History

In 1938...
No-one would have dreamed that a French woman would become a mother to the Sixth Fleet...

Coming from Saint-Nazaire, GERMAINE HALAP settled in Villefranche/mer in 1925 then, opened her restaurant facing the sea in 1938, with her husband Louis BRAU..
In her compassion and wisdom, she treated everyone alike officers, non-commissioned officers and sailors, as if they were her own sons. Dozens of touching and amusing stories are told about Germaine and her restaurant.

The 6th Fleet :
" Mom Germaine’s " address in Villefranche was passed on from ship to ship. She became so famous that the American Navy asked a film producer to make a movie about this dearly loved and highly respected lady. Françoise Rosay was chosen to play the part of Germaine in the film. When it was time for the USS Salem to set sail,
" Mom Germaine " was officially adopted and honoured on board by the US Navy.

In 1959, E. et R. Masson Pollok wrote a book about « Mom » Germaine entitled "Mother of the Sixth Fleet" a condensed version was later published by "Reader's Digest".

The guest book :
In 1956, as the great Jean Cocteau agreed to decorate the Saint-Pierre Chapel owned by the fishermen in Villefranche-sur-mer, was born a great friendship between Germaine and the brilliant artist. Celebrities were anxious to sample Germaine’s cooking, now that she had herself become something of a celebrity. One glance at the restaurant’s visitor’s book suffices ; it contains the most prestigious names in Who’s Who.

" Mom Germaine " has left the sea-side paradise of Villefranche and moved on very quietly to heaven, but her restaurant is still there and continues to bear the imprint of her generosity and her excellent cuisine.

And the story goes on...
Claire, Germaine’s first daughter nicknamed Poupette married Thomas KELLEY, an american sailor ; they had five children : three girls (Marilyn, Christine, Kathleen) and two boys (Gerard and Thomas) who still live in the United States with their mother. Josiane, lived several months in NEW YORK. On returning to France for a holiday, she met Rémy BLOUIN, who had come from TAHITI. Instead of returning to New York, she married him. They had two children : Thierry and Valérie. Germaine’s husband, Louis BRAU, asked Josiane and Remy to carry on the family business.
Rémy transformed the establishment, which was already famous, into a first-class Restaurant. No-one travels to the Côte d’Azur nowadays without stopping at "LA MERE GERMAINE" in Villefranche-sur-mer.

After a two years stay in the United States between BOSTON and CHICAGO, Thierry takes again the continuation of the family tradition helped by his sister Valerie .
Today, LA MERE GERMAINE is still a great Restaurant, which never ceases to improve the quality of its specialities and to explore new ideas, without betraying, in any way, its traditional well tried recipes.
Charles Minetti (extracts from the booklet"La Mère Germaine")