Located near Saint-Lô, this renowned restaurant will close its doors in spring 2025

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They announce it little by little, to their loyal customers: the bosses of Eugene's Canteen, a renowned address, nestled in the small town of Saint-André-de-l'Epine, on the outskirts of Saint-Lô, in Manche, will close its doors at the end of March 2025.

New life more than 6,000 km from the Channel

A carefully considered decision, “taken of our own free will”, underline Annabelle Varin and Nicolas Pétillon.

The friendly couple, who cook so well, she for desserts and he for the rest, indeed have another life project… far from the Channel.

Through the website L'Hôtellerie-Restauration which brings together job offers and news in the sector, the duo found work more than 6,000 kilometers from here, in Québec !

Both hired in a mansion

They will both work in the kitchens of the Hovey Manor. A superb Relais et Châteaux “located about an hour from Montreal, in a forest and facing a lake”.

And change of scenery which delights them. “In eight years, we have covered our adventure as bosses at the head of La Cantine,” confides Annabelle. We wanted something else, a new challenge. »

From bosses, they will become again employees and “will rediscover the pleasure of working in a team”. Nicolas will be senior chef, while Annabelle will work in the morning, making breakfast and desserts.

Recruited in just one week

Positions that they will take up at the beginning of May 2025, taking with them their two daughters aged 8 and 11, Léonie and Maëlle, “very excited by this change of life”.

While they were looking, without success, to be hired in a restaurant in France, their recruitment for three years, “with ideal conditions”, in Quebec, “took a week”, via video interviews.

The Canteen is on sale

To prepare your new life, the couple put their Canteen up for sale, “at a low price”. “We've already had three visits,” slips Annabelle, who hopes to close the deal, “especially since we're leaving all the equipment. The buyers will have everything turnkey. »

Their restaurant should close at the end of March 2025.

From customers to…friends

You therefore have four short months left to enjoy their delicious cuisine and their warm welcome, both professional and good-natured.

Attached to their customers, the couple will surely have had difficulty “holding back a little tear” during the last service.

“Many of our customers have become friends over the course of their visits,” says Annabelle. We spent eight superb years, five in Saint-Pierre-de-Semilly and three here, in Saint-André-de-l'Epine. »

Not to mention their privileged links with their local producers, “some who have worked with us since the beginning, Nicolas appreciates, like Franck Huyghe, from Bio's Are, in Saint-Georges-d'Elle or even Gabrielle Hervy, goat producer in Guilberville”, to name just a few.

Like their customers, they too will miss them. We wish them to live a new life as successful in Quebec as here in the Channel!

For the end-of-year celebrations, La Cantine d'Eugène offers a takeaway menu. The establishment also welcomes you for New Year's Eve. More information on his Facebook page. Contact: 02 33 57 83 84.

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