For the second consecutive year, the presentation of the Gantié Guide in the Alpes-Maritimes took place around Cap d’Antibes, and nobody would complain as the area is full of prestigious and charming places, not to forget the “good tables.”
In 2008, we were hosted at Pêcheurs, but that was before the major transformation work. This year, we ventured a bit further to pass through the gates of the prestigious Eden Roc, the restaurant, not the famous palace which hosted the famous Amfar Gala for the first time during the Cannes Festival, attended by a host of global stars led by Sharon Stone. We were too numerous for this establishment which opted for discretion to preserve the privacy of its renowned guests…
When you are of legal age, you think you can do whatever you want without asking for parental permission, but you should not ask for too much. 18 years is precisely the age of the gastronomic guide created by our colleague Jacques Gantié, which is neither red nor blue, just the colors of this Provence, this French Riviera, and the neighboring Italian provinces he wants to introduce in a different way.
In fact, this guide is the natural extension of the “Cartes sur table” column he created for Nice-Matin twenty-three years ago. As someone would say, “gastronomy is his hobby,” especially since he seamlessly integrates tourism. His ambition is to create extraordinary encounters with hotels, restaurants, or regional producers.
A philosophy and humanism shared by Michel Comboul, the former CEO of the Nice-Matin Group, who came as a friend for this new presentation during which I was able to immortalize the reconstitution of the trio Maurice Huleu, Jacques Gantié, and Michel Comboul, who brilliantly and for many years featured in the columns of the regional daily.
Not easy to realize when the duty doorman takes you for an ordinary guest because—as a journalist—you had the courtesy to wear a suit with matching shirt and tie suitable for the place to come and talk about this event. Not to mention he did not believe you were a journalist seeing the small size of your camera compared to the large lenses of my colleagues.
Fortunately, some great chefs, who had also made the trip (not very far for two of them) to showcase their latest creations, did not share the same mistrust.
They are about sharing, exchanging with the crowd that had invaded the terraces on either side of the panoramic restaurant.
The view is truly unique, and you can understand all its appeal as you will see in the adjacent photo.
On one of the terraces, I was fortunate to mingle with Alain Llorca, who just made a double entry around Cap d’Antibes with both “Café Juana by Llorca” and a few hundred meters away at Belles Rives.
You cannot miss him on Boulevard Juin; his large photos adorn the facade of each establishment.
For the occasion, he was there physically with his second, Guillaume, to tantalize our taste buds.
Just like his neighbor, the young chef Nicolas Sale who recently took over the kitchens of Pêcheurs, the gastronomic sector of the new Cap d’Antibes Beach Hotel, and who did not hesitate to bring part of his team for other flavors.
All in a convivial atmosphere without protocol, relaxed and generously, which is not so common in the world of haute cuisine where a “Premium” or “Gold” card is more than advised to satisfy your desires.
Thank you for this pure moment of happiness.
We must not forget the producers from the region and those from the neighboring Italian provinces who did not hesitate to travel miles to let us taste what they do best.
Everyone responded to the invitation because this book is really attractive and has garnered recognition from professionals for some time now.
The appeal and recognition are two assets of this Gantié Guide that many regions envy and which is considered by a number of great chefs as a benchmark in the gastronomic sector.
No rating like in a certain red guide, but the presence of one or more olive branches—a symbol of our Mediterranean culture—to situate the different establishments.
You will not have the latest news as the Nice publisher Rom did not deem it necessary to provide us with a copy of the 2009 edition to compare with that of 2008…
Let’s trust our colleague Jacques, who is the only one to offer a completely English version in a separate work. His work is more than a directory of addresses; it is a true travel companion.
