MODE EPS WORKSHOP WITH DR PATRICIA BRITTO AT LE MEURICE PARIS

Embarking on parenthood is probably the most important decision you’ll ever make after buying a house, but it doesn’t come with a manual. There’s no right or wrong, we do the best we can, loving, nurturing and supporting the next generation.

Children bring tremendous rewards but it’s also extremely challenging and emotionally exhausting and as a mum of four, one of which had Specific Learning Difficulties also known as SEN or Specific Educational Needs, I know firsthand, the difficulties this brings. Our school were amazing in diagnosing our son as early as Reception. We had fantastic support from the school’s SENCO department, specialist teachers who brought the best out of our son and continued to support him right the way through to his GCSE’s.

He needed speech and language therapy aged just three and it went on from there. It was an incredibly stressful time for us as a family, we worried so much about him and with three other children, two older and one younger, I certainly had my hands full, and I needed all the support I could get. Some parents aren’t as lucky.

Our son is now 23 and thriving, he works in sales in the City of London and we’re all so incredibly proud of how far he’s come, he faced his difficulties with courage and determination. If I thought that turning to an educational psychologist was going to help, I would have done so without a seconds thought but I had no idea these brilliant people even existed.

About Dr Patricia Britto

Dr Patricia Britto is one such person; she is a qualified Educational Psychologist (HCPC Registered). Her qualifications include a Doctorate in Professional Educational, Child and Adolescent Psychology from UCL and she is also a mother. She knows first-hand what it means to raise a happy, successful and content child. Dr Britto also holds an MSc in Mental Health in Learning Disabilities and a BSc in Psychology.

Dr Britto works independently out of her Harley Street office but also, a large part of her work means visiting communities, schools even hospitals offering support through consultation, individual psychological assessments, workshops, training and organisational psychological support, crucially, Dr Britto also sees parents and children in the privacy of their own homes. Dr Britto’s ethos is to promote children and young people’s (aged 0-25) learning, social, emotional and mental wellbeing but also helping parents and professionals to better understand and support children and young people.

Behavioural problems in children and young people can sometimes be borne out of frustration perhaps because of an undiagnosed neurodiverse need such as ADHD, ASD, Dyslexia and other Specific Learning Difficulties.

A critical time for our young children was undoubtedly the Covid-19 pandemic, children had to be home schooled due to the lockdowns and this very sadly created another problem often referred to as Emotional-Based School Avoidance (EBSA). Children spent so long out of the traditional school-based education system that they developed debilitating anxiety and other mental health issues very often preventing them from attending school resulting in prolonged absences. EBSA can manifest in a number of serious and very distressing ways including self-harm, tantrums even violence.

Helping parents and other professional teaching organisations better understand these complexities is at the heart of what Dr Britto does and is so passionate about. It is her mission to make a systemic change in the educational system globally by empowering parents and professionals to better understand and support their children and young people’s development and mental wellbeing.

I saw Dr Britto’s commitment, drive and enthusiasm first hand. Her passion to convey and impart her knowledge and experience played a pivotal role in her decision to take what she does to the next level by organising workshops.

Workshops provide a platform to share insights and strategies with educators and parents to better tackle challenges effectively aiming to foster a better understanding of learning dynamics, promote effective teaching methods and support the overall development of children while supporting parents and educational organisations. Dr Britto’s workshops and online coaching which launches in August is a project which she’s running all over the UK and abroad beginning with the City of Light, Paris. It was the perfect city in which to hold her first ever international event and I was so delighted to be invited to attend last month which was held at the 5* deluxe Le Meurice Hotel.

Le Meurice Hotel is so dear to my heart, it was the first hotel in the Dorchester Group that I stayed in which was an unforgettable experience so to be back here to attend this event was an exciting prospect.

Dr Britto, Patricia, left no stone unturned when she put into motion back in March, this magical afternoon which she hosted along with three influential women based in Paris and London. Likeminded women from both cities were invited to spend a joyous afternoon dining on a luxurious three course luncheon organised by the team behind the three Michelin starred Alain Ducasse restaurant which resides within the hotel.

The workshop in Paris was an opportunity for women, mothers, expectant mothers, grandmothers and aunts to enjoy a guilt-free afternoon while learning about child development, the experience of motherhood and how to better care for themselves.  Being emotionally present and caring for a baby, toddler, child is challenging in itself so it’s absolutely crucial to take time out, slow down, indulge in a little “me time” without feeling guilty.  This is so important not just for mum but for the child too as a happy more relaxed mum is surely what’s important.

