Gourmets from all over the world rejoice! Restaurant Colette at the new Design Hotels™ member Hotel Sezz Saint-Tropez (www.designhotels.com/hotel_sezz_st_tropez) is open. Colette is headed by chef Pierre Gagnaire whose eponymous restaurant Pierre Gagnaire in Paris was awarded three Michelin stars. Gagnaire, who trained under the renowned French chef Paul Bocuse, started his career in St. Etienne, France at the family restaurant Le Clos Fleuri. After establishing several successful restaurants all over the world, he returns to his French origins and is on his way to even more stars with the opening of Colette at the Hotel Sezz Saint-Tropez.
The Restaurant
The restaurant’s name Colette is inspired by French writer Sidonie Gabrielle Colette, who was one of the most important novelists of the 20th century. In 1925, she settled in Saint-Tropez and bought a house on Canebier Bay close to the hotel.
At Colette, Pierre Gagnaire combines the savoir-vivre of French cuisine with the best and freshest ingredients from the region. He focuses on Mediterranean cuisine with products sourced from local suppliers. The menu is quite diverse and includes extraordinary entrées such as lobster fricassee with basil, tomato puree and fresh gherkins and heart of beef tenderloin with red onion petals and an infusion of parsley fried mushrooms. During the day the dining experience is casual and relaxed, while dinner at Colette is a glamorous affair.
In keeping with the sophisticated air of the French Riviera, Hotel Sezz Saint-Tropez has partnered with the champagne brand Dom Pérignon to create a stylish champagne bar next to the restaurant. It’s the perfect spot for an apéritif or one of the signature champagne cocktails such as Geisha Tears and Velvet Lips.
The Hotel
Hotel Sezz Saint-Tropez is located on the French Riviera a few minutes outside Saint-Tropez. Owner Shahé Kalaidjian, designer Christophe Pillet, architect Jean-Jacques Ory and landscape designer Christophe Ponceau have created a contemporary version of a Provencal village with a collection of single-storey buildings and a central pool at its hub. The 37 rooms, suites and villas are grouped around the main pool and come with a private garden and outdoor shower.
