Le Girelier, Annie Famose

My name is Aimé Stoesser, and I have been in Saint-Tropez for 20 years. I manage this business with my wife, Ingrid. What sets Le Girelier apart from other restaurants in Saint-Tropez?

First of all, we are among the very few left who still work with fresh seafood, and all our fish are filleted tableside. That includes turbot, spiny lobster, European lobster, John Dory, and the like. Another big differentiator for us is that we offer non-stop service from noon to midnight. You can come and eat at 4 p.m., 5 p.m., 6 p.m.—whenever you like.

The real strength of this restaurant lies in its people—whether it’s the maître d', the hostess, or the kitchen chefs, most of whom have been with us practically since the beginning. Our lunch service operates a bit differently than dinner. We offer a more attractive entry-level price, with a daily special that changes every day and is served until 1:30 p.m. From 1:30 p.m. onwards, a wonderful crowd joins us, and the restaurant really comes alive.

I was lucky one day—I walked into the restaurant, turned around, and there I saw Mr. Jacques Chirac. He called out to me and said, 'So, boss, can we get a drink around here?' I replied, 'Of course, Mr. President.' Then he asked me, 'Who is your boss? Is it Annie Famose?' I said, 'Yes, it’s Annie Famose.' He told me, 'Call Annie for me.' Well, they had an interesting conversation—I don't know what about, but they had a great chat. After that, he came back every single day.

He was my greatest ambassador. Even the radio stations would call me up. They’d ask, 'How long does it take you to fill your restaurant when Jacques Chirac is there?' I would answer, '3 minutes and 30 seconds.' We really liked each other. He came back every year. That’s our story.

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