Hanna Kaminska and Frédéric Fabre opened the Kon7ept Fauve store in Mende, a delicatessen

Frédéric Fabre et Hanna Kaminska dans leur magasin. DR

The couple also offers ceramics. DR

The shop offers a multitude of quality food products and ceramics. 

A new store, Kon7ept Fauve, has opened on rue d’Angiran. This delicatessen offers to bring everything needed to serve condiments around the table and make it something beautiful and good. Hanna Kaminska and Frédéric Fabre set up shop last June. Frédéric Fabre is originally from Lozère, his mother is from Saint-Étienne-du-Valdonnez. “As a cook, I was a chef and I worked alongside great chefs as part of my job.”

Two life paths

This Provençal went to work in the Pyrénées-Orientales. That's where he met Hanna Kaminska. She is of Polish origin. “I am a polyglot, I speak four languages: English, Ukrainian, Russian and French. I am originally from Warsaw. At the age of 19, I went to work in catering to improve my Slavic language. Then, I came to Paris for a sabbatical year and to learn another language. I was offered a position in the Alps as a receptionist. I was charmed by the culture and the work of the mountain people who welcomed me warmly. I went to see a friend in the Eastern Pyrenees, in Prades and I fell under the charm and the variety of cultures. “I learned to garden there,” she recalls.

“I had a serious accident at work. While I was recovering, I started coming to drink my coffee in the restaurant where Hanna Kaminska worked. We started talking about wild picking, nettle soup, different wild species. It was something that drew us to each other. She seduced me with her smile.”

Quality products

She went to work in Argelès, for an association of producers in the town. She sold their products directly, without intermediaries. "I wanted to come to Lozère, to start a new life and Hanna followed me. Indeed, thanks to the collaboration and the links created with the producers, it allowed us to plan ahead and work on a move to Lozère. We suggested to these producers that they set up a delicatessen to sell their products. We know the origin and history of each of these products." There you will find wine from small producers, some of which won gold medals at the Paris wine fair, extra virgin olive oils, including a gold medal in Athens, vinegar, various condiments, lemons preserved in olive oil, olive jam, ceramics for decorating the table and many other little treasures. They will offer linen table linen.

The couple is inexhaustible on the origins of their products, the flavors and smells. “You have to know what grows on this Roussillon soil, why vines grow on this crumbly granite, a world in grains of sand. Abundant sunshine in a somewhat arid landscape that requires a lot of effort." The couple emphasizes that most of the products have a story, which they talk about with passion. Little by little, Lozère products are finding their place on the shelves, like Gévaudan biscuits or Chastel-Nouvel honey. "We are proud to offer original and noble products."

Kon7ept Fauve 11 rue d’Angiran is open 7 days a week, from Tuesday to Saturday, from 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and from 3:30 p.m. to 8:00 p.m. and present on the Saturday market. I subscribe to read more