Paul Charreau

The taste of beauty and goodness

Originally from Angers, he started as a chef before specialising in patisserie, exploring both areas in several establishments in France and abroad. He moved to Marseille six years ago to join Meryl, his Marseillaise partner. They opened their shop specialising in fine, gourmet patisserie using as little sugar and fat as possible in 2022. Paéma’s cakes are aesthetically pleasing, and the taste keeps us returning for more. The cream chouquettes that have become so popular are delicious!

12 rue César Aleman, 13007 Marseille

Tél. 04 91 01 72 79

Arnaud Tabarec

Not your typical restaurant

After honing his skills with some of the great names in gastronomy, this Burgundy-born chef spent seven years working at the Five Seas Hotel in Cannes. In parallel with his consultancy and chef coaching, he founded Beam! in 2020 with François Veillon, owner of Le Télégraphe in Toulon. He injects his creativity here to offer a restaurant with a surprise menu, committed to sourcing products and taking care of his staff. “I feel at home in the Var, where you’re close to people and nature. Toulon is a city in the throes of change that suits me!”

2 rue Hippolyte Duprat, 83000 Toulon. Tél. 06 27 54 27 06

Franck & Nadine Renouard

Love of wine.

Over dinner with friends in 2000, this renowned pair of Parisian dental surgeons started creating Scamandre, a wine estate in the Camargue. Starting from scratch, with the help of wine expert Stéphane Beuret, they have transformed a few hectares of vines into an ambitious enterprise producing wines for pleasure and great wines for laying down, all using natural methods. Their genuine commitment reflects their passion for the region and its terroir.

Chemin des Coquillons

30600 Vauver

The Small Group

Trendsetters

After starting nomadic pop-up restaurants in Paris and around the world, the three friends – Quebec sommelier Laura Vidal, British chef Harry Cummins, and entrepreneur Julia Mitton – moved to Le Nord Pinus, a hotel in Arles in 2015 before creating Chardon, a chef-in-residence restaurant. Bitten by the Southern dolce vita, they opened La Mercerie, a creative semi-gastronomic Bistro in Marseille. The Livingstone wine bar and Pétrin Couchette bakery-café followed. Their deceptively simple cuisine, rooted in the local terroir and seasons with a creative twist, is an excellent combination of quality and affordability. The Small Group, with its bold, modern touch, is set to be a long-lasting fixture in the South of France. 

9 cours Saint Louis, 13001 Marseille

Tél. 04 91 06 18 44

Christopher Hache

From luxury hotels to Provence.

This former Crillon chef decided to leave the glitz and glamour of Paris for the sunshine and relaxed lifestyle of Provence. He has been thriving in Eygalières, in the Alpilles region, since 2019. After setting up his Michelin-starred gourmet restaurant, Maison Hache, he teamed up to create La Bastide d’Eygalières and its accessible gourmet Provençal bistro. Close to the terroir, he works hand in hand with local producers to bring out the best in their products, including green asparagus from Sylvain Erhardt’s in Senas, saffron from Eygalières, strawberries and tomatoes from Ricaud and snails from Mollèges. “This region is rich in products and traditions, which allows me to reinterpret classics and produce more straightforward creations.” 

30 rue de la République, 13810 Eygalières. Tél. 04 90 95 00 04