30 special guests, students and nursing home residents, shared a unique festive meal in the heart of Clément Gueudré’s gourmet restaurant, in a warm atmosphere.
There was joy, laughter and lovely conversations at the Christmas table at the Petit Jardin. A meeting as unique as it is warm with 30 special guests of the chef-owner of the gastronomic establishment, Clément Gueudré. “We wanted to give a part of happiness and above all share it”, he said.
It’s a bit of this Christmas magic that allowed 15 students and 15 residents of the Petites Sœurs des Pauvres nursing home, spread between the address on rue Jean-Jacques Rousseau and the Atelier du Petit Jardin in Port Marianne, to enjoy a magnificent Christmas meal concocted by the teams.
“It’s a great Christmas present.”
“It’s a very good idea, smiles Xavier Philippe from La Maison des Petites Sœurs des Pauvres. CThis allows us to bring older people out and meet young people. And we’re going to have fun!”
This good idea was concocted by Sandrine Coffre, Clément Gueudré’s mother who contacted the Montpellier student mission association and La Maison des Petites Sœurs des Pauvres. “This is a great Christmas present for our students”confirms France Alpée, president of the association.
“It does us good, too, to offer this moment”
Tamari, an art history and archeology student from Georgia, shared her excitement about this special Christmas. “I’m in the middle of revising for my finals, and this event allows me to escape while meeting new people. I could never have afforded such a refined meal, especially in a setting like this”she explains with a smile. For Tamari and many other students, this evening is a precious moment, far from the daily concerns linked to precariousness.
Besides, it’s Christmas and despite the major difficulties encountered by many students in terms of accommodation, food and access to care, we avoid, for a moment, talking about this precariousness no more than we speak of isolation. Make way for generosity, solidarity and conviviality. “It does us good, too, who lack nothing, to offer this moment of pleasure”recognizes Clément Gueudré. Who promises to repeat this meal every year. And who put all his gastronomic know-how to delight the guests : “We wanted the large table to be in the restaurant, on a normal day of service and not apart in the living room”. We were really in Le Petit Jardin… with a big heart!
