The revival of Qu’importe, by Philippe Beaucourt
After a long career in Paris, London, Verbier, Monaco and Tokyo, and most recently at the Coin du Bar in Geneva, Philippe Beaucourt has taken on a new challenge: to have his own establishment. And not the least, since the wine bar Qu’importe already enjoys a fine reputation in the heart of Vieux Carouge.
A new wind
Qu’importe is, in a way, the establishment Philippe Beaucourt was looking for: a wine bar that honors fine flasks in conjunction with casual, yet meticulous cuisine. When he took over, he surrounded himself with a loyal team of three pillars: Céline Feron, sommelier, Mickael Benkhalti, head chef and Sacha Mayor, bar manager. For him, the people around him are essential: “A good team is a team that complements each other,” he asserts.
Seduced by the identity of the place, Philippe chose to breathe new life into it rather than betray its soul. After several months of closure and a certain slowdown due to construction work on the rue de Carouge, his objective was clear: to restore the place to its former glory. Now open from morning to night, without interruption, the establishment is expanding its offer with a lunchtime menu renewed daily, before giving way, in the evening, to plates to share. Inspired by the chef’s Italian and Moroccan origins, the cuisine has a French base, with Mediterranean touches.
A lively, open space
With this new impetus, Qu’importe intends to establish itself as a real place to live. Morning coffee, lunch, afternoon work, evening entertainment. The program includes comedy clubs, wine tastings and musical evenings. “In two or three years’ time, I’d like Qu’importe to be one of Geneva’s must-visit addresses, a place where you can come with your eyes closed, any time of the week”, confides Philippe.
With a clear vision and a carefully selected team, Philippe Beaucourt has given the restaurant a new lease of life. With its friendly atmosphere, exacting standards and attention to detail, the Carouge address is gradually regaining its effervescence and building on a promising dynamic.
