The Secret Ingredient Behind Davé's Celebrity Magic: Polaroids
Explore the captivating allure of Davé, where Polaroids captured decades of glamour, intimacy, and celebrity gatherings in the heart of Paris.
The Magic Within the Walls
If walls could talk, the tales of a little Chinese restaurant nestled on Rue Saint-Roch could fill volumes. Davé, as it is endearingly remembered, was a monument to high fashion, art, and film of the 20th century. For over three decades, it wasn’t just the delicious flavors that filled the halls; it was the palpable essence of legends like Serge Gainsbourg and Leonardo DiCaprio, captured forever not just in memory, but in endless streams of delicate Polaroid photographs.
From Shuttered Beginnings to Star-studded Triumphs
Born from the ashes of his father’s closed restaurant, Tai “Davé” Cheung’s gastronomic paradise opened its doors in 1982. Inspired by the iconic Andy Warhol, Davé equipped himself with a Polaroid camera to begin documenting the lives of those graced by his dining experience. Soon, his walls became an evolving tapestry, narrating stories of Helmut Newton’s fascinated gaze or Sofia Coppola’s childhood wonder while cozied up with the great Yves Saint Laurent.
A Gathering of Icons
To dine at Davé was to be part of a family gathering, the intimate atmosphere providing a safe haven for the industry’s icons. It wasn’t just the fabulous Chinese cuisine that drew them in; it was the invitation to be part of something rare and familiar. Like a living scrapbook, the restaurant was more than just a dining place; it became a curated exhibit of the glamorous, the talented, and the unforgettable. According to CNN, the assembling of A-list guests became so exclusive, one’s arrival spoke volumes about their status in the celebrity hierarchy.
From Unseen to Unmissable
Grace Coddington, Tom Ford, and Madonna all found a home at Davé, where each visit was immortalized through gentle clicks of the Polaroid. The camera became an instrument of social alchemy, transforming fleeting moments into cherished artifacts. “At the beginning, the Polaroids just piled up,” recalled Davé. “One day someone stole one — that’s when I understood they had value, that they were objects of desire.”
The Polaroid Legacy
The closure of Davé in 2016 did little to dim its lights in memory. The new book “A Night at Davé” encapsulates a universe of stories and images that remained hidden, only to be rediscovered with time through pages brimful with nostalgia. “I didn’t feel sadness, nostalgia, or regret,” explained Davé. Instead, it was joy and the rekindling of connection that brought those decades into the present once more, transforming them into vivid stories of spontaneity and intimacy.
An Enduring Impression
The restaurant, once vibrant with laughter and the clink of glasses, stands as a testament to the power of place and memory. From the playful frames of Keith Haring mid-conversation to the enigma of Mick Jagger’s phone call, Davé continues to celebrate the glamour and the people who made it so. It’s a wondrous story preserved through snapshots, forever echoing the eclectic spirit of a hidden corner in Paris that became the front row of the world’s grandest stage.
