In the heart of Montpellier, Stéphanie Augugliaro Introia transforms Dopamine into a restaurant

Dopamine's new terrace can accommodate seven people. Midi Libre

Previously limited to takeaway pastries, the premises have been expanded and transformed into a restaurant.

At 32, Stéphanie Augugliaro Introia embodies a culinary passion born from her Alsatian and Italian roots. A former dietician in Mauguio, she worked for five years before making a bold career change: following her passion for cooking and pastries.

Gourmet creations

After successfully passing a CAP cuisine and a CAP pâtisserie as an independent candidate while working as a dietician, Stéphanie opened Dopamine in November 2021. Her initial concept was takeaway sales, when the Covid crisis had just subsided.

But very quickly, her customers expressed a stronger desire: to be able to taste Stéphanie's gourmet creations on site. « Takeout limited options, so I expanded the restaurant to offer a true culinary experience to my customers, », she says.

All artisanal

While the transition from takeaway bakery to restaurant seemed natural for Stéphanie, it wasn't without its challenges. “I make everything by hand, from bread to jams, which requires rigorous organization.” To achieve this, she made the decision to close at the beginning of the week in order to cook for Dopamine and for local restaurateurs who order burger buns, hokkaido and other treats.

Among her specialties, pretzel bread, the star of her sandwich menu, and a brand new dish: spætzle, homemade Alsatian pasta served with a creamy ham or mushroom sauce. « It's my mom's favorite dish, and I like the idea of ​​passing on this family tradition. »

Plan to expand the business

Dopamine, which can accommodate nine people inside and seven outside, has found its audience. Stéphanie is now considering expanding her business. « I would like to hire, open more days a week and why not one day, have a larger establishment. » In the meantime, she continues to delight her customers with her homemade creations and her contagious smile.

Dopamine is open Thursdays, Fridays and Saturdays from 12 p.m. to 2:30 p.m., as well as Friday and Saturday evenings from 7 p.m. to 10:30 p.m., at 4 rue de la Fontaine in Montpellier.