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Rabat – Moroccan chef Nawal Rezagui has earned her first Michelin star, bringing pride not only to her restaurant but also to Morocco. Based in the Marne region of France, Rezagui is now among the few women recognized by the Michelin Guide this year.
Rezagui leads the kitchen at L’Alcôve, a restaurant located within La Briqueterie hotel in Vinay. Earlier this month, the Michelin Guide officially awarded her the prestigious star. Speaking about the recognition, Rezagui described it as a huge achievement and a reflection of years of hard work alongside her team.
“It’s huge for me. I look at my journey and what I’ve achieved. It’s a recognition of the work I’ve done with my team,” Radio France reported the 43-year-old chef as saying.
Originally from the coastal Moroccan city of El Jadida, Rezagui did not always plan to become a chef. She grew up in a family that valued education, and like many around her, she once dreamed of pursuing higher studies and becoming an engineer. However, both life struggles and a growing passion for gastronomy changed her path over time.
Reconnecting with Moroccan cuisine
After first moving to France 14 years ago, Rezagui struggled to find work and eventually returned to Morocco. She reconnected with her culinary roots and opened a restaurant with her husband, a pastry chef. Her love for cooking was deeply influenced by childhood memories, learning to bake bread at just six years old with her mother and grandmother, and preparing traditional Moroccan dishes filled with spices like ginger and saffron.
“It’s the smells of spices, of slow-cooked dishes… I learned to make bread at six, with my mother and grandmother. My first tagine was peas and artichokes. The smell of the meat, ginger, saffron… When I think about those moments, I can still taste them. Those are very important moments in my life,” she recalls.
Determined to succeed, she later returned to France to formally train in gastronomy, earning professional diplomas and gaining experience in several cities, including Marseille and Carcassonne, as well as working abroad in Germany. Her breakthrough came in early 2024, when she joined L’Alcôve after her husband encouraged her to pursue the opportunity.
