Another Greek find and I’m so excited to write about this newly opened café as it is a perfect combination of two of my favourite countries, cultures and cuisines.
Bon Bon Fait Maison, situated on the Ionian island of Kythira, Greece, was completed in July 2017 by designers Interior Design Laboratoriumand is a perfect example of the finest relationship between Greece and France. Two very contradicting cultures, especially in regards to food, with the very laid back, chilled-out spirit that comes with Greece, and the oh-so elegant, gastronomic and artistic dining that France offers, you would never expect a marriage made in heaven, but Bon Bon Fait Maisonpushes the boundaries of the culinary world, not only through food, but also through its spatial vision.
Stamos Hondrodimos, the lead designer of Laboratorium, and M3kythira, a local architectural company, made it possible for chef Kriton Minas Poulis to boast and share his Greek origin with his proficiency in French cooking. The 1860’s building consists of two storeys and its current renovation represents its culture and surroundings, offering visitors a notion of Greece as we know it, with its vibrant summer skies and fresh atmosphere that leaves you relaxed and playful.
Traditional whitewashed plaster walls and existing wooden beams across the ceiling, form the cosy eatery and marble mosaic flooring with new timber featured furnishings pull the space together, creating an inviting setting. The decision behind the materials used was made through the influence of what was already there. The white backdrops and wooden finishes drove the designers to implement similar materials and hues into the space, creating bespoke pieces like the kitchen station and shelving displays, the tables and common raffia-topped stools.
The materiality of the space is balanced equally between that rustic and elegant style you find separating the two cultures. White marble imported from the island of Naxos has been employed into the counters and the incorporated benches with their soft toned pillows. All of which inspire charm and innocence.
Reflecting all this, is of course, the food. From ice cream to sorbet, to galettes and buckwheat crepes, a delicious selection of savoury and sweet dishes that demonstrate the clever match of the two cuisines, leaving you to crave more.
Photos © Yatzerand Bon Bon Fait Maison
Photography courtesy of Giorgos Sfakianakis
