KÉVIN, A Restaurant Owner Committed To Revitalizing Fort-De-France
Kévin Hagel has just opened the restaurant Chez Lucrèce, in downtown Fort-de-France. This 30-year-old Guadeloupean, originally from Saint-François, settled in Martinique in 2019, after having wandered between Paris, London, Marbella… Thrilled in his adopted city, the restaurateur hopes to “give a breath of fresh air to the Martinique”, by offering dishes based on local products in its authentically charming establishment.
So many new things at rue Garnier-Pagès! Temporarily pedestrianized since the carnival, this small artery in the city center of Fort-de-France has become, in recent months, one of the epicenters of the Foyalais revival, teeming with life, music and colors, day and night. Among the places that contribute to the attractiveness of this small stretch of street near the seafront, a new restaurant opened its doors at the beginning of February, at number 22, on the site formerly occupied by Le Vieux Foyal, in a small building freshly repainted in pastel blue after long months of work: Chez Lucrèce.
Despite this first name, which smells of Madras and beguines of yesteryear, the manager of the new establishment is a tall young man with a fashionable look, his face framed by a beard and mid-length dreadlocks. “Lucrece is my grandmother,” confides Kévin Hagel laughing. “She is 85 years old and she is from Saint-François. It was she who suggested the idea of calling my restaurant Chez Lucrèce when I opened it,” adds the young boss. It is indeed this 30-year-old Guadeloupean who opened this new restaurant on February 8 in the heart of Fort-de-France. Arrived in 2019 on our island that he barely knew, after having rolled his bump in Paris, London, Dubai and elsewhere, Kévin had to overcome many obstacles to realize his dream.
He did well to persevere: like its illustrious predecessor, Chez Lucrèce is always full. Visitors are intrigued by the appearance of the place – which combines a certain old-fashioned charm with a resolutely trendy atmosphere – and seduced by the gastronomic offer: the menu is very short, but offers two or three dishes based on local ingredients , as well as tasty cocktails.
This article is originally published on martinique.franceantilles.fr
