the essential
Three young Aveyron restaurants have been nominated for The Fork Awards national prize: Opéra and Touosto, in Rodez, and also l’Atelier in Villefranche-de-Rouergue. If the winners are chosen by the public in September, this slew of local establishments illustrates gastronomic know-how, particularly on the Piton.
The news broke on June 10. Three Aveyron restaurants were among the 80 nominees for the 5th edition of “The Fork Awards”, a national gastronomic competition. Among them, we find L’Atelier in Villefranche-de-Rouergue by Damien Espeillac, Opéra by Vasco Baldisserotto and Touosto, by Émilie Fleys and Édouard Albaret, in Rodez.
They experienced this announcement as a surprise, but also a real source of pride, because their work was recognized by the greatest French chefs. “Personally, I am very honored to be distinguished by Brasadmits Vasco Baldisserotto, from the Opera restaurant. Although I had the opportunity to work for them, Michel and Sébastien Bras are among the very best chefs in the world. Seeing your work recognized by these great chefs is already a victory in itself! “, he confides, with admiration. Recommended for their part by Quentin Bourdy and Noémie Honiat, Édouard Albaret and Émilie Fleys were just as enthusiastic. Especially since it demonstrates Aveyron’s gastronomic know-how. “Having three Aveyron restaurants selected out of 80 national establishments is significantconfesses Édouard Albaret. This proves that we are in tune with the times, even though we are not located in a big city. ” “This reputation of Rodez and the surrounding area gives prestige to the departmentextends Vasco Baldisserotto. Customers are lucky to have very good tables here. “
A first step before the stars?
Everyone experiences this emulation positively. Especially since the relationship between them is healthy, without any spirit of competition. “We don’t cook for distinctions and we don’t make a plate to be rewarded “, agrees the Venetian Vasco Baldisserotto. The same goes for Touosto, although their closest neighbor, Hervé Busset, nominated last year for the Fork Awards, has since obtained his star. This young generation works above all for pleasure. “Our customers are our starscertifies Émilie Fleys. They are the ones who make us live and it is all the more gratifying to know that they are the ones who can elect us. “Adept of uninhibited gastronomy, they adopt a common philosophy: advocating quality, while adapting to seasonality and the resources of local producers.
The main recipe for satisfying a large public, who has until September 30 to vote for the establishment of their choice.
