Justine ZOCCHETTI

Chef : 1 restaurant Chef at La Promenade in Beaupréau-en-Mauges, Justine Zocchetti, trained in the terroir, travels and great European restaurants, has today been awarded our Jeune Talent trophy.

Presentation

Without falling into the well-worn tale of the cordon bleu grandmother, Justine Zocchetti never forgets that it was from her grandmother that she learned to love cooking. even at the age of ten, she was already sketching the outlines of her future restaurant, "where there would be lots of green plants ". A precocious imagination, nourished by simplicity and transmission.

Solid, human training

The young chef followed a classic path, with a vocational baccalaureate and an apprenticeship at Le Mine d'Or, in Saint-Pierre-Montlimart. A small, family-run restaurant where head chef Jacques Cauet works with just two apprentices. "I learned all the basics from this very human chef. I'll never forget him," she confides.

After her BTS, Justine Zocchetti moved away from her cocoon. Describing herself as a " homebody ", she did her first internship in Szeged, Hungary, during her "bac pro". It clicked immediately. She then spent a number of seasons in Corsica and the Alps, before flying to New Zealand, where she worked in the restaurant at the Stonyridge winery .

london, five decisive years

The rest was written in London. "I then moved to London, where I spent five years, essentially working in two Basque cuisine restaurants, Lurra and Donostia, where I was head chef. "It was a formative experience, both on a culinary and personal level.

Meeting Sébastien Rival

The desire to return to France and reinforce her knowledge of wine brought her back to Beaupréau-en-Mauges, her native village. By chance, she met Sébastien Rival, who had just left Paris to open La Promenade with Fanny Piat. " He was looking for someone to fill the position of chef, and I was attracted by the idea of working with a professional like him.

Created in 2022, the restaurant quickly found its feet. Justine Zocchetti 's sensitive, masterful cooking has earned her our Jeune Talent award. " The restaurant will celebrate its fourth anniversary in 2026, and while I haven't given up on the idea of opening my own business, for the moment I'm completely fulfilled at La Promenade .