Best chef!! He's in Provence!
 

Jean-Luc Rabenal formally at La Chassagnette)
has been voted best chef by the American Saveur magazine. His restaurant is L'Atelier in Arles, see article here,
http://tinyurl.com/qtjjp

And see the recent post about restaurants, where PBProvence commented on this restaurant.

LOVED the quasi English translation...say what ???

Alain Ducasse called Jean-Luc the end of last week with the news. We were lucky enough to be there for dinner Saturday night so we had a little celebration with he and his équipe. Their phone has been ringing off the hook with calls for reservations and they're presently completely booked for the next two weeks. So if anyone is planning to go there - make an early reservation !

Patricia

Oh, I'll bet the owners of Chassagnette are sorry they ever let him get away....

sorry a typo, Savour.

P.S. Epicurus gave a glowing review!

Mimi,

Glad you liked the Epicurious piece...
my journalist friend who lives part of the year in St Rémy wrote it. I sent her to Jean-Luc's when she got the assignment - he'd just opened a week before.

Patricia

She's good! Tell me about parking there.

Mimi,
Parking for L'atelier ? You have to find your own... on the main drag, in the small lot across from McDonalds (yes...McDonalds), or in the lot between the Préfecture and the hotel Jules César.

If you're going for dinner, if you arrive around 7Pm or so, there's always free parking on the street available.

Patricia

Patricia-
I want to express my thanks for your earlier review of this restaurant as it prompted me to do what I most never do--make a reservation. And boy was I glad we did!! Our dinner, Sat. May 20, was the best dining experience we have ever had--full of variety, presentation and delightful food. It was not pretentious and yet had such skill and helpful service that it was easily the best 3+ hours we had ever experienced. It was interesting that as we finally left, fellow diners inquired of what our impressions were and we all shared our positive feelings. No question that this is some place special.
Thanks again.
Paul

Does anyone have a link to the Epicurious review? I've searched the site but can't find it...

I think I have it..will get back to you.

Here you are:

The paint on the walls had barely dried when I visited L'Atelier, chef Jean-Luc Rabanel's new restaurant in Arles. The striking room, with its colorful glassware and semi-open kitchen, is the perfect spot to fall into when you've had one côte d'agneau too many. Order the set menu, and Rabanel may send out as many as 14 small creative courses: The creamy bite of the red pepper soup with balsamic caramel, served in an espresso cup with a Parmesan and tomato grissini, was worth the trip alone. The butternut squash-filled phyllo tubes served with a shot glass of coconut milk mousse sealed the deal: This is one of the finest restaurants in Provence. Save room for the onslaught of petite but powerful desserts, including a warm beignet filled with oozing chocolate.

Thank you!

My Pleasure. I can hardly wait to be there. I wonder how the La Chassagnette is doing as a bistro?

Paul,

You're more than welcome and I'm happy to hear that you enjoyed it as much as I do...

Mimi...

Haven't heard anything great about La Chassagnette. I do know that there were quite a few unhappy diners the first couple of weeks it was open - they thought Jean-Luc was still there and couldn't understand why he'd changed his cuisine. I'm hoping to get down there soon to check it out - perhaps for lunch or just to stop by to see it and then eat at Chez Bob....
Patricia

I can really appreciate the Love for French Cooking and Food after reading Life and Death in Haute Cuisine, The Perfectionist.Written by Rudolph Chelminski. I highly recommend this book, I could barely put it down. One bad thing about the book is I had to stop several times and look up the defination of some of the Foods that I had never heard of or attempted to eat.

I am also in the Restaurant Business and so I can understand alot of the Hustle and Bustle behind the scenes, now if only the Customers would understand.

Thanks Patricia for getting back to answer. and I laughed at that translation too but now know that it happens alot. I wondered about the word fart . many places said they were not allowed. It is, I found out another word for PET!!! and Theresa, thanks for the book recommendation.

Thanks Cigale for the info! I am seriously thinking about spending 2 nights in Arles and would love to try it!

Judyrem, I've been to the Nord Pinus and Le Calendal staying in Arles. Be sure to visit the Arletan Museum started by Mistral.