The How, What & Why
Let me take you back to where it all began… Southwest France — more precisely, the Basque Country — the place where I grew up.
I’m not Basque by blood, but the region welcomed me like one of its own. It’s where I feel at home — and always will.
After studying marketing (still not sure why I chose that!), I found myself facing compulsory military service — yes, that was still a thing back then. Somehow, I ended up in the Mountain Troops, as an Alpine soldier, on the opposite end of France.
Because I already spoke a bit of English, I was offered an 18-month long-term contract with the UN… and off I went to Southern Lebanon. That mission — from the hills of the South to the chaos of Beirut — opened my eyes in ways I never expected.
Having already lost my father in a car accident years before, the experience of seeing a country torn by war (this was 1993) shifted something deep in me. I fell in love with life. With every fragile, fleeting moment of it.
Back home, I bounced from job to job. Warehouse work, loading trucks… nothing that made my heart beat faster — but I had bills to pay.
Then one day, completely by chance (if chance exists), I got a job as a server and bartender in a small restaurant in Biarritz… Then came the nightclubs… and then came love — again.
This time, it was love for the human connection. For the pleasure of hosting. For making people feel good.
I trained as a cocktail bartender, and my life became a journey. England. The Caribbean. The French Alps. Corsica. Réunion Island. Provence. The Côte d’Azur. Then an extraordinary adventure aboard a cruise ship — from Antarctica to the Caribbean, through South and Central America, across to Northern Europe, all the way to St. Petersburg.
I never stopped traveling. I never could stop.
Over time, I worked my way up from bartender to head bartender in luxury hotels — 5-star standards, precision, elegance, and that ever-burning desire to share the good life. And I’ve always cooked. That’s something I owe to my mother. From an early age, it became part of me.
So I set a new goal: working as a chef-sailor on luxury yachts. I did everything — including a full adult retraining course at the Alain Ducasse culinary school in Paris.
But reality hit hard. One closed door after another. So I returned to my old job — still dreaming of the open sea.
Years later, I finally made it. Hired as a chef/sailor for a luxury American catamaran company. I was living in the Caribbean, preparing for a move to French Polynesia. The dream was real.
But… not quite how I imagined it.
I was past 50. The hours were brutal. I didn’t even enjoy cooking in that conditions. I barely saw the places I traveled to. Something had to give.
So I walked away — with no plan, no backup, just a deep need for something different. And just like that, life stepped in.
Because the truth is: I love life. I love cooking for friends. I love sharing great moments. I’m a curious soul, a bon vivant — and travel is my fuel.
To make a long story short, I’ve got a dear friend in the U.S. I’ve been visiting for years — from Hawaii to California, Florida to Mississippi. Every time, I’ve been treated like royalty.
One day, I promised to return the favor — and offer him a tour of France, the way I would do it: through food, wine, and unforgettable experiences.
I told the story to some guests onboard the ship — and they said, “That’s a brilliant idea!” And it clicked.
Of course. I’ve always loved planning trips for my friends. Showing them the very best, the hidden gems, the local spots they would never find on their own.
And because I come from the world of luxury, that’s the kind of experience I want to offer: exceptional moments, private discoveries, rare access, all wrapped in comfort and authenticity.
Moments that most travelers could never dream of — unless someone from the inside showed them the way.
That’s my deepest wish — to give you a holiday you’ll remember for a very, very long time.
See you soon,
Serge
