It was in Tokyo that the French chef Thierry Marx came upon a machine for making dorayaki – Japanese pancakes filled with red bean paste – and had a vision of what fast food could be. Fresh, delicious, healthy, ethical, even a little exotic. ‘With simple ingredients and good added value, it’s possible to have an experience that is both gastronomic and emotional,’ he says.
This vision became reality in late October with the opening of Marxito in Paris, steps from the Avenue des Champs-Elysées.
The two-Michelin-star chef’s take on the dorayaki is round, slightly thicker than a crêpe and made with buckwheat. Ora-ïto, Marx’s design partner in this venture, has created an ambiance as clean, light and fresh as the food. The room is bathed in a soft salmony pink. A succession of backlit panels descend from the ceiling to become tables, reflected in a wall of mirrors. Beechwood and beige leather chairs are edited by Cassina. The designer explains, ‘This is fast food – it’s not precious – so we wanted a space that was simple and easy to duplicate.’
The long-term plan? Nothing less than worldwide expansion. Move over, golden arches, Marxito is coming to town.
Article by Amy Serafin