A French restaurateur who has run a popular eatery in Aberdeen for almost 15 years is to hand over the reins to a north-east businessman.
Dominique Mancellon has been the owner and founder of Cafe Boheme, on Windmill Brae, for more than 14 years.
During that time he has built up his family business ensuring the main ingredients of his French formula remained at the forefront.
He said his recipe for a successful business has been great food, great service and a celebration of the simple things in life.
But now the 59-year-old is ready to move on to pastures new and before he makes his departure, he is making sure the French legacy of his family business will live on.
Paul Mair – the new owner of Cafe Boheme – is a familiar face in the Aberdeen food scene. A chef of 15 years, he had trained at the Olive Tree before moving on to the Courtyard. He then ran the kitchen at Cafe 52 and, for the last five years, co-ordinated four venues for PBDevco as their executive chef.
Despite this predominantly Scottish portfolio, Mr Mair says his culinary heart lies in France with appreciation for tradition and detail.
Mr Mancellon said: “I have known Paul for many years and when I found out he was looking to open his own restaurant, I knew he would be the perfect match for Boheme.
“He has huge respect for quality, locally-sourced produce and a passion for traditional cooking techniques, so the foundations for running a French restaurant were already there.
“He’s also a great guy, easy to get on with and previously a regular customer to the cafe himself, so I have full confidence that he will preserve the magic that makes Boheme so special for our customers, some of whom have been with us for more than a decade.”
In the new year, Mr Mair is looking to utilise his skills in the kitchen and will work with head chef John Pattillo to develop a new menu, celebrating all things local – with a particular focus on Scotland’s fish and seafood.
He added: “It is a privilege to be taking over such a well-loved place, and in the few weeks that I’ve been here I’ve met a great deal of customers who have been coming here for years. That’s a huge responsibility to provide the memorable food and atmosphere that they are used to – but with the support of the existing team, including Dominique and the restaurant manager Maxine Mancellon, I’m confident we can continue to deliver.”
