Alain Delon, Le Stresa or the meeting of two myths

I love this photo! Not because I took it, but because of what it symbolizes. I like to immerse myself in the places where I sit. Taking the time to contemplate a setting, watching the gestures of the wait staff and observing the gazes of guests who, like me, share a moment in a restaurant. I let myself be invaded by all this human energy concentrated at the same time, in the same place. My senses are awake, I’m carried away, I’m almost dreaming!

The restaurant Le Stresa in the heart of Paris’s 8th arrondissement is a place apart. A transalpine hangout for regulars, where conversations are whispered discreetly. It’s an institution, a real one… like no other! Run by five brothers. Jean-Paul Belmondo and Alain Delon were regulars… and were served their favorite pasta dish. They must have felt soothed once inside, away from the aggression of the crowd and the interference of the outside world. That’s what a restaurant is all about: making you feel safe and at peace for the duration of a gastronomic interlude. A rare quality.

Let’s return to the photo, which suggests so much without revealing too much. Maintaining mystery without revealing it. A precious moment of intimacy, to be preserved, nurtured and, one day, passed on. Fashions change, but Le Stresa remains unchanging, so in tune is it with its own universe. The owners have succeeded in creating an atmosphere and cultivating an ambiance that’s just right. Alain Delon, Le Stresa or the meeting of two myths.