Our history

Antoinette, my paternal grandmother, was born at the very beginning of the century, on September 4th, 1901, in Hockai — a small village in the Belgian Ardennes, known for its scenic walks, pure air, and the family-run hotel and restaurant owned by the Jacob family, Antoinette’s parents.

In 1933, upon the death of her parents, she took over the family business and married Maurice Parmentier. A year later, she gave birth to my father.

Her husband passed away during World War II, and Antoinette decided to carry on the adventure alone.

She was described as a cultured, intelligent, and artistic woman; indeed, she played the piano beautifully without ever having learned to read music! She was admired by many scholars who would spend their weekends at “Le Beau Séjour” to enjoy her company and her delicious home-cooked meals.

One day, a painter from Montmartre — who had once known a touch of local fame on Place du Tertre — came to rest from his “melancholy” for a few weeks in the famous guesthouse. They continued to correspond for a year, and in the 1950s Antoinette eventually joined her painter in France, where together they opened a small, intimate restaurant. There, she delighted her guests just as she once had in Belgium.

Today, I have revived this place to bring my grandmother’s spirit back to life through the recipes created by the talented chef Étienne Garnier, who prepares French specialties as well as a few Belgian dishes inspired by Antoinette’s Grimoires (forthcoming)!