A chef with 5 Gault&Millau toques offers his "Premier Pas" menu at an unexpected price
In Marseille, one of France's most renowned restaurants opens a breach in the world of haute gastronomy. A 115 euro lunch menu, conceived as an invitation to travel, finally makes accessible an experience hitherto reserved for the privileged few.
There are places that impress, kitchens that overwhelm. And sometimes, gestures that surprise. In a restaurant recognized as one of the most cutting-edge in France, a new menu makes its debut: Premier Pas. Available only at lunchtime, from Wednesday to Friday, this 115 euro introductory course promises a dazzling plunge into a culinary universe of its own.
Making haute gastronomy more accessible
Behind this initiative: Alexandre Mazzia. A chef with 5 Gault&Millau "toques", he is shaking things up from his restaurant AM, nestled in Marseille's 8th arrondissement. This menu is not a compromise: it's a shorter but equally vibrant gateway to his inventive, sensory and radically personal cuisine.
Premier Pas is conceived as an intimate narrative, a journey through his childhood memories between Pointe-Noire, Congo, and the island of Ré. The plates tell a story of powerful contrasts: vegetal meets spice, smoky dialogues with iodine, textures explode in the mouth in a choreographed dance. In just a few sequences, the chef manages to condense his universe into a concentrate of pure emotion.
In a context where high-flying gastronomy is seeking to reinvent itself, this initiative sounds like a measured but powerful response. While the price remains substantial, it strikes the right balance between excellence and affordability, when most restaurants awarded 5 toques rarely offer a menu for less than 200 or even 300 euros per person. A fine reminder that cuisine d'auteur can also be open-minded, without ever betraying itself.
For those who wouldn't dare cross the threshold of a top restaurant, this is the perfect opportunity to take the First Step.