I was so looking forward to attending this event so in preparation, I arrived in Paris the day before the workshop on Friday 12^th July. The afternoon began at 1:30pm at the prestigious Le Meurice, if you know Paris, it’s located on the famous rue de Rivoli in the 1^st arrondissement a stone’s throw from the Louvre Museum. I was swiftly whisked away to the hotel’s Salon Jeu de Paume which is located at the back of the hotel offering discreet privacy perfect for corporate functions/meetings and private events. It’s a beautiful space full of natural light and understated grandeur; art deco frescoes adorn the walls, the Salon Jeau de Paume is one of three stunning function rooms at Le Meurice hotel.

I’ve seen many grand hotels in my time over the years as a food and travel blogger but I have never attended events before so what greeted me completely blew me away, actually, I was speechless! The set up was breathtaking, Salon Jeu de Paume was like a scene straight out of Bridgerton. Flowers play a central role in enhancing the ambience of an event, subdued lighting gave off a soft romantic feel to the Salon Jeu de Paume; the subtle pink glow enhanced the colours in the flowers used, I can only imagine that Patricia was more than pleased with how everything looked. A lot of hard work went into sourcing the flowers by events team Kokocai Events, stylists made up of two wonderfully gifted sisters, Maria and Karina Bustillos, they ensured their alarmingly early haunts at the Parisian flower markets paid off.

We started off with champagne and delectable canapés served by the hotel’s impeccably dressed waiters as we mingled and got to know each other. Patricia ensured that every single little thing was on point and perfect including the seating plan with our own name cards.

As well as Dr Britto, there were presentations and talks by three visionary women entrepreneurs who were invited by Dr Britto to share their own journeys, insights and experiences in not just motherhood, but a host of different subjects aimed at empowering and inspiring women.

After a warm welcome and introduction by Dr Britto which was translated by Nathalie from Love Light Life Candles, we were welcomed with dishes expertly and lovingly curated by Alain Ducasse and his team of chefs. Alain Ducasse, one of France’s most esteemed and decorated chefs and one of only two chefs to hold a total of 21 Michelin stars throughout his career, has a restaurant within the hotel simply called Le Meurice Alain Ducasse which itself has been awarded two Michelin stars.  The menu was in collaboration with talented pastry chef, Cédric Grolet who has a patisserie within Le Meurice and at London’s Berkeley Hotel. This is the very first time I have eaten anything that has been created by Chef Ducasse, so I was super excited to see what our menu would be, it really didn’t disappoint.

The Menu

In collaboration with Alain Ducasse and Cédric Grolet.

Dublin Bay prawn served with hollandaise sauce, crisp buckwheat

Braised lamb shoulder with preserved lemon, browned vegetables, spicy navarin jus

Raspberry tart

Coffee and chocolates from the Alain Ducasse Factory

2021 Bourgogne – Pouilly Fuissé – Terres du Menhir – Gilles Morat

2021 Rhône Saint-Joseph – Les Ribaudes Domaine Faury

Our first dish was Dublin Bay prawn with hollandaise sauce and a buckwheat crisp. The hollandaise was rich, creamy and indulgent with texture coming from the buckwheat crisp and was paired with a 2021 Pouilly-Fuissé from Burgundy, this beautiful crisp white was the perfect match for the delicate fish starter.

The first guest to speak was Babeth Marlin-Babakila, she is a nurse, author, content creator (Instagram NotJustMom) and Founder of Bonjour Madame and is a mother to three children, 16. 11 and 2. Alongside her medical career, Babeth is a recognised writer through her blog and social media platform NotJustMom which she founded 11 years ago to help and inspire other mother’s offering valuable advice while sharing her own  experiences on motherhood.

Bonjour Madame (Instagram BonjourMadame) was founded four years ago, and its main objective is to provide a safe online community where mums can connect to share and thrive, to navigate the challenges of new motherhood, balancing work and family life. It’s a platform where mums can offload and talk about difficult often taboo subjects and know that they will not be judged. I found Babeth’s contribution so valuable and wished that I had a community of likeminded mums and somewhere safe to seek advice and comfort when I had my children. Again, this talk was eloquently translated by Nathalie, you can find Nathalie on Instagram, LoveLightLifeCandles.

Meanwhile, we enjoyed our second course which was the braised lamb shoulder, which was divine, I think we all agreed, this was our favourite dish. Navarin of lamb is ragu of lamb shoulder slowly cooked with vegetables and served with a sauce made from the vegetables it’s cooked in to produce a silky flavourful sauce. The lamb was so incredibly succulent, moist and tender, I will go as far as saying, it’s probably the best dish I’ve had in Paris to date, this is the calibre of Chef Ducasse, his whole team has been trained to his exacting high standards and it clearly shows. The accompanying wine was a robust red 2021 Rhône Saint-Joseph, a gorgeous pairing for the rich lamb dish, the wines on the menu was French wines at their very best.

