In a restaurant in Paris

SHOP

The restaurant is located in the Rue de Crussol, 75011 Paris, and has its web site here.

Restaurant Cellar specializes is French cuisine with a Japanese accent. Sortira Paris found it had "a convivial setting where good humour reigns, like being at home here with the spirit of conviviality spreading from table to table to the point of breaking the ice between strangers." Geoffrey Boyer, the chef, has been passionate about gastronomy since his early childhood. At Cellar, he takes traditional French dishes to a new dimension. The dishes are beautifully presented in a space with refined and comfortable decor. Take a look.

And what did Sagar find in this restaurant? Well, you can find out in his video report:

It was Geoffery's partner and wife Almira Skripchenko, seven-time French Champion, whom Sagar decided to interview. She describes the chess and Japanese connection of Cellar.

Guests in the Cellar: GM Alexandra Kosteniuk, IM Almira Skripchenko, IM Tania Sachdev, GM Harshit Raja and chef Geoffrey Boyer.

Philidor

I remember vividly the time we spent with Almira in Paris two decades ago. Here's my report from the time. She took us on a spectacular tour of the French capital.

Almira at home, and taking us on a walking tour of Paris

Almira took us to the Opera Garnier to show us the bust of Philidor

François-André Danican Philidor (born Sept. 1, 1726, died August 31, 1795) was a composer of classical music and one of the strongest chess players of his day. The name Philidor was passed on through his grandfather from King Louis XIII, a tribute to this family of royal musicians.

During years of waiting to perform in the chapel of Versailles, the young Francois learned the moves of chess and became the best player in the chapel. Philidor supported himself by giving music lessons, arranging and copying music. Spare time was spent at the Cafe de la Regence in Paris. There he learned from the strongest player in France, M. de Kermur, Sire de Legal. In 1745, Philidor went to Rotterdam and then to London accompanying a music company.

Surely you know 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 d6, the opening named after him.