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  • Room Spray 01

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24H IN BARNIE

DU STYLE, UN VESTIAIRE, VOS INSTANTS, WITH CHEF TABATA MEY

"BARNIE" is the name of a woman who symbolises all others. A woman who embodies strength, grace and confidence. Today, Tabata Mey is the Barnie woman, and we invite you to discover her…

The chef revealed by the show "Top Chef", is above all a born entrepreneur.

Of Brazilian origin, Tabata Mey is a passionate, hedonistic, energetic woman and a fulfilled mother of 3 young boys.

With Ludovic, her partner and associate, they have just opened Ombellule and Roseaux, two new culinary "gems" offering original and captivating dining experiences, divinely decorated by the talented Nathalie Rives.

A woman of taste with a thousand ideas and boundless energy, Tabata puts beauty (and good food, of course) at the centre of her life, with a passion for interior architecture and careful attention to her daily wardrobe. Fashion allows her to feel beautiful and gain superpowers, both in the kitchen and in everyday life!

Meet a truly (very) captivating personality…

Hello Tabata, could you introduce yourself?
My name is Tabata Mey. I am Brazilian by origin, but this year 2024 marks an equal amount of time spent both in Rio and here in France. It's a rather amusing hybrid status, but I love being here. I am 46 years old and I am the mother of three boys aged 8 years, 3 years and 22 months. 
What do you do in life? What is your background?
I am Owner-Chef with my husband Ludovic Mey of my two restaurants in Lyon 6. A gastronomic restaurant, Ombellule and a traditional French brasserie, Roseaux. Originally, my destiny was rather directed towards medical school in Brazil, but the call of my passion for cooking was stronger! I arrived in France in 2002 to study at the cooking school at L'Institut Paul Bocuse and have stayed ever since. I spent a short year in Paris in a 3-star Michelin restaurant (an almost obligatory step for any cook) and the Parisian life at full speed quickly made me return to my city of heart, Lyon. I worked for Nicolas Le Bec (2 stars) for 7 years and then Paul Bocuse entrusted me with the reins of his new restaurant at the time, Marguerite. It was the first time he had let a woman into one of his kitchens and I must admit I am rather proud of that ; ) At Restaurant Marguerite, I met my husband Ludovic. We worked together in the kitchen and it was love at first sight! We stayed there for 1 year and then we left France to work at Noma (considered the best restaurant in the world at the time). We returned to Lyon in 2015. We got married and opened, in March 2016, our restaurant Les Apothicaires, awarded 1 star in the Michelin Guide in 2022. After 7 years, we sold it to open in October of this year Ombellule and Roseaux.
What are your passions? Your interests?
Apart from cooking, I am passionate about decorative arts and interior architecture. I genuinely think I could have made it my career. All this craftsmanship fascinates me! France is incredibly rich in all these artistic trades! I particularly love the art nouveau / art deco period and you can find this reflected in my restaurant Ombellule. I love all objects that have been patinated by time and that tell a story. I find myself imagining them in their original environment and all the life that surrounded them. Like, for example, the cutlery from an old silver canteen set that I might find at the Puces du Canal. It's fascinating to imagine the joie de vivre of all the guests who used them during their grand meals! In fact, within my restaurants, you'll find many table art objects that I have sourced during my Sunday morning visits to the Puces du Canal.

Could you describe a typical ideal day?

I wake up at 7 o'clock, breakfast with the family and Ludo and I take the children to school which is right next to our restaurants.

Kitchen preparation and lunch service up to 3pm.

I then go to my office to deal with all emails and admin up to 4:15pm, because if it's my turn to pick up the children, I need to be at school at 4:30pm.

We play in the park and then head home for the evening routine: homework, bath, dinner and bed around 8pm (when I manage to get them all down at once!)

Once the children are in bed, I finish my work on the computer or I focus on creating new dishes and recipes.

Ludo and I share the week with the children in the evenings. For the lunchtime service, we are both at the restaurant, but in the evening there is only one of us.

On days when I don't need to pick up the children, I take time in the afternoons to do Ashtanga Yoga or sport. 

What are your wellness tips, do you have a particular routine?

