the Golf Table plays the Italian card

IThere is a certainty: without repeated floods this winter 2023-2024, there is no Golf Table within the walls of the Louis-Rouyer-Guillet golf restaurant, in Fontcouverte. Walls that struggle to find their leader and their formula. Will this time be the right one?

Youssef Alaoui, former international volleyball player and owner of La Table du Maroc, a restaurant on the banks of the Charente for almost twenty…

IThere is a certainty: without repeated floods this winter 2023-2024, there is no Golf Table within the walls of the Louis-Rouyer-Guillet golf restaurant, in Fontcouverte. Walls that struggle to find their leader and their formula. Will this time be the right one?

Youssef Alaoui, former international volleyball player and boss of Table du Maroc, a restaurant on the banks of the Charente for almost twenty years, left nothing to chance. “I make it a point of honor to show that we can succeed here [au golf]. » And to do this, he chose to offer Italian specialties. The Golf Table has been open since May 17.

Youssef Alaoui had not anticipated this new project. Last December, La Table du Maroc had its feet in the water. Youssef Alaoui, who “lives in front of the golf course’s first hole”, knows that the restaurant is potentially available and that catering is provided temporarily by a crepe food truck.

Full address

He approached the City of Saintes, owner of the golf course, to request refuge. La Table du Maroc moves to the golf course with its 14 employees. “We were able to work without interruption,” rejoices Youssef Alaoui. And the customers followed. We were full all the time. » At the same time, the Town Hall is looking for a new manager for its golf restaurant. But the call for applications was unsuccessful. “They came back to me. »

Youssef Alaoui thinks. Not very long. And we say that for such an establishment, in such a place, out of the way, since it was built in Fontcouverte, we have to bet on specialties. But there is no question of making a Table du Maroc again. “I wasn’t going to compete with myself!” And since I’m in love with Italian cuisine, I said let’s do that. »

Six jobs

He then called on an Italian consultant, Gennaro Mélé, with whom he worked on the map. He brings him a chef: Michele Manzoni. “We don’t make pizzas but Italian gastronomy with Italian products. » The only drawback: the L’Angélys ice creams which are produced in Fontcouverte. Youssef Alaoui wanted to build this project with the new golf director Suzy Belaud, who arrived at the end of January, and the president of the golfers’ association, Laurent Bruneteau. From the plate to the opening days, everything was validated “three ways”.

“My goal is to have 80% of customers other than golfers”

“My goal is to have 80% of customers other than golfers,” says Youssef Alaoui, who wants to make the establishment a fully-fledged address. He has invested nearly 30,000 euros in furniture and communication. His commercial lease with the City runs until the end of September, but “I work as if I were staying here.” With this new table, six jobs are coming.

Price-wise, this gives a starter-main course at 17 euros and starter-main course-dessert at 22 euros, with suggestions of the day. A la carte dishes range between 15 euros and 25 euros.