A precise and poetic cuisine
During season 15 of “Top Chef”, we only saw her and her colorful headbands, her XXL smile and her contagious energy. In real life, Marie Pacotte is the same: warm and talented. Those who gave him a taste for good things were his grandmothers. Marie starts with baking, asking for multiple cookbooks at Christmas which she devours. A 3rd year internship at Thoumieux, Jean-François Piège era, will confirm her desire: she will be a chef! The only problem is her parents, who demand that she first take a general baccalaureate. Once done, she joined Ferrandi, did a series of internships (La Méditerranée in Paris, then Les Crayères** with Philippe Mille in Reims), before managing the school restaurant for a week with four other students. Covid will disrupt his plans. Rather than going to a golf course in the Hamptons, she publishes her recipes on Instagram before joining Francette in 2021, a barge moored at the foot of the Eiffel Tower where she assists chef Stéphanie Moquet. Two years later, she was in charge, participating in parallel in “Top Chef” season 15 where she finished fourth.
“The caster called me the day after my wedding and I launched myself, supported by my entire team,” she says. What has changed for Marie? “I clarified my cooking, asserted my way of working while gaining self-confidence. Without that, I don’t know if I would have opened a pop-up gourmet restaurant. » On Francette’s ground floor, she offered her creations: superb pearly cod/chard/borlotti beans/lemon jam, delicate coffee pigeon/artichoke/cherry, refreshing lemon/verbena/elderberry dessert… Refractory to cheese, she admits to celebrating iodine and plants, sowing flowers and a touch of acidity. A fan of amaretto sours, mackerel and onions, Marie dreams of Asia, culinary residencies and a Michelin macaron. A talent to follow!
Francette, 1 port de Suffren, 75007 Paris (06 68 94 26 82).
fugafamily.com/restaurants/francette
Marie Pacotte will officiate at Francette until the end of 2024.
© Margot Jumeline pour Fuga_family
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