Chef Nicolas Decherchi left his mark on Mougins’ gastronomic history when he was at the helm of the Michelin-starred Paloma restaurant. Today, he returns to the commune at the helm of Come Prima (formerly “Un moment Barnes”). A refined ode to Italian cuisine, orchestrated with his partner Ornella Bettati, who tells us all about the project:
Ornella, you’ve just taken over this restaurant with Nicolas Decherchi, can you tell us the story?
Like “Un moment Barnes”, this is a collaborative project with the Barnes real estate group, which has already launched a lifestyle restaurant concept in New York, with chef Daniel Boulud. We wanted to bring a real identity and cohesion to the proposals. Today, there’s a clear concept: a 100% Italian menu. And a new name: Come Prima.
Why the name change?
The new name of the establishment sums up the concept: Come Prima,“as before” in Italian. A tribute to traditional Italian cuisine and the conviviality of a family table. We really want to recreate the atmosphere of a meal at the “nonna’s”, with generous, refined cuisine, but not gastronomic in the strict sense. I’m Italian myself, so we were inspired by the dishes of my childhood. Come Prima” is also a reference to a song by Dalida, whom Nicolas and I really like.
Can you tell us about the card?
These are well-known dishes, but reinvented, with real research into the products. For example, we offer Cacio e Pepe pasta, a childhood memory for me, which we reproduce here with great care. For dessert, we have an Apérol baba, a nod to our love of Spritz. There’s also a chocolate mousse with olive oil and fleur de sel. Nicolas is still at the head of his restaurant Le Repère in Mandelieu-la-Napoule, but at the same time, he is fully involved in this new adventure and supervises the kitchen with rigor, not just as a guarantor or a name. As for me, this is my first real adventure in the restaurant business. My background is in business law, but now I’m in charge of all the events, and I’m a managing partner.
Is Nicolas Decherchi happy with his return to Mougins?
Yes, he’s delighted! He has a strong attachment to this town where we live, and it shows. Many Mouginois enjoyed his cooking at the Paloma and are delighted he’s back. It’s a real source of pride for us.
Will the decoration change?
Not at the moment. We’re also keeping the artistic dimension alive with new exhibitions and events. Artist Jenkell, known for her candy sculptures, will be hosting “Create Your Own Bonbon” workshops in the restaurant from this summer.
( Click on photos to enlarge 👇)
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Salon
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Veranda
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Cosy corner
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PRACTICAL INFO :
🏠 461 Av. Saint-Basile, 06250 Mougins
🕒 Open Tuesday to Sunday
📞 Reservations recommended: +33 (0)9 81 86 69 75 / mougins@maisonbarnes.com
🌐 Website: www.unmomentbarnes.com