Julien CALIGO

Chef : 1 restaurant Julien Caligo, who trained in some of the world's finest establishments and was mentored by Pierre Gagnaire, opened his first restaurant in the Gard region in 2024, with the help of the Gault&Millau Young Talent Grant.

Presentation

Although his first experience as a chef, as an apprentice, was in a modest brasserie in Nîmes, the talented Julien Caligo is a regular at the finest establishments: le Castellas in Collias, le Kilimandjaro in Courchevel, Michel Rostang, Baumanière, La Villa Madie, le Castellet with Christophe Bacquié, le Sketch by Pierre Gagnaire in London... so many fine addresses where, for ten years, he learned the trade.

Pierre Gagnaire promoted him to chef at Duende, Nîmes

Marked by his stints with Jérôme Nutile (at Le Castellas) and Dimitri Droisneau (at La Villa Madie), it was thanks to his meeting with Pierre Gagnaire that the young man landed his first chef position in 2019. The famous chef was overseeing the opening of Duende, the gourmet restaurant at the Hotel Imperator in Nîmes, and naturally chose the man who worked for him in London to be his right-hand man in the ancient city.

Chez Monique, in Calvisson, a cuisine that pays homage to the region

Awards soon followed (3 toques deservedly) and Julien spent four wonderful years in this high-class establishment, gradually making his mark until he became autonomous in the creation of dishes. At the turn of his thirties, the desire to set up on his own grew. Julien Caligo acquired an old farm shed in the heart of the village of Calvisson. The sign? "Monique, a name I chose to pay tribute to my grandmother. My restaurant is designed to be accessible and welcoming, with kitchens that open onto the dining room, a shady patio and a cuisine that obviously favors local produce."