Jean Haidar in front of his Lebanese restaurant Le Cèdre in Nice. Photo courtesy of the owner.
If you’re searching for Jean Haidar’s restaurant, don’t look near Nice’s famous flower market or the bustling Masséna Square. Instead, venture beyond the tourist-heavy areas to boulevard Risso, where Haidar established Le Cèdre five years ago in a then-transforming neighborhood. Soon, an urban forest with 2,500 trees will rise in front of his restaurant — one of the many twists of fate that have shaped his journey.The year is off to a strong start for Haidar. His restaurant was ranked among the top 10 favorites of the French. He learned the news upon waking, turning on his phone to a flood of congratulatory messages.“Incredible, I still can’t believe it — I’m right behind the Michelin-starred Hélène Darroze!” he said. It’s a recognition of the hard work and perseverance of a Lebanese chef who arrived in France 35 years ago.In 2021, the...
If you’re searching for Jean Haidar’s restaurant, don’t look near Nice’s famous flower market or the bustling Masséna Square. Instead, venture beyond the tourist-heavy areas to boulevard Risso, where Haidar established Le Cèdre five years ago in a then-transforming neighborhood. Soon, an urban forest with 2,500 trees will rise in front of his restaurant — one of the many twists of...
