Simply Paris, famous in Wellington for its pastries and French cuisine, opened a new shop in the capital city’s fast-gentrifying Newtown district (at 112 Riddiford Street) on December 18. Pascal and Agnès Chivot welcomed such luminaries as HE Michel Legras, Ambassador of France; Her Worship Kerry Prendergast, Mayor of Wellington; Miss New Zealand Samantha Powell and All White Tony Lochhead; and the famous lawyer, John Miller, Esq. The hors d’œuvres were the best we sampled all year and the champagne being served was the real thing from Reims—none of that phony methode traditionelle of the locals.