A gourmet interlude in the heart of the Domaine du Rayol
Want to be amazed? Le Café des Jardiniers will make your taste buds dance and your body thank you!
La Gazette du Var met Florence, maître d' and manager at the Café des Jardiniers for 12 years, working in collaboration with Tom, the head chef.
Is the Café set up in a former farmhouse?
Effectivement. Ce bâtiment est un des premiers bâtiments construit sur le Domaine. C’était la ferme. Quand la famille Courmes a acquis le Domaine, vers 1910, il fallait nourrir les ouvriers. Les premiers propriétaires du Domaine ont résidé d’abord à l’étage de ce bâtiment, le temps que leur villa, l’Hôtel de la mer, soit terminée. L’étable est la salle de restaurant qui permet d’accueillir le public les jours de mauvais temps. Depuis peu, des portes vitrées ont été installées, permettant de déjeuner au sec et au chaud toute l’année, en conservant la vue sur le Jardin.
Is the Café also about an eco-responsible approach?
Indeed, I wanted to work in a quiet, peaceful place that makes sense on the plate, respectful in every way. We don't have a fixed menu. Every day, we work with a slate board and everything depends on our morning delivery, on our suppliers. At 10:00-10:30 a.m., Tom, the head chef, is able to give us the menu. It's a daily menu. Every day, this board is renewed.
What do you offer to the restaurant's visitors?
Every day, you will find one or two salads, a fish dish, a meat dish, a signature plate, and vegetarian dishes. Everything is made on-site, right down to the desserts. We do not work with frozen products. The desserts are made on-site by a pastry chef. On the plate, there are fresh, quality products from local suppliers. The restaurant's goal is to offer quality products and meet the customers' desires.
Does the restaurant have a bar?
Indeed, the bar is partly organic. We serve organic cola or organic artisanal lemonade. We also work with our own ingredients. We make a thyme lemonade, a soleil d'été (grapefruit, lime, ginger, sparkling water, cane sugar), and a fresh mint iced tea.
Le Café des Jardiniers is open every day all year round for lunch, and as a bar and tearoom. It is accessible only to garden visitors.
Interview conducted by Laurette PARAY (text and photos).