Shyness, burger tattoos and broken jaws
With Front of House Manager Rémi Amice
After chatting with the charismatic floor manager at the Hotel du Lac I discovered a few surprising things about the Normandy-born, Paris bred Frenchman.
He came to Morzine because he’d broken his jaw in three places
After a year in Oz to make some money I continued doing seasons in Flaine. One winter I broke my jaw in 3 places. During recovery my friend said someone was looking for a waiter in Morzine. It’s only half an hour from Flaine, so I came here in summer ’15 and I’ve been here since.
He loves hospitality so much he gets tattoos of what’s on the menu
I served burgers in the last place I worked in and I wanted to have a burger tattoo as soon as I started there. I ended up getting matching tattoos with some of the other waiters in the first lockdown when everyone went crazy (off the record)! We’ll see if I get one from here!
He loves not having to do his hair
I wear a flat cap for work as part of my ‘uniform’. I did in the last place I worked too. I think it’s almost a part of my identity now and people recognise me mote with it than without sometimes! I love it for work, it means I never need to do my hair.
He studied accountancy and IT
Alors oui, I studied accountancy and IT for many years, then, after my last degree I quit everything because I realised sitting behind a desk was not for me anymore. And instead I became a KP in a kitchen in Brittany. And then a waiter in Flaine!
He always breaks something biking
I do biking when I can… but I always break something, so I do more skiing. Sometimes I do skateboarding, but again, things can break. I like chilling at the lake, and at the bar and restaurant at the hotel.
He’s shy
I’m a really shy person outside of work. That’s why I started my working life behind a desk in IT. When I did the first season working in the kitchen, I used to watch the waiters joking around with customers and thought yes, that’s for me. It’s a way I can learn not to be shy.
He loves being in an international team
I get to work in a brand new beautiful restaurant. It’s amazing; and being in charge makes me feel lucky. My staff are international and I love it. There are French, Italian, English, Scottish, Australian…. it’s a great mix. The core team is myself, Tambo the head chef, Paul the bar manager and Galia the hotel manager, who’s like our mum! I love that you look at your watch and it’s 10am and the next time it’s 10pm.
He thinks the grass is always greener…
I want it to be whatever season it’s not. When it’s summer I’m craving the off-piste of Chamoissière, when it’s the middle of winter I’m craving BBQs by the lake… I do more sport in winter than summer so I guess I’d choose winter if I had to make a choice between the two.
He thinks you should try it
The beef paleron and the trout, his favourite dishes on the menu. The trout was the signature dish of old owner. Of course Tambo has modified it slightly but it’s great, you should try it.
His favourite Disney character
It’s Iago, the parrot from Aladdin. I don’t know why he’s just so funny!
The phrases he thinks you should learn in French
Une carafe d’eau – a jug of water (not une carafe de l’eau). Merci beaucoup – thanks very much (not merci beau cu which means thanks nice butt)
He loves a good bar crawl
Are you sure you wanna know my ideal night out?! If I’m not enjoying the lake then I’d say a burger and nice cold beer, then Crépu, Le Tremplin and finally I’ll end up in Café Chaud.
Author: Tiny Travel Rebel