La Ramoneta of the Month – Candy Miller

This month, I would like you to meet Candy Miller. She lived in Paris for over 20 years before settling down in Béziers to open Maison Jullian

© Maison Jullian

Every month, I introduce you to an interesting woman living in Languedoc. Curious as I am, I like to find out why she lives in this beautiful region, what she does for a living, and some of her Languedoc favourites. Candy Miller lived in Paris for over 20 years before settling down in the South of France. After falling in love with a gorgeous 'Folie' in Béziers, she and her partner, Charles Teboul, gloriously brought it back to life. The doors of Maison Jullian opened in 2023 and it is now a culinary and cultural haven where fine dining and living are celebrated.

Introduction

Growing up in London, I always had a passion for France. Mainly because my parents shared their love for this country, and they took me to the South of France from an early age. So, it wasn't a big surprise that I went to Nice after finishing high school to work as a waitress for a couple of months, my first experience in the restaurant and hospitality industry. It was a great way to improve my French before starting a marketing degree at university. Then again, France lured me back to undertake a one-year work placement at a small marketing research company in Paris.

With my diploma in hand, I returned to Paris in 1995 to live and work. A few years later, I started a marketing job at Nestlé's water division. Although this was a rich experience, I knew corporate life wasn't for me as I wanted to do something more meaningful. It was my dream to start my own company, and after ten years of working for Nestlé, I opened Paperdolls in 2011. This unique concept store, presenting clothes, jewellery and other fashion accessories in a boutique apartment in Montmartre, brought together my creative eye with my marketing skills. It was great fun working exclusively with local fashion designers. Being a child at heart, this project allowed me to create and share my universe.

First Time Visiting the Region

My parents brought me to the Languedoc region back in the 80s, more specifically, the village of Montouliers in the Hérault department. This is where they bought an old barn. As an architect, my father transformed it into a beautiful holiday home, complete with a pool in the vineyards. Most of our holidays took place in this perfect paradise, where my passion for France is rooted. It created loads of happy memories that are etched in my mind forever.

Settling in Languedoc

After my parents divorced, my father came to live in the South of France, and I often visited him when I lived in Paris. It kept a special place in my heart. In the meantime, I met Charles, a Parisian chef, on Valentine's Day ten years ago in one of his restaurants. As I had a strong connection with Languedoc, I took Charles to Béziers for the first time on his birthday. We had an amazing time, staying at La Villa Guy (1) and having dinner at Le Chameau Ivre (2). Life in Paris continued though, although we started talking about doing a project together. It was clear that Paris had its constraints, fed by the terrorist attacks, the gilet jaune movement, and, of course, COVID.

Slowly, we began looking for a house in the Languedoc region for our future project, combining our skills. Strangely, Maison Jullian was one of the first houses that I saw advertised in 2019. At that time, we weren't yet ready to visit. In the summer of 2020, we went on a house-hunting trip. We visited about 15 houses, all located between Narbonne and Béziers. By March 2021, after several offers on two different houses that didn't end up going through, we still hadn't found a house, and I was starting to lose hope. I decided to take a look at Le Bon Coin, and to my surprise, Maison Jullian popped up again. Now, it was the right moment, and everything lined up. I sold my shop and apartment, and in September 2021, we moved to Béziers.

Maison Jullian

Charles' 30 years of experience as a gastronomic chef, and my career in marketing and communication and creator of a designer concept store, come together perfectly in Maison Jullian (3 & 4). At first, we focused on restoring and renovating the small 19th century castle we now owned, a so-called Folie. It took us seven months of hard work, including some surprises, and twenty different trades, from plumber to painter, to bring Maison Jullian back to life. In January 2023, our restaurant opened, followed by the addition of three rooms in the guest house in spring 2023.

The beautiful setting in our garden along the Canal du Midi is perfect for enjoying a wonderful meal prepared by Charles. He has an inventive style of cooking, using seasonal products, and always with a surprising twist. Lunch is served from Wednesdays to Saturdays, or you can join us for a Sunday brunch. Upon reservation, we offer breakfast or high tea as well. And we cater for special events, such as birthdays, weddings, or business gatherings. Maison Jullian also fosters culture and the arts. Throughout the year, we participate in several cultural events, like the photo festival 'Hors Cadre', the music festival 'Festival d'Automne', or the 'Journées du Patrimoine'.

During the high season, the garden provides a peaceful framework for outdoor eating. You can make a reservation for the swimming pool as a lunch guest, or book a workshop next year in the setting of our restored greenhouse. And on colder days, the dining room, with its magnificent, decorated dome, is an inviting place to enjoy. Maison Jullian still retains many of its original details, which we carefully preserved, particularly in the Moorish-style old billiards room, which has now become our restaurant. Colourful cement-tiled floors, stained glass windows, and ornamental features are combined with a light and pastel colour palette and a mix of modern and antique furniture and objects.

© Maison Jullian

Living in the South of France

My parents have passed on their passion for all things French, and from a young age, I have had an attachment to this part of France. I'm always surprised that this area is somewhat secret, considering it has everything. I love the typical scenery of roads lined with plane trees, and the Canal du Midi is a beautiful landmark. I have a special connection with the villages, as we used to go to all the 'fêtes de village' around here. As a teenager, it was great staying up late while enjoying good times with the family. I'm blessed that my parents showed me a different way of living, and I'm glad they chose Montouliers as a base for my love of France.

Best Languedoc Wine

I love visiting Terre des Dames (5), run by the Dutch owner Lidewij van Wilgen. She grows her fabulous wines on the same structure as 200 years ago without using pesticides or synthetic fertilisers. And she still works in an old-fashioned way, with a donkey and a pony, and harvests her grapes by hand. It is a fantastic place where you can enjoy tastings, but you can also stay the night or organise a private event. I particularly like La Dame Blanche, an organic white wine aged in terracotta amphoras. Made from the Grenache Blanc grape variety, it has a pure and mineral taste with a lot of freshness. You can also taste her delicious wines at Maison Jullian!

Favourite Restaurant

The Chameau Ivre by the Chef Yohann Roussiere and his team, follows a similar philosophy of food as Maison Jullian. We love going there to enjoy the beautifully presented aesthetic dishes, respecting sustainability and the origin of the ingredients. Of course combined with their beautiful natural wines.

Perfect Day

One of the things I love doing, which you can tell by looking at Maison Jullian's interior, is going to brocante markets. So, I would start my day by 'chiner' (strolling, treasure hunting) at the antiques market organised on the Allées Paul Riquet in Béziers every Tuesday and Saturday. Then, I would go for a walk at the Cimetière Vieux, the old cemetery. It is a beautiful, peaceful, and historic place, ideally dominating the town. The Tourist Information Office regularly organises amazing guided night tours featuring a singer, a musician, a poet and a guide. To finish my perfect day, I would stop at Les Ostals (6) in the centre of town. These two Hôtels Particuliers have been transformed into a wonderful cultural space, including a restaurant, and is now the perfect place to have a drink and listen to some music.

Good to Know

Maison Jullian

1 Chemin de Halage du Port Neuf

34500 Béziers

+33 (0)6 16 13 33 48

info@maisonjullian.com

website

instagram