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URBAN GUIDE

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August 2021

Le jeune chef étoilé Antoine Gras.© Matthieu Cellard

Antoine Gras

Du parc national de la Vanoise au parc naturel des Alpilles

From the Alps to the Alpilles

We met chef Antoine Gras at his summer post at the Hôtel de l’Image in Saint-Rémy-de-Provence. It’s the young chef’s second summer here.

Starting as trainee chef at the Barmes de l’Ours in Val d’Isère in the Alps, Antoine Gras rose to chef status in only four years. And won a Michelin star the next year, in 2019, when he was 24. It’s still his winter abode. His summer post at the Terrasses de l’Image is a completely different scene, but he gives total commitment to both. We asked him to define his cuisine: “It’s the people who taste it who describe it,” he says, “Gourmet cuisine that plays harmoniously with textures and flavoursome combinations.” Of himself, he says he is generous, enthusiastic, sincere and perfectionist.
In Saint-Rémy, Antoine Gras serves simple fare at lunchtime, as it suits the midday heat, and a more elaborate meal with three to seven courses in the evening. This is expressive cuisine focused on the ingredients. “I really like using ingredients that have a short season,” he says. Such “ephemeral” dishes, as he calls them, are perfect for his spontaneous approach. Provence is amazing for farm produce and Antoine is always keen to come here. “It’s pure delight for a cook. Enriching. I love discovering new things, in both regions. The difference is intriguing and challenging. It’s inspiring to have two different ways to express myself.”