The story
Maison Akène is the story of a couple, Inès Guerre-Genton Rodriguez and Isma’il Guerre-Genton, who chose to return to essentials. After eight years running Empreinte in Lambersart, they opened this new address in Ardres – a culinary parenthesis guided by nature and the vegetable kingdom, where every detail matters. Isma’il, trained at Institut Paul Bocuse, refined his craft alongside Michel Bras, Emmanuel Renaut, Christian Têtedoie, and Julien Gatillon. Inès built her career in luxury hospitality from Washington to Cyprus. Together, they imagined Maison Akène as a warm house where cuisine, service, and hospitality tell the same story.
The seasons dictate the menu, supported by local growers from Licques, Balinghem, and the Côte d’Opale, butter from Éperlecques, poultry from Licques. Craftsmanship extends beyond the plate: forged pieces from Campagne-lès-Guînes, curated objects, and rotating exhibitions of local artists. The restaurant aims to be a voice for the talents around them, sharing their light over a meal. This is modern cuisine that celebrates territory and its makers.
The menu is a surprise experience, offered in four lengths: Spontané (lunch, three surprises), Bourgeon (four), Floraison (six), and Akène (eight). Guests are invited to let curiosity guide the meal, forgetting time, carried by a cuisine that surprises with gentleness. The wine cellar is equally adventurous, mixing macerations with great appellations, beers, and cocktails for a complete letting-go.
Maison Akène’s refined, personal approach has earned a Michelin Recommended award for 2026. The guide notes the chef’s fidelity to his style, with a single menu that mimics the stages of a flower’s development – bud, bloom, achene – and plates with frank, direct flavors. Press from Le Figaro and Le Monde have praised the restaurant as a reason to explore the Pas-de-Calais. Here, the table is dressed for you, for a rare, simple, and precious moment.
Recognition
Ambience
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