I admit I am not very disciplined when it comes to myself. The only goal I truly commit to is my Ashtanga sessions that I've been doing for several years now. It's the only moment when my mind is truly thinking of nothing! I feel more at peace and Ludo notices every time I miss a session (laughs).

Another thing that is very important to me is seeing my naturopath regularly! He prepares my body for the seasons as well as helping me cope during periods of intense work and stress, like right now with the two openings. We also take the children before winter, to avoid seasonal illnesses.

Otherwise, I pay very close attention to my daily protein intake (not always easy as a vegetarian) to avoid fatigue, and I try to drink enough water… as I'm a camel!  

What is your relationship with fashion?
I think fashion holds a very important place in a woman's life. Feeling beautiful is very important, it gives us superpowers! This is also why I love BARNIE and its philosophy so much, because that is what fashion means to me! It's what fashion is capable of building in the female psyche. When you feel beautiful, you feel capable of anything! It gives us confidence! And feeling beautiful is not only about dressing up for a gala evening, but above all in our everyday lives. It's what we carry every day wearing our hats as mothers, business owners and women all in one single day. 

What is your favourite outfit, the one you love wearing and in which you feel beautiful?

I love long skirts! With boots in winter or heeled sandals in summer, I find they give a beautiful silhouette and a sense of height! I wear them with all types of tops! An oversized roll-neck jumper or a t-shirt, everything works. 

What would be your 3 essential basics?

A beautiful black heel, a pair of jeans with an incredible cut (like the Frany!) and a white t-shirt in a very high-quality cotton. I also love necklaces, which are a "must have" among my accessories. They can dress up a more basic outfit all on their own. 

The craziest piece in your wardrobe?

I must admit I'm not the most original girl or the one who dares the most, so I would say my electric blue suede dress by Jimmy Choo.

What can we find in your handbag?

My hair elastics and clips to tie my hair back when I'm in the kitchen, and a lipstick. I prefer them almost nude, as I have a small mouth and red lipsticks give me a doll-like mouth that I'm not a fan of!

Will you share some of your favourite addresses in Lyon?
With the children, we spend a lot of time eating. We are very food-loving. It's no coincidence that we are restaurateurs. So I'd like to share my favourite food addresses in the city. My favourite restaurant at the moment: Le Circle, Baptiste has a very creative cuisine with very precise seasoning and cooking. A true favourite! What's more, he caters for all dietary requirements, which is extremely rare right now for a gastronomic restaurant. My "friends" restaurant: Café Terroir run by our friend Jeff. We love the atmosphere of this unique place. The cuisine is increasingly refined and they have an amazing wine list! We go there very often. My patisserie: Duclef. I love their cakes! They are not too sweet while still being indulgent. They also have an incredible babka! 

My chocolatier: It's hard to choose between Sébastien Bouillet and Bernachon. Sébastien is very creative and Philippe Bernachon got me addicted to his chocolate, with his touch of vanilla in the recipe, it makes all the difference!

My cheesemonger: La fromagerie du Château. They have a superb selection. Very good classics perfectly matured, but also little-known cheeses. The problem there is choosing!

My baker: Maison Deschamp. All their breads are made with natural sourdough. What I love is being able to find old recipes with real character, as well as beautiful baguettes. They are true enthusiasts…

Hot chocolate: You won't believe me, but the best hot chocolate in the city is at Lindt. Yes, I know, we're not talking about small local artisans, but when it's good, it's good! Their hot chocolates are made from melted chocolate flowing from their chocolate fountain, either milk or dark. It's indecent… We go there all the time with the children! 

Your favourite from the BARNIE wardrobe?
It's hard to choose, but I would say the Frany jeans and the Phoebe heels in purple velvet, absolutely stunning! 
And your favourite pieces from this latest ÉPILOGUE Collection
The whole collection is incredible. But for this drop, I fell for the Kate shirt with its large retro collar, the Ulysse jumper, so beautiful, so airy and above all, it doesn't itch. Did you know that red has a powerful psychological effect? It has a stimulating and warming effect and helps energise the space and the atmosphere. And then the Boya trousers. So chic, so timeless, with heels or even trainers. A safe bet!

TABATA MEY'S FAVOURITES

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