My France Favourites: Justin Postlethwaite

I’m so in awe of Paris that I still keep it strictly touristic, and I don’t even pretend to blend in with the locals. After waking up in a cloud of pillows, I’d have breakfast in bed at Le Bristol, before spending the morning down at the Musée d’Orsay, checking in on my all-time favourite painting – Millet’s L’Angélus. It’s like a sad friend that cheers me up, weirdly.

I would perhaps treat myself to lunch at Le Georges atop the Pompidou, before aimlessly ambling the Marais in search of bargainous second-hand clothes shops. Later, I might head to the Tour Montparnasse and enjoy the naff 70s splendour and view. There are a couple of bric-à-brac shops down a sidestreet nearby, where I might find some old printing blocks, a Ricard jug for a song or a 1980s Bibendum keyring. I always need more pointless French tat.

In the evening I will have a couple of beers and steak-frites somewhere in the Latin Quarter.

Your favourite restaurant in Paris?

I’ve always eaten really well at La Cuisine de l’E7 at Edouard 7 near the Opéra.

The most sublime meal you’ve ever had in France?

For life-affirming delight, it’s hard to beat a platter of fresh fruits de mer at a portside restaurant in Brittany. For jaw-dropping brilliance: a chocolate and gold leaf dessert by Christophe Michalak at the Plaza Athenée over a decade ago, when he was on his way to becoming World Patisserie Champion. I refused to share it and needless to say, we soon broke up. I still have the menu though, so I win.

A press trip to Albi about 10 years ago, where I fell in love with the behemoth, tanker-like cathedral and feasted on duck in all its glorious guises. I was then taken out to the sticks to visit Toulouse-Lautrec’s childhood home and had tea with the magnificent, age-defying Comtesse Nicole-Bérengère Tapié de Celeyran, great-great niece of the painter. After that, I knew I was in the right job!

Jetting in to sunny Nice with a view to exploring the villages of Provence’s hinterland or a seaside resort – both are guaranteed to get my tapenade tingling.

Top museum in France?

The big guns need no plugs here, so here’s one for you – the strawberry and heritage museum in Plougastel, Brittany. It’s so bad, it’s great.

Favourite French film?

Jour de Fête by Jacques Tati (1949). I first saw it early one morning on a UK television channel and was mesmerised by Tati’s clowning persona and his sweet ‘anti-progress’ message. It resonates still, especially for anyone in love with la vie à l’ancienne, and I can watch it time and again.

A local cake of some description. Or airport sweets and an apology.

Boutiques where you shop during the semi-annual soldes?

I’m a journalist – they don’t pay me enough to go shopping in boutiques!

The beautiful beaches of Southern Corsica.

Learn some French and be prepared to use it – it’s France, after all.