La Paillote de Madame M: a bold entrepreneurial project

Innovation and entrepreneurial spirit are integral elements of the DNA of Institut Lyfe. Each year, our students challenge the boundaries of creativity, designing innovative, high-impact projects. One such shining example are Noah and Ali who, as part of their 4^th year specialisation in Restaurant and Hospitality Business Management and Entrepreneurship, created La Paillote de Madame M, a pop-up restaurant located in the port of Hyères, in the Var region of Provence.

Fruits of a friendship

Ali, of Moroccan origin, arrived in France in 2020 to join the Bachelor’s in International Hospitality & Restaurant Management. Noé, a native of Hyères, chose the Bachelor’s in International Culinary Arts Management with a specialisation in Cuisine & Culture of Japan during his third year. After a 4-month stay in Australia, he continued his studies with the specialisation in Restaurant and Hospitality Business Management and Entrepreneurship, which is when the two met.

Since meeting at Institut Lyfe and becoming next-door neighbours at the Clipper student residence, the friends vowed to collaborate on a project before completing their studies. La Paillote de Madame M brings this promise to life, combining their talents, creativity and ambition.

A bold entrepreneurial project

Inspired by their entrepreneurial parents, they knew very early on that they wanted to follow the same path. The specialisation in Restaurant and Hospitality Business Management and Entrepreneurship at Institut Lyfe was therefore an obvious choice, enabling them to acquire all the skills necessary for their future careers. Their work placements in different types of establishments also equipped them with a better understanding of the professional world.

If you want to be a business manager, you must have held all possible roles in order to understand the reality of those professions. I chose the hotel course in order to get the theoretical foundations, but I wanted to do my various placements in the restaurant sector to gain skills in that area as well. – Ali

The 4^th year in Restaurant and Hospitality Business Management and Entrepreneurship also concludes with a placement, which is when the La Paillote de Madame M project was born.

The extension of the terrace of an existing restaurant was the perfect location from which to embark on this first entrepreneurial adventure. After all the work had been carried out, the Food & Beverage offer put down on paper and the first tests completed, it was time to take the leap and launch at the beginning of July 2024. After a challenging first few days spent making their mark within an already existing offering, the first customers visited La Paillote and left as fans. For almost three months, Noé and Ali, who believe in the importance of building strong social connections in the hotel and restaurant industry, employed their humour and boundless energy to attract a clientele that quickly became regulars.

By offering a reduced menu and minimally processed ingredients, in the space of a few weeks they became “the best restaurant in the port of Hyères in terms of quality-price-service”.

Everything hasn’t been all rosy in this adventure: you have to be extremely careful about the people you collaborate with and make sure that they are reliable. Entrepreneurship is attractive and some people are only interested in the financial aspect and the profitability of the project. – Noah

A life built around entrepreneurship

This dynamic duo wants to continue their professional adventures together and will, in fact, be heading abroad in the coming months, to learn from other cultures and deepen their knowledge of the sector. Who knows, perhaps in a few years we’ll be able to meet these two friends in their own establishment. We wish them all the best!

More than just a restaurant, La Paillote de Madame M embodies the creative and daring spirit of Institut Lyfe as well as reflecting the type of connections and friendships formed within its walls. Through this initiative, our students have showcased their ability to embrace challenges, innovate, and establish themselves within the local community, all while crafting a one-of-a-kind gastronomic experience. Congratulations to our talented students!

Find out more about our 4th year specialisation in Restaurant and Hospitality Business Management and Entrepreneurship

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