Provence Eatery Secret: Only Seniors Employed to Cook Timeless Grandmother Recipes!

At this well-known locale, patrons enjoy slow-cooked meals prepared by staff who are somewhat older than average.

A Homely Culinary Experience

It’s an undeniable truth: nothing is quite as comforting as grandmother’s cooking. It doesn’t concern itself with exact measurements or precise ingredient lists. What it requires is love, time, and quality products. It involves letting dishes simmer slowly in the oven or in a pot, following a morning spent peeling, chopping, and seasoning. To highlight traditional cooking and promote the employment of senior women, a restaurant owner decided to hire only women over the age of 57, helping them re-enter the workforce. In the kitchen, they prepare delightful stews daily, much to the regulars’ delight.

“Making grandmother’s food by grandmothers,” is how Fabien Djennaoui, the manager of the restaurant, describes his initiative in an episode of “Météo à la Carte.” The menu at his establishment features only slow-cooked dishes for takeaway, reminiscent of old-fashioned cooking. Beef bourguignon, braised lamb, monkfish blanquette, or pulled pork: every day, patrons can choose from three different dishes, each simmered for hours in enameled cast-iron pots. In the feature, Catherine, 61 years old, is seen preparing a braised beef cheek stew. After 19 years in the same job as an administrative assistant at a college, she switched careers to become a cook.

Visit Mamone for a Taste of Nostalgia

If you want to enjoy these dishes, head over to Mamone! This quaint little shop, located in the center of Aix-en-Provence, offers dishes for delivery or takeout. Prices range from 14 to 16 euros per main dish with a side, and desserts are 5 euros. Rated 4.8/5 on Google, this restaurant quickly established a strong reputation. “We highly recommend this takeaway restaurant. The dishes and desserts are very generous, we had the beef bourguignon, and it was delicious”; “The royal couscous was excellent, well-stocked, fragrant, with authentic flavors. Honestly, it feels like visiting grandma and eating a homemade dish”: customers are thrilled.

The spot even caught the attention of Le Petit Futé. “When we visited, they had Montbéliard sausage and mashed potatoes, Bolognese pasta, or pistou soup. Drawn in by the delightful smell, you’ll be won over by the warm welcome and the bright, open kitchen, much like being at home. A beautiful and commendable initiative,” raves the travel guide. This is a place to try if you find yourself in the south of France this summer!