Le Présage, Europe's first solar-powered restaurant, opens in Marseille

Mathilde Bourge | 7/3/24, 5:37 PM

Le Présage, Europe's first solar-powered restaurant, has opened its doors in Marseille. What's it all about? Gault&Millau tells you all about it.

A new kind of restaurant has just opened in Marseille. The name? Le Présage. What makes it special? It's Europe's very first solar-powered restaurant, inaugurated on June 18, 2024 in the presence of Guillaume Gomez and Nadia Sammut, among others. Gault&Millau tells you more about this restaurant like no other, which could inspire future establishments across France.

A bioclimatic building

Le Présage isn't a far-fetched concept released in a few months to satisfy a trend, but a real project thought up over ten years by co-founder and chef Pierre-André Aubert and his team. "We've developed a professional solar cooker that runs on two sources of energy: solar, of course, but also electricity if there isn't enough sun to power the system. The restaurant is equipped with a large mirror that concentrates the light and heats the center of our plate up to 450°C. Thanks to this, we can sear food in a frying pan or simmer it on the edge of the plate, where the temperature is lower", he explains.

But the overall project goes far beyond a simple solar cooker. The restaurant has been entirely designed to be energy-efficient, thanks to its installation in a bioclimatic building, made partly of wood. On the plate, Pierre-André Aubert and his team offer "back-to-the-market" cuisine with a short menu (3 starters, 3 main courses, 3 desserts), made with seasonal produce, sourced from short distribution channels and mostly organic.

Eventually, Le Présage will also feature a garden that could account for up to 20% of the ingredients used, including herbs and fruit. "The idea is to plant atypical products that will spice up the dishes. We'd also like to have a solar oven to complete this experience of a delicious future", enthuses the chef.

The restaurant is open Monday to Friday for lunch, and also on Thursdays for dinner. It can accommodate up to 65 diners indoors, and also boasts an attractive terrace.

Where to find us Le Présage, 99 traverse de la Rose, 13013 Marseille
https://lepresage.fr
Tuesday to Saturday lunchtime and Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings

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