Tag Archives: Bruno le Gac

Constance Hot List: where to eat in the South of France

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If you’re heading to the South of France this summer, seek out these top tables in the region. Recommended by Bruno Le Gac, food connoisseur and Resident Manager at Constance Belle Mare Plage.

Serge Gouloumes

Serge Gouloumes

Mougins

In Mougins, I recommend the table of my friend Serge Gouloumès at Relais et Châteaux Le Mas Candille. Here, you’ll experience the greatest products of the South – talent and generosity.

Menton

In Menton, chef Mauro Colagreco is super hot right now at Le Mirazur. Expect a beautifully creative and tasty cuisine, light and full of fresh vegetables.

Marseilles, old port

Lionel Levy is doing a great job at his restaurant Une Table au Sud, located right on Marseille’s old port. Splendid fish, respecting the Mediterranean techniques and products, and the creativity of uber-friendly chef Levy.

Do you have any recommendations?

If you’ve dined at a fantastic restaurant in the South of France, we’d love to hear your recommendation. You can post a comment below, on our Facebook page, or through Twitter @constancehotels.

Constance Hot List – the top tables in Paris right now

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If you’re heading over to Paris for a long weekend, check out these top tables in the French capital as recommended by Bruno Le Gac, our leading gastro connoisseur and Resident Manager at Constance Belle Mare Plage.

Eiffel Tower at night

Eiffel Tower at night

1. Akrame

A young and very creative chef has quickly become the talk of the town. New kid on the block Kei Kobayashi, Japanese chef with top training in France, has opened a remarkable table which is getting more successful by the day.

2. Thoumieux

Cuisine superstar Jean-François Piège is hotter than ever with his restaurant located on the first floor of his brasserie Thoumieux. So sought after – you’ll be lucky to get a table.

3. Le Chateaubriand

Since Iñaki Aispitarte at Le Chateaubriand was voted one of the top restaurants in France, he unplugged his phone… Every single American coming to Paris wants to book. Hotel concierges don’t even bother to call any more. Just go there and check if a seat is available. If you are (very) lucky, you’ll get the ultimate creative-on beat bistro experience.

4.  Bristol and Mini Palais

Masterchef 3 Michelin stars Eric Frechon at Bristol is as the top of his game. And don’t miss his second restaurant: Mini Palais.

5. Le Cinq at George V

Last but not least, Chef Eric Briffard at restaurant Le Cinq in George V is doing amazing things. A dinner there, welcomed by master sommelier Eric Beaumard, is a pleasure that will last in your memory for a long time.

What do you think?

What are you recommendations for eating out in Paris? Post your comments here or visit us on Facebook or Twitter.

Christopher Barber and team celebrate end of culinary festival

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With bags almost packed in the knowledge of a job well done, the team behind the successful 7th edition of Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau head out to sea on a luxury catamaran to have some well earned fun.

Constance Belle Mare Plage, Mauritius

Constance Belle Mare Plage

Here, Christopher Barber shares the day with us.

What sadness, the last day in paradise.

Yesterday was the final organised event - a catamaran trip along the coast, lunch on board washed down with copious amounts to drink.

Executive chef Dominique Grel is as comfortable looking after guests as he is in the kitchen. He is the ultimate professional, looking after everyone whilst having a great time himself. He epitomises everything that is wonderful about Constance Hotels and the Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau - having fun, making friends and looking after people. He is ably assisted by Vincent and Guillaume from Belle Mare Plage, they exude friendship and charm, making sure that the chefs have an appropriate send off.

Star of the day is Angela Hartnett’s boyfriend Neil Borthwick. He sings, dances, swims and drinks, bringing a smile to everyone’s face.

Bruno Le Gac and team with Patrick Bittner

Bruno Le Gac and team with Patrick Bittner

The Constance team have once again shown us that gastronomy alone is not enough - great food and hospitality is also about people and personality. Through the Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau, they have shown the world that they have this in abundance.

Behind the scenes photos of the final festival dinner

Visit our Constance Facebook page to see some wonderful photos of the Michelin* chefs and island cooks preparing the 6* dinner on the final night of the Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau.

Highlights from the Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau

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It’s been a fantastic week in Mauritius so far, with the 7th edition of the Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau providing entertainment, drama, tension and excitement…

Official launch of the Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau

Official launch of the festival

The competition is in full swing today. As we wait to find out more, Bruno Le Gac brings us highlights from the last couple of days:

Our Chief Executive launches the festival

‘I declare the 7th edition of Festival Culinaire Bernard Loiseau open!’ Our CEO, Jean-Jacques Vallet opened officially the festival on Tuesday evening, in a ceremony oozing conviviality and happiness.

More than ever, the top management of Constance Hotels believes in culinary, is attached to the human values carried by the festival and wishes to develop this unique concept.

Music to the ears of the passionate team at Constance Hotels Experience.

Serge Vieira delights at La Spiaggia

Serge Vieira

Serge Vieira

Tonight, Wednesday, an exceptional dinner took place at La Spiaggia, the casual chic restaurant next to the villas at Belle Mare Plage. Festival 2011 winner and recently promoted 2 Michelin star chef, Serge Vieira (who is also Bocuse d’Or 2005) presented an amazing dinner full of flavours and freshness.

A unique occasion for our team of chefs to work next to one of the most brilliant representatives of the young French culinary scene.

Halaveli chef cooks up a feast at Le Prince Maurice

Another amazing dinner took place on Wednesday. New Zealander and Executive Chef at Halaveli, Glen Cooper, prepared a fabulous feast at L’Archipel, Le Prince Maurice. Fantastic oysters with caviar, delicious sweet potato soup, juicy, soft and extra tasty lamb shepherd’s pie, and of course Pavlova as a tasty and very elegant dessert…

The name of Constance Halaveli Resort, Maldives was on all the lips tonight…

Cocktail competition at Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau

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Bruno Le Gac reveals what happened at this year’s Bar and Cocktail competition.

Bartender making cocktails at Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau 2012

Bartender at 2012 Cocktail competition

This year’s Bar and Cocktail competition has taken a new step, and I was delighted to witness how much interest it has generated amongst our guests.

The event started with a classical approach to bartending, and ended in music with Mauritius’ living legend of flairing, Joao.

The jury panel was composed of the European chefs, who left the stoves in the kitchens for a couple of hours to sample the creations made out of Gabriel Boudier’s liquors.

Day 3: Inside the kitchens at Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau

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Bruno Le Gac takes us into the kitchens on day 3 of the Culinary Festival Bernard Loiseau.

Prawn curry at Constance Hotels Experience

Luxury food at Constance

Pressure is gradually rising in the kitchen, and countdown has started as the chefs have to come up with 2 creations. Ambiance is great between all the candidates and we are starting to see some interesting things on the plates.

On Monday evening, guests at Constance Belle Mare Plage had the rare privilege to taste a menu prepared by the 6 executive chefs of our hotels in Mauritius, Seychelles and the Maldives.

It was an explosion of flavours and tastes. A fantastic atmosphere in the kitchen, lots of fun… and some pressure for our sous chef Vishnu who was doing the passé with 6 executive chefs sending the dishes to him.

We are already looking forward to next year’s festival!