La Chassagnette - Restaurant bio - UK

La Chassagnette restaurant is a part of the « Heureuse Camargue » group. Instigated by Maja Hoffmann, this group has an innovative project which combines farm-products, organic agriculture and gastronomy. The main objective is to support La Camargue in finding solid economical foundations based on sustainable development, the respect of the environment as well as men and women who live in this area. La Chassagnette is the forefront of this ambition and the defender of this way of life.
“To sum up the spirit of Heureuse Camargue, we are experiencing a sustainable development model towards the Rhona Delta. You know, the Tour du Valat which is an organic station founded by my father Luc Hoffmann, played a role in the protection of the environment and notably for birds in Camargue. The ambition of Heureuse Camargue is to extend this action in the land, around natural parks created during the 20th century by encouraging organic productions in rice growing and stockbreeding around the protected areas. That is to say, protecting the environment and ensuring a proper income to farmers of Camargue at the same time. From my point of view, the preservation of the environment can not be considered apart from men and women activities who live and work in. Only Camargue’s inhabitants can guarantee the future of this region.” explains Maja Hoffman.

Read the whole interview

Go to Heureuse Camargue website

Maja Hoffmann and Stanley Buchthal
Founders

Jean-Paul Taris
Administrator

Yannick Barré
General Manager

Armand Arnal
Headchef
 
Michel Mialhe
Restaurant manager
 
Robert Jullian
Restaurant manager

Emilie Boulanger
Sommelier
 
Catherine Louis
Gardener

Armand Arnal, 28 years-old, is the headchef at La Chassagnette since 2006. Native to Montpellier, Armand Arnal is impassioned by this magical place et nourishes his inspiration with an almost-carnal relation with the land. Previously, he spent 7 years with Alain Ducasse and played a role in the success of his restaurant in New York notably.

Since he arrived, he modified the menus of La Chassagnette in respect of its spirit : a creating cooking based on organic products. « The vegetable garden is the source of my inspiration », says Armand Arnal. Armand Arnal created an inventive menu to glorify vegetables and herbs from the garden as well as Camarguean agricultural productions and fish from the close Mediterranean sea. He introduced a fresh menu with an energetic, acid and contemporary touch. For those who are not in a hurry, he created news choices, combining more intensive flavours, impassioned and voluptuous tastes inspired by the coasts of the Mediterranean sea. Following the pace of the seasons, Armand Arnal renews his menus respecting the natural rhythms of Camargue. His imagination and strictness have been approved by critics. Thus, François Simon, the frightened gastronomic critic of Figaro, awarded La Chassagnette with an excellent 16/20 for its cooking that combines pleasure and dietetic.

At La Chassagnette, you are the prestigious guests of a place which matches natural charm with contemporary design in the heart of Camargue. La Chassagnette which used to be a former sheepfold, became a restaurant in 2000 surrounding a wonderful garden which is the centre of the place. His organic vegetable garden (Ecocert certified) offers a highly coloured and aromatic walk that will whip up your appetite and reveals products you will get back in your plate.

No matter which season, La Chassagnette proposes a magical environment for lunch and dinner decorated by Anne Igou. Outdoors : promenade into a luxuriant and aromatic garden, large terrace, huge design mosquito net with wood framework. Indoors : a welcoming room with a blazing contemporary mural fresco, design and private lounges. Upstairs, a gourmand library proposes gastronomic works as well as books about the nature of Camargue, photography and contemporary arts.

Each room has its own charm and atmosphere that can be chosen as setting to an unforgettable gastronomic experience according to the time or the mood of the moment. 12 minutes away from Arles, La Chassagnette makes you feel like you were “somewhere else” and yet, at home at the same time.