Le Pescatore, my port of call on Mauritius

This island once known as the Ile de France, on the route from the Indies to the Far East, has appealed to my imagination since childhood, when I got carried away with the adventures of Mahé de la Bourdonnais and Surcouf as well as the loves of Paul and Virginie.

In 1982, the year we opened the Maisons de Bricourt, our first destination in the Indian Ocean was Port-Louis. The discovery of this market’s port was intensely exciting. I found myself in the heart of my first multi-cultural market where European, Indian, Chinese, Arabic and African influences come together. The market, the exchange, the life of this place represent for me a great hope, a concrete note of optimism where the common thread is generous smiles, good humour and kindness.

After several further trips to this island of well-being, I had made some great friends. My discovery of this new maritime world, of this amazing vegetable garden naturally led me to think of a cuisine for these remains of the garden of Eden with these men and women whom we love so much.

Several years now we have been in love with a small restaurant perched above the water, and the young chef, Gobin, who is Mauritian with Indian origins, comes to Cancale every year to cook with me.