in an old-fashioned way.