Watches aren’t the only thing the iconic maison gets right.
Venerated watchmaker F.P. Journe can officially add food to its column of award-winning categories. In an unexpected birthday treat, F.P. Journe Le Restaurant in Geneva earned its first Michelin star almost a year to the day after opening its doors, Hodinkee reports. The eatery is the brainchild of François-Paul Journe and chef Dominique Gauthier, who brings 30 years of experience leading Le Chat-Botté at the Hotel Beau-Rivage—where his skill also garnered a coveted Michelin star.
Though the bistro may be young, Le Restaurant exists in a space with a long culinary tradition. Its location was originally occupied by La Bavaria, a brasserie established in 1912. The eatery was a frequent haunt for members of the League of Nations (the precursor to the modern-day United Nations), and its decor remained largely unchanged from 1942 onward, marking it as a significant site for the city of Geneva. Today, things have been tweaked slightly to reflect the restaurant’s connection to watches, but those nods have been executed with a light touch. This comes mostly in the form of posters depicting technical drawings of movements and tables named after famous watchmakers, such as Jost Bürgi or Christiaan Huygens, rather than generic numbers.
As for what’s on the menu, Gauthier curates largely Mediterranean fare with careful touches of spice and citrus inspired by his time traveling in Thailand—think roasted scampi with kadaif, Chanterelle ravioli with wild mushrooms and pistachios, and sole from Ile d’Yeu with artichokes and truffle. Every ingredient is sourced from a trusted purveyor Gauthier has built a relationship with over decades, including Pierre Gallay for vegetables and Nant d’Avril for poultry.
Of course, given the restaurant’s inextricable ties to F.P. Journe, the company also fashioned a timepiece as an ode to the culinary venture, according to Hodinkee. Conceived as a watch exclusively for the restaurant’s staff, the Élégante “Le Restaurant” has a distinct red dial and matching red wrist strap for a striking combination. The classic dial was also altered to read “Le Restaurant” instead of the company-standard “Invenit et Fecit” (“Invented and Made”). These elements made the model something of an immediate collector’s item, and the brand is producing it in greater numbers for loyal clients.
Here’s hoping we’ll get even more culinary creations and timepieces inspired by Le Restaurant.
