Where were you born?

Westbrook, Connecticut, a small seaside town located halfway between New York and Boston.

Where do you live?

Paris, in the fourth arrondissement, and I work in Reims in the heart of the Champagne region.

If money was no object, where would you live?

I'd still live in Paris, but I'd have my own dive boat permanently moored in the Andaman Sea. With a Champagne fridge, of course!

Which are your favourite restaurants?

In Paris, I love Frenchie, Les Fines Gueules, L’Office, Agapé Substance, L’Hédoniste, Le Pamphlet, Le Baratin and La Régalade Saint Honoré and in Reims my favourites are Le Bocal and L’Assiette Champenoise. 

Do you have a favourite local café or bar?

I love Juvéniles on rue de Richelieu in Paris. The owner, Tim Johnston, is one of the coolest guys you’ll ever meet. You can show up alone and leave with four new friends and two new favourite wines!

Where do you take out-of-town friends? 

I take them to the 13th arrondissement for bún bò huế [noodle soup] and a beer at one of Paris’s numerous and fabulous Vietnamese eateries. Delicious though they may be, there’s more to Paris than macaroons. That said, I'll admit I have a serious weakness for Pierre Hermé too!

Where do you like to celebrate?

At Le Meurice; its chef Yannick Alléno is a genius.

Do you have a favourite Paris walk?

I never tire of walking through Père Lachaise cemetery. Death comes for us all eventually so skip the map of famous tombs nonsense and just wander around. Did you know there are more than 5,000 trees planted there?

Which is the best landmark in Paris?

Without a doubt, it’s the Seine. Stroll along its banks, cross it using its many glorious bridges, take a boat ride from one end to the other.

Which do you think is the best museum in Paris?

There are grander museums, of course, but personally I love the Jeu de Paume since it is devoted to photographers like Richard Avedon, Cindy Sherman and Diane Arbus.

What is the most treasured piece in your wardrobe?

My grandfather's cufflinks.

Which are your favourite fashion brands?

J M Weston, because they make the most comfortable men's shoes in the world – they’re like slippers! Eric Bompard, because they make affordable, wearable cashmere sweaters in every colour under the sun. Scubapro, because nobody cares what you wear when you’re 30 metres below sea level.

Which clothing items do you keep on buying?

I buy a lot of sweaters and blazers.

What was your most recent expensive purchase?

A case of Piper-Heidsieck Brut Vintage 1949 at an auction.

Which are your favourite shopping destinations?

New York, London, Singapore.

Which Parisian do you most admire?

My dear friend Alexander Lobrano because he knows every single restaurant in this town – and generously shares the names of the good ones with his friends too! His book Hungry for Paris is the definitive bible for eating well in Paris.

Any advice for visitors?

Parisians are actually friendly – and it’s okay if you don't speak French. But they appreciate it when you make an effort. Begin every single interaction with a ‘bonjour’ and end each one with a ‘merci’ and an ‘au revoir’ and you'll be pleasantly surprised at the difference it makes. Ask ‘Est-ce que vous parlez anglais?’ before asking where the Louvre is in English and you might even get a smile.

What can’t you live without?

Champagne!

Tell us a secret.

Champagne is the closest wine region to Paris – only 44 minutes away by high-speed train.