How did Rachel Khoo out-think every restaurant in Paris?
#54 Newsletter. 05 Apr 24.

How did Rachel Khoo out-think every restaurant in Paris?

Restaurants and Paris.

They go together like Mac&Cheese, or 8 beers & midnight kebabs.

We all know Paris has a gazillion restaurants; some are old, lots are part of the ‘establishment’, loads are famous and 129 of them have a Michelin star.

So if you want to start a restaurant, how do you compete?

To the outsider, it looks like every taste and price-point has been catered for.

That was the challenge facing Rachel Khoo in 2010. After graduating from Le Cordon Bleu she wanted to start her own restaurant.

But she had no money, no network, no fame and was living in a tiny apartment in Belleville in central Paris.

But these restrictions forced her to do what every other restaurant couldn’t, wouldn’t or daren’t.

Out-thinking the competition.

She turned her apartment into the city’s smallest restaurant. Serving just 2 guests at a time. Formidable!

It was a huge success, and soon became the hottest spot in Paris. People were fighting to get on the waiting list.

Within 2 years Rachel had signed books deals and had her own cooking show on the BBC. Did I mention she’s a Brit, which makes it an even better story ??

There’s now been 6 more TV shows and many more books. All because, as an Underdog she used her apparent weakness to out-think the competition. Magnifique ????/????.


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Ben Catley-Richardson

Defeat everything between you & decisive action by working with me, the world's only Accountability Viking! Also: Speaker, Skaldic poet, bouldererer and bonsai-obsessive

7 个月

Great example of embracing the limits on capacity to make being a small operation into a huge benefit (the sort of thing Daniel Priestley talks about in Oversubscribed)

Uri Baruchin

Strategy & Brand Consulting | D&AD Masterclass Trainer

7 个月

I remember loving her thinking at the time, now I understand why.

Sean Maguire FCA

Palatine Private Equity | Reconcile Search

7 个月

I love reading these every Friday Paul What I like is that it has clearly been written by a human, with a brain and sharp wit and a great theme at its core

Richard Hagan

Chartered Marketer and proud member of the CIM.

7 个月

Got to love an #underdog story and this one is right up there. Thanks for sharing Paul Mellor

Lazar Dzamic

Xoogler, Author, Storytelling Trainer, University Lecturer. Turning Light Into Heat

7 个月

Very nice story Paul, thanks.

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