On national road 7, at the gates of Aix-en-Provence, a contemporary farmhouse attracts the attention of gourmets who cross the Saint-Cannat countryside. Behind the bay windows of Mas Bottero, a team works around a chef in his forties who has already lived several lives as a cook. The address won a star in the MICHELIN Guide and has established itself as a destination restaurant in Provence. It remains to be understood how this farmhouse set between vines and olive trees became the playground of a chef very attached to his roots.
Because ultimately, the story begins far from this bright bastide, in the kitchens of hotel schools and large houses where a style is forged. Between first services in Grenoble, return to the country and recognition of the guides, Nicolas Bottero’s journey tells a very personal way of experiencing Provençal gastronomy.
Nicolas Bottero, a starred chef returning to Provence
Trained at the Grenoble Hotel School, Nicolas Bottero cut his teeth in several renowned restaurants, with chefs who introduced him to precise, product-centered cuisine. Very quickly, he chose to open his own restaurant in Grenoble: in 2010, at around twenty-six years old, he set out on his own and imposed signature cuisine in a city then unaccustomed to this level of demands.
A few years later, the call of Provence became stronger. The cook decides to return to the land of his ancestors, in Bouches-du-Rhône, to create a place that is more like him. Around 2017, he set up his gourmet restaurant in Saint-Cannat, along the RN7. In 2020, the MICHELIN Guide distinguished this work by awarding a first Michelin star to Mas Bottero, confirming the chef’s place in the new Provençal guard.
Le Mas Bottero in Saint-Cannat, a gourmet restaurant on the RN7
Located at 2340 route d’Aix-en-Provence, Mas Bottero presents itself as a large house opening onto the countryside. The room, bathed in light, overlooks a garden planted with aromatic herbs, with a view of the vines and olive trees. And then there is the terrace, very popular on sunny days, where you have lunch facing the Coteaux d’Aix.
Inside, several spaces create as many ambiances: counter facing the kitchen to observe the ballet of service, convivial guest table, more intimate lounge. The farmhouse also houses a gourmet boutique where you can find olive oils, condiments, sweets and homemade preparations, to extend the experience at home after a meal.
The cuisine of Nicolas Bottero: Provençal terroir and seasonality
Nicolas Bottero’s signature is modern cuisine that always starts with the product. The supplies are sourced from market gardeners, breeders and fishermen in the region, supplemented by a vegetable garden and an aromatic garden on site. On the other hand, the chef demands legible plates, where you immediately recognize what you are eating, even when the associations are very elaborate.
The tasting menus, in three, five or seven courses, change with the seasons. There are also thematic menus that recount highlights of the Provençal calendar, such as the Truffle menus in winter or “Return from the hunt” in the fall. But here again, the idea remains to highlight the terroir rather than technical demonstration, in a framework which fully embraces the art of living of Provence.
Who is chef Nicolas Bottero?
Nicolas Bottero is a French chef trained in Grenoble, based at Mas Bottero in Saint-Cannat, awarded a Michelin star since 2020.
Where is the restaurant Le Mas Bottero in Saint-Cannat?
Mas Bottero is located at 2340 route d’Aix-en-Provence, on the RN7 in Saint-Cannat, between Aix-en-Provence and the Luberon.
What type of cuisine does Le Mas Bottero offer?
Mas Bottero offers modern gourmet cuisine focused on the Provençal terroir, seasonality and products from local producers.
