Julien Caligo sublimates the sea and wins a Gault&Millau trophy
Julien Caligo, chef at Chez Monique in Calvisson, wins the Trophée Cuisine de la Mer, des Lacs & des Rivières 2026 for the Occitanie-Andorre region. This Gault&Millau award salutes his career and his cuisine, which combines local produce and seafood.
On Monday April 13, 2026, Julien Caligo, chef at Monique in Calvisson, was awarded the Trophée Cuisine de la Mer, des Lacs & des Rivières at the Domaine de la Trinité in Mauguio, as part of the Gault&Millau Tour Occitanie-Andorre 2026. The award, presented by Kaviari's Raphaël Balay, recognizes technical skills rooted in the region.
From brasserie kitchens to the country's finest tables
Julien Caligo began his career as an apprentice in a Nîmes brasserie. But he soon moved on to other top establishments, learning his trade alongside some of the world's greatest chefs: Jérôme Nutile at Le Castellas in Collias, Le Kilimandjaro in Courchevel, Michel Rostang, Dimitri Droisneau at La Villa Madie, and Christophe Bacquié at Le Castellet , where he honed his skills for ten years. He also worked in the kitchens of Pierre Gagnaire, with whom he became chef in 2019, when Duende opened in Nîmes.
Inspiration from a rich terroir
Then, in 2024, thanks to the Jeunes Talents Gault&Millau award, Julien Caligo became the chef of his restaurant Monique, which he named after his grandmother. Today, only two years after the inauguration of his double-award-winning establishment in Calvisson, he has been awarded the Trophée Cuisine de la Mer, des Lacs & des Rivières, a prize that recognizes the best of the sea, lakes and rivers. des Rivières, an award that recognizes his gourmet cuisine, inspired by a rich terroir and his work with seafood and freshwater products, prepared with care and respect. In so doing, he affirms an authentic culinary identity rooted in his terroir, while marking an important milestone in the recognition of his talent and gastronomic vision.
