Palégrié Chez l'Henri

The story

Palégrié Chez l'Henri: Michelin-Starred Braise Cuisine in Méaudre, Vercors

A cuisine reborn by fire

At Palégrié Chez l'Henri in Méaudre, the kitchen is guided not by technology but by the primal force of flame. Chef Guillaume has turned entirely to braise cooking—grilling, roasting, and smoking over embers—to draw out the deepest flavours from the finest local ingredients. It is a deliberate return to elemental methods, where time slows and the fire imparts a soulful, smoky grace to every dish.

This is modern cuisine with a powerful sense of place. The Vercors region—its forests, pastures, and streams—supplies the raw materials: blue crab from the Mediterranean, rainbow trout from the Sources de l'Archiane, kid goat from Chatelard, and herbs from the restaurant's own garden. Guillaume’s cooking is intuitive and harmonious, balancing the delicacy of vegetables, the authenticity of local farming, and the gentle wildness of foraged and hunted ingredients.

A family barn, a welcoming spirit

The restaurant is housed in the family barn, where spontaneity and authenticity remain the guiding values. “Passez la porte de chez l’Henri, vous êtes au palégrié!” say hosts Chrystel and Guillaume. The interior is intimate, the crackle of the braise a constant companion. Chrystel curates the wine cellar with the same care, seeking out vibrant, living wines from exceptional domains and lesser-known terroirs, always in search of bottles that tell a story of sharing.

The Michelin star awarded to Palégrié Chez l'Henri recognises this singular vision: a cuisine that is both inventive and deeply respectful of its origins. Menus like the “Voie douce” (75 €) and “Chemin lauzé” (95 €) change with the seasons, offering a sequence of small courses that might include a starter of crab with Rencurel lettuce and lobster coral vinaigrette, followed by trout with fennel and zaatar, then kid goat slow-cooked over the embers with early green beans and black garlic jus.

For those wanting to go further, the “GR” menu (155 €) is a chef’s choice journey, served to the whole table. It is the fullest expression of Guillaume’s audacity and poetry—a meal that challenges and delights, leaving you with the memory of a unique, flame-kissed experience.