Virginie Basselot, Gault&Millau d'Or 2024 for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur-Corse-Monaco region

The head chef at the Hôtel Negresco in Nice was named Gault&Millau d'Or 2024 for the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur-Corse-Monaco region at the Gault&Millau Tour held at the Palais de la Bourse in Marseille on Monday, March 11, 2024.

Her arrival at the Hôtel Negresco

Originally, Virginie Basselot wasn't necessarily attracted by the South of France, but after several requests, she pushed open the door of theHôtel Negresco in 2018: "I immediately fell in love, with the soul that's in this house, with the kindness of the staff...". The Hôtel Negresco? "It's a very pretty Nice house on the Promenade des Anglais. A legacy of Madame Augier (general president for over 60 years until her death in 2019 NDLR), with all her DNA and all her works of art," says the head chef.

From the little fisherman on Baie des Anges,"a ray of sunshine", to the artisans on Rue de France, the chef has surrounded herself with the right people,"who become friends over time", to inspire and imagine her dishes with Provencal accents.

A title for an entire team

"I'm really delighted, not least because this distinction [editor's note: Gault&Millau d'Or], compared to the one I've already had at Gault&Millau, distinguishes the work of the whole team. It highlights the commitment of everyone in the hotel, and that's important!" enthused Virginie Basselot. The 2018 Gault&Millau Suisse Chef of the Year was also pleased with the feedback from the director of surveys:"Marc Esquerré told me that during their visits, the guide's surveyors had found a nice evolution. We're always delighted to know that it works and that the customer is touched."

▶ Find the full portrait of chef Virginie Basselot in the Têtes d'affiche section of the Provence-Alpes-Côte d'Azur-Corse-Monaco guide on sale this Thursday, March 14, 2024.