L'Envers du Décor

The story

L'Envers du Décor, Les Herbiers – Modern Cuisine with a Bib Gourmand

A sincere, creative kitchen in the Vendée countryside

In the small town of Les Herbiers, between the historic Puy du Fou and the rolling bocage, L'Envers du Décor offers a modern cuisine that is both honest and inventive. Chef Aurélien Jousseaume runs the kitchen with a philosophy that echoes the quote from Bernard Loiseau that adorns the restaurant’s website: “La cuisine, c'est l'envers du décor, là où s'activent les hommes et femmes pour le plaisir des autres…” This is cooking that puts the craft – and the guest – front and centre.

The dining room is welcoming, and the service is attentive without being fussy. The restaurant’s location in the heart of the Vendée means it draws on local suppliers and seasonal produce, a commitment that is evident in every dish.

Seasonal menus with depth

The menu is built around a progression of savoury and sweet sequences, allowing diners to choose their own pace. The current offering (subject to change with the seasons) includes a starter that balances acidity and iodine: marinated and confit tomatoes in a crisp tartlet, smoked burrata cream, lacquered tuna, and a vitello tonnato sauce. A second sequence brings back the day’s catch – confit Bomlo salmon, grilled courgettes, basil pesto, and a smoked paprika jus.

The chef’s signature is a Breton lobster, served in two ways: the roasted tail alongside grilled courgettes and a lobster jus, and the claw and knuckles in a crispy raviolo with a smoked paprika sabayon. For meat, there is roasted duck fillet with smoked beetroot and a tartare of fresh cheese, hazelnuts, and pickled blackcurrants.

A cheese course features fresh goat’s cheese mousse with aged goat cheese shavings, white balsamic sorbet, and mint oil. Desserts are equally inventive: apricot lacquered with a vanilla rice pudding mousse, caramel with Noirmoutier fleur de sel, and pecan sablé; or a red fruit medley perfumed with grilled red peppers and saffron ice cream.

Dishes are made in-house from raw ingredients, with a clear emphasis on the terroir of the Vendée.

Michelin-recognized dining

L'Envers du Décor has earned a Michelin Bib Gourmand for 2026, an award that celebrates good quality, good value cooking. It is a fitting recognition for a restaurant that delivers a thoughtful, modern cuisine experience without pretension. Whether you are visiting the nearby Puy du Fou or simply exploring the region, this is a place where the kitchen’s passion and the land’s bounty come together on the plate.