Who’s My Free Kitchen?

Today we get to know My Free Kitchen a bit better. My Free Kitchen is a lovely gluten free and lactose free restaurant and coffee shop in Paris and what makes it even nicer are Carole and her brother Philippe who put much passion and love in what they cook. Today I am happy to interview both of them.

Chiara: Why gluten free?

Carole : I discovered I was intolerant to gluten 3 years and half ago. Then I developed also lactose intolerance; at the time I was living in London, there were gluten free and lactose free products available in stores but when I came back to Paris I could not find the same. This is how I came up with the idea of My Free Kitchen and asked my brother Philippe to join me in this adventure. I love pastries, I am very “gourmande” and I have always loved cooking at home. At My Free Kitchen I take care of all the recipes and my brother manages the financial part.

Chiara: What is My Free Kitchen?

Carole: It is a family kitchen, simple and with no “chichis” as we say it in French. It is generous and gourmand. We cook gluten free and lactose free with a smile. Our objective is to create delicious food that everybody can enjoy, not only people who are intolerant to gluten or lactose. We are open for lunch and dinner and we serve brunch on Saturday. Everything is homemade and cooked fresh everyday.

Philippe: We have lots of demand by people who are intolerant to eggs or vegan. This is why my sister has recently developed some delicious vegan cakes.

Chiara: What is the gluten free food that you love the most?

Philippe: Carole’s vegan cake with orange blossoms and chia seeds, so soft and tasty. We have Lebanese origins and in Lebanon we use the orange blossom water very much. For example, at My Free Kitchen, we serve the white coffee that is made with hot water and orange blossoms – very common in Lebanon after lunch. What we cook here, it’s always inspired by our family so it is French cuisine with touches of Lebanese here and there. On our table you will always find the ZAATAR that is a Lebanese mix of sesame seeds, oregano and thyme that you can sprinkle on your dishes to enhance the flavour.

Carole: My green tea and coconut cake.

Philippe: I also love our quiches with carrots and coconut milk that are both gluten free and lactose free.

Chiara: Gluten free is…

Philippe: Choices. In French “sans gluten” sounds negative because of the “sans” (without) but actually when you close the door to one ingredient, you open up one to many others that are all different and incredibly tasty.

Carole: C’est BON aka it is great 😉

Philippe: And it is healthy.

Photo credits: Ariana Schwarz – www.paris-to-go.com