Anne Sophie Bilet Dirand
Paris’ Premier Party Planner and D.J.
Cliché would have it that accomplishment and affability are incompatible qualities when it comes to the French. But our dear friend, Anne Sophie Bilet Dirand, a cocktail of brains and beauty, is just as generous as she is gifted and a true master of the multi-hyphenate. After years working in the French restaurant industry as the artistic director and manager of world-renowned venues such as Monsieur Bleu and LouLou, Anne Sophie (“Anso” to her friends) launched her own events company, Bubble Events, creating highly-theatrical, glamorous affairs. (One particular event, a 1920s-themed bash at the Hôtel Salomon de Rothshield, was so thoroughly and lavishly curated it would’ve put Jay Gatsby to shame.) On our last day in Paris, we got to spend a few precious hours with her in her glorious Right Bank apartment, sipping her homemade matcha lattes, checking out her impressive turntables, and getting her inside scoop on Paris’ hottest under-the-radar restaurants.
La DoubleJ:
You had an impressive career in the Paris restaurant industry prior to launching your events company, Bubble Events in 2018 (through which you’ve thrown some of the more fabulous and theatrical events we’ve seen). What inspired this venture?
Anne Sophie:
Creating Bubble Events came very naturally to me because I have always been passionate about cooking and have organized parties since a very young age. So, after working for a long time in catering and party planning, I realized that creating an event company would be the best way for me to combine all the things I love to do. My lifelong dream has always been to create experiences that make people smile and give them a good time.
LDJ:
You’re clearly an accomplished hostess (we’ve read you are quite a maestro at Italian dishes in particular). Have you always had this passion for cooking and entertaining?
AS:
I’ve been cooking since I was around 12 or 13, and I've always loved it. In my family, everyone cooks. It is one of the true, great pleasures in life - I particularly love the sharing aspect of it. I love Italian cuisine, which I know well because I had my own Italian restaurant in the 2nd arrondissement and because my mother also cooked a lot of Italian for my brother and me when we were little. As for my taste for entertainment, it emerged very early in my life because of my unconditional love for music and because I’ve found dancing also does me a lot of good.
LDJ:
Talk us through the most fabulous party or dinner party you have hosted. Give us some tips for what makes a brilliant party.
AS:
The most incredible evening I organized was actually the one that launched me. It was a birthday party for foreign clients organized over 3 days. One of the parties was held at the Salomon Hotel in Rothschild with a 1920s theme. For six months I curated a selection of furniture and objects from the 20s and 30s in order to fully furnish an entire floor of this magnificent private mansion to really create the sense that you were arriving at a party in that era. Of course, I added on all these incredible artists and performers many artistic that I’d had the chance to work over the years, and hired a chef that I adore, Bruno Verjus, who created this absolutely divine dinner for us under an outdoor orangery built for the occasion. It’s truly a wonderful memory.
To throw a great party I would just say that you have to put your whole heart into it. To provide your guests with the maximum amount of joy and pleasure, every little detail counts.
LDJ:
You’re an accomplished DJ (we’re obsessed with the very impressive turntables in your apartment). What are your favorite tunes for setting the mood at a party or dinner party?
AS:
It really depends on the context. Most of the time when I’m dj’ing, I prefer to start the evening with a mix of disco and funk, but then if I hit the turntables later in the night, I’ll opt for more electronic and deep house music. My song of the moment is “Vertigo” by ANOTR and Abel Balder - it always puts me in a good mood.
LDJ:
Having worked in the restaurant business in Paris for such a long time, tell us about some secret spots of the Parisian dining scene that we don’t know about yet.
AS:
Of course, the restaurants I simply have to tell you about are Loulou, Monsieur Bleu, and Girafe which I have a particular affection for, having worked there as Director (and also because it was Joseph Dirand, my husband, who designed them) but hey, these are already well known and recognized. One of my favorite restaurants is that of my friend, genius Bruno Verjus' - it's truly an extraordinary culinary experience. A restaurant that I discovered recently and that I immediately liked is the CACHÉ restaurant in the 20th arrondissement, which, in addition to being delicious, gives you this wonderful sense of being transported to somewhere entirely different. A small bistro that I absolutely love is Jaïs. I have to admit, I do really like the great classics like The Voltaire or The Duc (but I am not telling you anything new by sharing these great places).
LDJ:
How would you describe your style, both interiors-wise and wardrobe? And how does La DoubleJ’s wacky, print-filled world fit into that?
AS:
I would say that my style changes depending on my mood that day. I like both the super casual look and also the very dressy look that I’ll adopt for certain types of events. I like being a bit of a style chameleon because it allows me to follow my desires of the day. I have been collecting clothes and shoes for a very long time. The women around me have always had this great attention to detail, which must run in the family. I have some pieces from great fashion designers that were passed down to my mother from her grandmother - I love that. What is wonderful about La DoubleJ designs is that they have both this modern and vintage side. They’re very feminine clothes that bring great joy thanks to all these pretty, happy prints.
LDJ:
Your home is a glorious mix of modern minimalism and exotic accents. With such a beautiful canvas to work from, how do you go about applying color or print in your home?
AS:
The color that appears throughout our home is thanks to the pieces that we bring back from our many travels around the world. I love to travel, and my husband and I love to bring back colorful memories from each adventure to keep with us forever. Beyond that, we indeed tend to keep the space very natural with quite soothing tones.
LDJ:
Your husband, Joseph, has said that he creates the framework for living, and that you make a house a home. What, for you, is the difference between those two things? How do you think you achieve creating a ‘home’?
AS:
My husband effectively created this setting that adapts perfectly to how we live. My role is to add spirit to the space with these mixtures of objects and the dinners that I organize to bring together people we love. I like this idea of a cocoon, a space in which you feel good.
LDJ:
You joined us for our immersive yoga class with Catalina Denis the other day. In what other ways do you carve out time to prioritize “feeling well”? (Any rituals/ Parisian wellness practitioners you’d recommend?)
AS:
I work out twice a week with my friend and trainer, Bash, who uses these stretching methods and quite innovative movements that combine pilates and yoga exercises. On top of this, I play tennis regularly, which I’ve played since I was little, and that does me a lot of good. I get a massage at least once a week from my Thai magician, and I also get pampered by Caroline, my beauty guru, who gives me the craziest facial treatment once a month. My naturopath, Julie, is also key to helping me feel my best. I make sure I see her as soon as I feel the need.
LDJ:
When do you feel at your most creative, and where do you go to get inspired?
AS:
I love to create in the evening when calm has returned to the house. I work during the day, but it’s often in the evening that ideas come to me and that I feel my most inspired. Obviously, traveling and discovering other cultures is an immense source of inspiration for me, always bringing new ideas and desires.
LDJ:
Why Paris? Would you ever consider living anywhere else?
AS:
I love Paris, and I'm really a true Parisian at heart, always happy to return to the Eiffel Tower when I leave it to travel. So, right now, I can't see myself living anywhere else. Maybe later, when my children are older, because I would love a little more nature in my life. My husband and I are looking for a country house to get away from it all for weekends with the children. The advantage of already traveling a lot is getting to escape on a regular basis.
LDJ:
What’s next for you? For Bubble?
AS:
I’m organizing a lot of events right now that I’m finding really inspiring. I hope to create many more because it's really what feeds my spirit and gives me energy. I also have some trips coming up to the Philippines, Costa Rica, and Indonesia that I’m really looking forward to...
Grazie mille, Anso! We love you.
