An entrepreneurial spirit and a passion for creating unique experiences has inspired alumna Paola Hoss to launch a new venture that seeks to give clients an authentic taste of Paris.

Born out of a love of gastronomy, a passion for storytelling and a desire to share some of the French capital city’s best-kept culinary secrets, Savor Paris with Paola is the latest exciting venture to be launched by one of our entrepreneurial alumni.

Having graduated in 2010 with a Bachelor’s in Hospitality Management and Events, Paola Hoss took a circular route that saw her settle in Paris, the city whose eating hotspots she now seeks to share with visitors. During that time, she also got her first taste of running her own business, something that clearly left its mark and whetted her appetite for more.

Her new enterprise – Savor Paris with Paola – offers visitors from all over the world a tantalizing taste of the City of Light’s gastronomic delights, either on tours through some of the more fashionable Parisian neighborhoods or on bespoke culinary experiences. And while it’s still early days – the tours have only been running for a few months – the signs seem positive on the strength of the social media reviews so far.

Ideal preparation

“After graduating from Glion, I worked in hospitality,” says Paola. “First at the Park Hyatt in Washington and then at Le Bristol in Paris. Following that, I joined an Internet of Things (IoT) startup focused on behavioral nutrition and later founded my own company specializing in children’s birthday parties centered around healthy eating. Most recently, I worked at the student admissions office for Glion and Les Roches in Paris.”

But in the back of her mind, she always had designs on launching her own business and it was while traveling in Peru that the idea for Savor Paris with Paola began to form.

“I knew I wanted to work in the culinary industry because I’m a foodie at heart and I’m constantly giving my friends and family restaurant recommendations,” she adds. “What sealed it was realizing that visitors to unfamiliar cities often miss out on truly authentic gourmet experiences. I wanted to bridge that gap by offering food tours that highlight what Paris has to offer away from the main tourist crowds.”

Curating high-class culinary experiences

For Paola, the idea is to showcase the authenticity of Parisian gastronomy by visiting hand-picked locations with groups limited to a maximum of six people to ensure a convivial and intimate tour. She chose Paris not just because it’s where she lives but also because it’s a city that thrives on food culture, tradition and innovation and offers all types of cuisine.

“You never get bored, it’s dynamic and there is always so much to discover in Paris,” she says. “While traveling, I realised how much food can tell a story of a city and its culture, so I wanted to create an experience here in Paris where guests don’t just taste amazing food, they also get to meet the passionate artisans who make it and can immerse themselves in the local culture.”

Paola has focused on delivering highly curated, intimate experiences for guests, hand-picking each stop on the itineraries based on quality, authenticity and the passion of the people behind the food. Her three-hour tours feature tastings of the best local spots in the iconic neighborhoods of le Marais, Montmartre and Saint-Germain-des-Prés. These are mostly hidden gems – the best bakeries, chocolatiers, wine shops, fromagers, restaurants and cafés.

“Food tourism is becoming more experience-driven, with travelers looking for deeper cultural connections,” she adds. “I see my role as creating meaningful, educational and enjoyable experiences that go beyond just eating and that help guests understand Parisian culinary traditions, people and stories.”

On course for success

Despite having only launched earlier this year, Savor Paris with Paola has already garnered impressive reviews from satisfied customers on sites such as Google, Facebook and Tripadvisor. While this is clearly a reflection of the depth of quality Paris offers in terms of culinary excellence, it also demonstrates Paola’s ability to deliver memorable and shareable experiences. She credits her time at Glion with developing that trait.

“The program at Glion instilled in me a deep understanding of service excellence and the importance of attention to detail,” she says. “It provided me with a strong foundation in hospitality management and a global perspective on the industry and also taught me adaptability and problem solving, which are essential when running a business in the hospitality and tourism industry.

“And I believe my overall experience there was transformative. The hands-on learning approach and international environment helped shape my entrepreneurial mindset and my passion for creating unique guest experiences. It’s also at Glion where I met my best friends, with whom I made a lot of memories as well as lifelong worldwide connections.”

Her Glion experience also appears to have instilled in her a sense of ambition too as she already has designs on expanding her business to other food-centric cities such as Lyon, Bordeaux, Lille and even Brussels.

French food favorites

But for the time being, she is concentrating her efforts on Paris, a city she has called home for the last 14 years and where she has developed considerable gastronomic expertise. So where is her favorite spot for food in the city and what would she recommend visitors eat when they get there?

“One of my personal highlights is a charming and stylish bistro in le Marais called Pamela Popo,” she says. “I love it for its retro-chic decor and cozy ambiance, while the menu features refined yet comforting French cuisine with quality ingredients accompanied by a well-curated wine list.

“As for what to eat? I’d say blanquette de veau is an excellent must-try dish in Paris. It’s traditional French comfort food that consists of slow-cooked veal in a creamy white sauce made with butter, flour and crème fraîche and accompanied by carrots, mushrooms and onions. It’s a delicate, rich and flavorful dish that perfectly represents classic French cuisine.”

• If you’re in Paris and have an appetite for fine dining, book a tour with Paola at https://savorpariswithpaola.com
• Stay in touch with the latest developments at Savor Paris with Paola via Instagram and TikTok