Paris’s Legendary Davé Restaurant Reveals 36 Years of Celebrity Secrets in New Book
Davé, a renowned Chinese restaurant in Paris, is celebrating its history with a new book, 'A Night at Davé'. The book features 115 pages of photographs, selfies, doodles, and postcards from its famous clientele, taken by owner Tai 'Davé' Cheung over the past 36 years.
Davé's reputation for discretion and careful seating arrangements made it a haven for celebrities from various fields, including fashion, film, art, literature, and music. Tai 'Davé' Cheung, inspired by Andy Warhol, began capturing these notable figures with a Polaroid camera purchased in 1982. The book reveals snapshots of icons like Serge Gainsbourg, David Lynch, Leonardo DiCaprio, Kate Moss, and Kim Kardashian, among others.
Sofia Coppola, in the book's foreword, shares her teenage experiences at Davé, highlighting the restaurant's unique atmosphere that encouraged repeat visits from the rich and famous. Cheung estimates he took a few thousand Polaroids over the years, with many capturing guests using the landline phone. The 'complet' sign in the window was a subtle way to reserve space for celebrity regulars.
'A Night at Davé' offers a fascinating glimpse into the restaurant's illustrious past and the celebrities who frequented it. For Tai 'Davé' Cheung, working on the book was a nostalgic journey, revisiting happy memories and the countless famous faces that graced his establishment.
