How Paris’ famed Chinese restaurant Davé and its Hong Kong-born owner drew the stars
Stars from Madonna to Tom Ford ate there. Now, Hong Kong-born owner Tai ‘Davé’ Cheung reflects as a new book of photos gives a peek inside
For almost 40 years, Davé, a Chinese restaurant in the heart of Paris, attracted the who’s who of fashion, film, art and music.
Opened in 1982, it was not just a place to eat, but an exclusive, intimate salon where celebrities, artists and designers gathered for what felt like a private, timeless film sequence.
Conversation and creative juices flowed as fast as the champagne, and at the centre of it all was the owner, Hong Kong-born Tai “Davé” Cheung, a charismatic host who spent nights weaving his way through the dimly lit tables, often with his beloved cat Momo in tow, chatting with a cast of celebrities.
Creativity was ignited at Davé and, if lucky, you might have spotted French fashion designer Jean Paul Gaultier sketching a look, or American artist Keith Haring doodling away.