Bruno Cirino is something of a vegetable whisperer! Chef-proprietor of the legendary fine dining establishment Hostellerie Jérôme in La Turbie, the mustachioed star chef opened Racines, a bistro in Nice centered around a communal table. Underneath the crimson suspension lamps, his second-in-command Abdalahi Sacko (ex-Café de la Fontaine, attached to Hostellerie) sends out luminous plant-based plates from the open kitchen. The night we went, we had tender, raw artichoke hearts with a blood orange jus; a delicious cream of spring pea soup with buffalo milk; incredible baby fava beans in a savory-infused broth; graceful tagliatelle with raw spinach; a rich black truffle and nettle risotto; before a perfect lemon tart paired with candied violets and a mandarin confit sorbet for dessert – unless you’d rather opt for the freshly made moist waffle topped with apple, pear and a rosemary blossom ice cream… Yum! It’s worth noting that they serve an unbeatable lunch set menu during the week (€14) featuring things like borage and chard ravioli, followed by a savarin with rum raisin ice cream, for example. // Laëtitia Sayre
FEELING THIRSTY? Organic wines selected by Marion, Bruno’s partner: a Chablis from the Domaine Gueguen (€6.50 a glass), a Bordeaux red from the Château Lagrugère (€26 a bottle), a Cahors from the Domaine Cosse Maisonneuve (€30)…
PRICE: Set menu €14 (weekday lunch), à la carte €29-50.
