Globally acclaimed chef Hélène Darroze has announced a partnership with Villa La Coste in Provence, France. Darroze, who was recently awarded three Michelin stars for her London restaurant Hélène Darroze at The Connaught and two stars for Marsan par Hélène Darroze in Paris, will now oversee the entire food and beverage operations at Villa La Coste.
The focus of the menus at the fine-dining restaurant, Hélène Darroze at Villa La Coste, will be on the fruits and vegetable produced in the region, with meat and fish only featuring as accompaniments. The “Walk in the Gardens of Provence” menu—developed by Darroze along with Marco Zampese, her head chef from Hélène Darroze at the Connaught in London; Thomas Pézeril, executive chef at Villa La Coste; and her pastry chef Kirk Whittle—takes place in eight "acts." It will evolve and modify naturally according to the harvests and seasons.
Some of the dishes on the opening menu are: Creamy Camargue rice with shellfish and cuttlefish, flavored with saffron and a dash of Espelette pepper oil; and red Florence cebette (onion) served tender and lacquered with a reduction of red wine from Château La Coste and paired with a matured Hereford prime beef tenderloin, grilled over vine leaves from the Château’s vineyard, finished with a Bordeaux sauce of fermented green pepper; or, to end, orange red apricot served with fermented milk and orange blossom ice cream and finished with an olive oil crumble.
In addition, Darroze alongside her London-based restaurant manager, Mirko Benzo, and the head sommelier at Villa La Coste, Bernabé Pérez, have been given carte blanche with the wine offering. The estate’s all-organic, biodynamic wines will occupy a prominent place on the list alongside other regions in France, as well as some of the finest vineyards in the world.
Guests can also enjoy all-day dining at different locations around the Villa at times and places that suit them. From library to lounges, bedrooms, the bar, terraces and the pool from breakfast to dinner, guests will be able to indulge in a bespoke service tailored to their individual requests.
Related Articles
Geraldine Dobey Joins Mandarin Oriental, Paris as GM
Airelles Saint-Tropez, Château de la Messardière Opening July 1