A Mediterranean villa
Villa Madie is in full swing at the start of the summer season. From the kitchen to the dining room, the entire team is busy preparing for the frenzy of what promises to be a very busy summer. With its exceptional terrace overlooking the blue Mediterranean, buffeted by a persistent mistral wind, the place is of rare beauty and confirms that the South of France has reached the stars of French haute gastronomy. Villa Madie is the story of a couple, Marielle and Dimitri Droisneau, who bring their identity to this exciting establishment. While the song of the wind lulls us with its summer melodies, the place vibrates with exquisite humility for the duration of a service.
David Piquet: the wine magician
Once seated, we become aware of the exceptional moment we’re about to experience. Few establishments can boast such a panoramic view, with Cassis’s Cap Canaille in their sights. Back to the dining room, where David Piquet, both conductor of the orchestra and wine magician, welcomes and advises his guests with meticulous respect. We’d love to talk for hours with this talented professional, but there are other guests waiting for him, on the lookout for his every move. The sardine “in all its states” opens the ball and elegantly anchors the menu in its homage to the sea.
As the minutes pass, the color of the setting sun bathes the azure horizon in an enchanting pink. The palette of dishes has been waiting for this moment to make its entrance: an iodized, vegetal and marine painting, a hymn to regional producers and fishermen with an egg, a zucchini, a piece of tuna in Barolo vinegar and a radish lined up on the plate in perfectly organized disorder. And to follow, a slab of sea bass, pearly as it should be, with its iodized emulsion and a carpaccio spiced up with regional scents.
Heart, heart and heart
Cuttlefish bewilders with its garlic broth, while shrimp carabinero, confined in a red fruit tartlet, marvels at the transition between sea and land. Rabbit fricassee with first apricots and chanterelle mushrooms seduces with its reductions and opulent jus. By the time dessert arrived, a cherry spiced with “Heering” and elderberry vinegar, night had fallen and surprised us. The moment was precious. We remain in awe of the beauty of the place, and of all those who contribute to the success of a house of the heart, in the heart of a region of the heart.