Our second guest speaker was Amanda Caroline from the British luxury skincare brand, Amanda  Caroline Skincare. Amanda Caroline developed her brand of skincare just two years ago after the pandemic. Amanda Caroline is passionate about delivering a natural approach to aging skin by providing natural non-comedogenic products created to promote healthy skin combating the first signs of aging through her lightweight, highly absorbent and delicious rose scented skincare.

Amanada Caroline believes in non-invasive techniques to preserve a youthful appearance using their Haute Lift^TM and Haute Rose^HT Complex, her skincare products are cruelty free and vegan. Amanda Caroline came out of a difficult marriage and a painful divorce a few years ago, launching her skincare company has been her salvation and healer. She has created a really successful skincare brand in just two years and is the epitome of what a successful, driven and vibrant woman should be; she should be so proud of what she’s achieved and how far she has come in such a short space of time.   Amanda Caroline definitely spoke from the heart and it’s what we all wanted to hear, self-care is vital for our confidence and wellbeing.

Our final guest speaker was the amazing Kristal Baker from Luxwells Botanical Infused Water Beverages (Instagram liveluxwells). Kristal was kind of put on the spot but told her story like the pro that she is. Kristal developed her brand of flavoured waters because she was uninspired to drink bland water, I wholeheartedly agree with that as I feel the same often struggling to drink plain water.

Kristal, who was a complete novice, wanted to introduce to the market flavourful and healthy beverages using fresh herbal and floral ingredients and botanicals infusing the water with their health-giving properties. Luxwells was born out of this passion and can be found in Selfridges Food Hall, Fortnum, Mason and artisanal shops and has been featured in Good Food and Life Magazines, Tatler, The Guardian, Radio Times and Vogue. Kristal is so inspiring; her passion and determination is to be admired and her dedication and hard work have not only brought her vision to life but has also made a meaningful impact on all of us. If you struggle to drink plain water, try Luxwells, it’s an invigorating elixir that’s truly delicious.

We enjoyed our final dish and for me, the best part of any menu is dessert, a delicious fresh raspberry tart. It was the perfect summertime dessert to end an exquisite menu as we listened to our final speaker, Dr Britto herself.

Speaking in French and English, Dr Britto reinforced her key message with passion and conviction and emphasised the importance of understanding a child’s emotional needs and fostering a supportive environment for their development.  She spoke about her plan to develop her on-line tuition which she hopes to launch this month and continue to expand her outreach efforts through her workshops nationwide focusing on crucial aspects of child psychology offering parents, caregivers and teachers the tools they need to support the mental well-being of children everywhere, our children, our future doctors, teachers, lawyers, tradespeople and more.

It was an amazing afternoon filled with the energy and creativity of remarkable trailblazing women. The event brought together a diverse group of talented individuals, guests and speakers alike, each contributing their unique perspective and skills. We all shared our passions and empowered one another making the experience truly unforgettable. The atmosphere was magical, the food exceptional, we all left feeling inspired and ready to continue our creative journeys in the warm glow of the afternoon; the workshop buzzed with energy, connection, laughter, sharing ideas, we left feeling invigorated and inspired. Dr Britto’s Paris workshop was a roaring success!!

My eternal thanks to Dr Patricia Britto who invited me to attend this glorious event at Le Meurice Hotel. We all left with some gorgeous goody bags with beautiful products, a White Company candle, Amanda Caroline skincare, a Luxwells bottle of botanical rose and honey water, a gorgesous cookie by Sugar Tables London plus a pouch of filter coffee from The Little Coffee Company “made by proud women”.

A special thank you too to Le Meurice Hotel and Alain Ducasse.

Dr Patricia Britto can be found at Modeeps, https://www.modeeps.com/

The Little Coffee Company https://www.littlecoffeecompany.com/

Amanda Caroline Skincare https://amandacarolinebeauty.com/

Luxwells Botanical Water https://www.liveluxwells.co.uk/

Sugar Tables London makes creative cookies for corporate and private events, christenings, birthdays, weddings and counts harrods, Chopard, LVMH and Prada among their clients and can be found on https://sugartableslondon.com

Le Meurice Hotel, Paris https://www.dorchestercollection.com/paris/le-meurice/ 

Our gorgeous goody bags!