Cucina Bianca: between authenticity and gastronomic heritage

“White cooking” is like a well-kept secret where simplicity rhymes with generosity! No complicated sauces or frills, just everyday cooking that puts everything on thequality of ingredients: forgotten vegetables, wild plants, and local produce with character.

It’s aback to basics, a gourmet and responsible way of savouring life, taking the time to discover unsuspected flavours straight from the valleys of Piedmont and the Alpes-Maritimes. In short, a culinary adventure that’s both humble and full of character, to be discovered at a restaurant in La Brigue!

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La Cucina Bianca,

a 100% local culinary experience at the restaurant

Once upon a time, in the high valleys of Piedmont, Liguria and the Alpes-Maritimes, the birth of the famous cuisine blanche (or Cucina Bianca to those in the know). This ancestral culinary tradition is linked to transhumance, when cattle leave the winter pastures to take up residence in the summer meadows.

On the menu: a cuisine that’s not very colourful, but particularly intense in flavour! It’s also an opportunity to enjoy a good meal, while helping to protect the environment. The menu is made up of local produce found along the pastoral paths. Potatoes, leeks, turnips, dairy products, pulses and wild herbs all make their way onto your plate for your enjoyment!

Get ready for the slow food experience

in Menton, Riviera & Merveilles!

La Cucina Bianca is first and foremost a cuisine with heart and respect for its land. Here, there’s no fuss: we work with the best that the season has to offer, choosing quality local produce, fresh and often direct from small producers in the area. The result? Dishes full of flavour, ultra-fresh, and a little help for the planet.

But the magic doesn’t stop there! Behind each recipe lies savoir-faire passed down from generation to generation, grandma’s tricks linked to pastoral life, the gathering of wild plants, and chefs who sublimate local vegetables and dairy products. So La Cucina Bianca is a beautiful love story between people, nature and taste buds, for a gourmet and 100% authentic culinary experience.

Patrick Teisseire:

the passionate chef who brings the Cucina Bianca back to life in his restaurant

For Patrick Teisseire, the Cucina Bianca is an extension of a family table where nothing is lost. He fell into it as a child, in the depths of the Roya and Piedmont valleys, where the migration of flocks gave rhythm to life and cooking. Today, as owner of the Auberge Saint-Martin in La Brigue, he has decided to share this culinary treasure with everyone, and with great enthusiasm!

The common thread running through his approach? Bringing simple and full of flavour white cuisine back into fashion, by combining ancestral traditions with a modern outlook. Patrick doesn’t just cook vegetables or prepare dishes, he tells a story with every plate, using local and seasonal ingredients, cooked with passion. Our mouths are already watering!

With him, Cucina Bianca is a bit like travelling back in time, but keeping our feet firmly planted in the present. A great way to enjoy the terroir, while supporting local producers!

A fan of portraits of committed chefs?

Let yourself be inspired by Mauro Colagreco, chef at the Mirazur restaurant in Menton!

The Auberge Saint-Martin restaurant in La Brigue: the beating heart of Cucina Bianca!

Nestled in the heart of the charming village of La Brigue, the Auberge Saint-Martin is a genuine invitation to delve into an art of living deeply rooted in the local heritage.

The restaurant doesn’t stop at its cuisine: the chef has developed a complete experience around the Cucina Bianca, with stays and events that focus on local produce and tradition.

A la carte:

Meetings with farmers and shepherds on mountain hikes,
Guided wild plant picking with an ethnobotanist,
Workshops to make local sugelli and fresh pasta,
Bike rides to harvest vegetables and herbs,
And even storytelling night hikes under the stars!

📌 La Brigue is the birthplace of white cuisine, with tasty specialities like tantifulusa (a generous vegetable pie) and sugelli (a typical fresh pasta). So, what are you waiting for to walk through the door of this restaurant in Menton, Riviera & Merveilles?

To book at the Auberge Saint-Martin restaurant, click here!

Do you still have a little room left?

The specialities and flavours of Menton, Riviera & Merveilles await you in the best restaurants in our destination. From beachside restaurants to Michelin-starred establishments overlooking the Mediterranean, don’t hesitate to book one of our tables for a unique culinary experience!

All restaurants

Restaurant in Menton, Riviera & Merveilles :

we answer frequently asked questions!

