Mazmez, the delicious Lebanese restaurant of Hugo Danaguezian aka @pari_beyrouth in Paris

If you've been following the adventures of Hugo Danaguezian aka @pari_beyrouth on social networks, then you'll be delighted to learn that he's finally opened his Lebanese restaurant in Paris... and it's a success!

You may have followed his adventures on social networks. Here, Hugo Danaguezian aka @pari_beyrouth has documented every stage in the opening of his Mazmez restaurant in Paris - the joys and advances as well as the difficulties and adventures.

For two years, the young man detailed to his 150,000 subscribers on TikTok and Instagram the path he took to fulfill his desire toopen his own table in the capital and, as a Lebanese, unveil the recipes of his childhood.

Mazmez' is Lebanese for 'take time to enjoy'. Drawing its inspiration from family cooking, embellished by inspiration gleaned from travels to the four corners of the globe, Mazmez is in tune with the times, embracing today's issues head on.

Also, all raw produce has been carefully sourced, with French, halal and free-range meats from the Bonne Bidoche butchery, fruits and vegetables are in season (no eggplants in winter, Hugo announced, and instead a special variety of winter tomatoes (!) is planned before the high season), the almonds are organic and French, grown in the Gard region by his parents, and the Lebanese products, such as olive oil, zaatar, sumac and orange blossom, are imported directly from there.

The restaurant was decorated by the Obier agency, with a view to reusing and reducing the carbon footprint of furniture and fittings: cement tiles and trifora typical ofLebanese architecture, vintage sconces and chandeliers, charming creations bycontemporary Lebanese artists, and of course an open kitchen, overlooking both the dining room and the street, from which waft sweet aromas that whet the appetite as soon as you enter the premises.

Mazmez' s cuisine is (deceptively) simple and (really) affordable, with mezzés ranging from 9€ to 15€ - the restaurant recommends 2 to 3 mezzés per person for a complete meal. A lunch option at 20€ allows you to discover two savory plates at a lower cost, all the more so as these plates are very generously served, accompanied by a soft drink, coffee or tea.

Other liquids include sumac iced tea (5€), Lebanese lemonade (5€) and Levantine-flavored cocktails such as the Libanesque (9€), with arak, pomegranate molasses, orgeat syrup, lemon and mint; a must-taste.

On the plate, too, there are plenty of must-try recipes. Because at Mazmez, the dishes are different from the classic Lebanese restaurants in the capital - yes, Lebanese gastronomy isn't just about tabbouleh, falafel and kofta. In fact, there's no shortage of great discoveries to be made!

Among the dishes we loved was theAwarma egg (13€), a fusion dish from Hugo's two grandmothers (Italian on one side, Lebanese on the other), an egg cocotte topped with a chanterelle cream and 7-spice lamb confit, a dish that's both regressive and well-traveled.

Also delicious are the labné (10€) with candied beet, flame-roasted blood orange segments and chili oil; the lebanese fried chicken (14€) made from farm-fresh chicken fillets marinated in tawouk spices and then fried, accompanied by toum sauce, tangy coleslaw and pickles; or vegetarian pastrami (9€), actually a carpaccio of spicy smoked celery root, chili gel and sumac mayo.

While the meal begins with a zaatar and olive oil ceremony, it ends on an equally exotic sweet note: burnt mouhalabieh (9€), osmaliyeh with pear and cardamom (9€).... We're sure you'll be able to tell us all about it, but we were running out of room!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please mention it in the comments.