Where is Menton, Riviera & Merveilles located?
Menton, Riviera & Merveilles is located in the south of France, in the Provence-Alpes-Côte-d’Azur region.
Where to eat in Menton, Riviera & Merveilles?
Eager to break away from the traditional Cucina Bianca and explore a new culinary experience? Menton and the surrounding area offer a great range of gourmet options, from casual snacks where you can nibble on the go, to Michelin-starred restaurants that creatively reinvent Mediterranean cuisine.
Whether you’re looking for pizza, a fresh fish dish on the beach or a fine dining experience in one of our Michelin-starred restaurants (with dishes signed by renowned chefs like Mauro Colagreco!), you’re bound to find something to suit you. The region is bursting with places where local flavours go hand in hand with quality and originality, so there’s something to suit every taste, every appetite and every occasion!
What are the specialities of Menton, Riviera & Merveilles?
The Menton, Riviera & Merveilles region offers a wealth of culinary delights from its sun-drenched terroir and mountain traditions. Among the must-try dishes are barbajuans, fried ravioli stuffed with chard, cheese and rice, originally from Castellar. Sugelli, a fresh pasta typical of the Roya Valley, is also a must. On the sweet side, Menton lemons feature in many recipes, including the famous lemon tarts. Mountain cheeses such as tomme and brousse reflect the expertise of local farmers. Finally, sun-drenched vegetables, olive oil and chestnuts complete this rich and varied gastronomic picture.
What are the key local products used in Cucina Bianca?
La Cucina Bianca is the art of sublimating local produce, simple but full of character: potatoes, leeks, turnips, mountain cheeses, legumes, and even a few wild plants unearthed along the trails. It’s this well-worked simplicity that gives this soulful, flavoursome cuisine its charm!
Where can you discover Cucina Bianca in a restaurant in Menton, Riviera & Merveilles?
La Cucina Bianca is best enjoyed at the Auberge Saint-Martin, an iconic restaurant in La Brigue, in the heart of the Alpes-Maritimes. This authentic venue immerses you in the world of this Franco-Italian cuisine with pastoral roots. You’ll find a menu crafted from local produce, for an experience as gourmet as it is local.
What's on a typical Cucina Bianca menu?
A Cucina Bianca menu reflects the richness of local produce, often from family farms or small producers located between France and Italy. In some restaurants, you can discover this French and Italian cuisine through tasting formulas or plates to share, perfect for a meal with your partner, friends or children. A gourmet and authentic experience to savour during your stay at the hotel or your getaway to Menton, Riviera & Merveilles.
Can you eat Cucina Bianca with children?
Absolutely! Cucina Bianca is perfect for a family meal. Its simplicity, melt-in-the-mouth vegetables and fresh pasta make it an accessible and tasty cuisine for children. Some restaurants even offer a children’s menu inspired by traditional dishes, with adapted portions and gentle recipes.
Is it possible to stay near a restaurant offering Cucina Bianca?
Yes, there are a number of hotels and accommodation close to the restaurants featuring Cucina Bianca, particularly in the villages of La Brigue, Tende and Saint-Dalmas-de-Tende. Whether you opt for a charming hotel, a bed and breakfast or a farm stay, you’ll easily find somewhere to stay to extend the culinary experience.
Where to stay in La Brigue?
In La Brigue, you’ll find a range of accommodation in an unspoilt setting, with charming little streets and mountain scenery. Gîtes, B&Bs or campsites: there’s something to suit everyone, so you can make the most of this authentic village in the Roya Valley. Don’t hesitate to visit our website to discover the various offers for accommodation in La Brigue.
Is Cucina Bianca French or Italian cuisine?
Cucina Bianca is a perfect example of cross-border cuisine. Its origins lie in the traditions of the Alpine valleys between France (Alpes-Maritimes) and Italy (Piedmont and Liguria). So it belongs to both cultures, blending French know-how and Italian inspiration in a simple, traditional and tasty approach.
Can Cucina Bianca be found anywhere other than Menton, Riviera & Merveilles?
Cucina Bianca is most authentic in the Menton, Riviera & Merveilles region, thanks in particular to its strong links with the Roya and Bévéra valleys. However, some restaurants elsewhere in France and Italy are beginning to show an interest in it, particularly in establishments promoting Alpine cuisine or short distribution channels.
Are there any vegetarian options at Cucina Bianca?
Most of the dishes at Cucina Bianca are naturally vegetarian, based on seasonal vegetables, pulses, ancient cereals and cheeses. It’s a cuisine that makes the most of local resources, and adapts very well to meat-free diets, while retaining a real richness of flavour.