On June 24, 2025, the Ephrem factory hosted an exceptional evening: ARDENT – Act I, a gourmet wood-fired dinner that set the senses, hearts and minds ablaze. More than a meal, this first edition ofARDENT was a celebration of tradition, taste, fire and sharing.
A first edition full of promise
To mark St. John’s Day and the 50th anniversary of our factory, we wanted to make a lasting impression with a unique event. At the heart of our workshops in Villeneuve in the Alpes de Haute Provence, our wood-fired ovens Les Flambeurs were the stage for a culinary ballet orchestrated by three passionate chefs: Emmanuel Perrodin , Julien Diaz and Manu Barthélémy .
The challenge? To create a five-course menu, 100% cooked in a wood-fired oven. A technical as well as an artistic feat, enhanced by local, seasonal ingredients and expertly controlled cooking.
Fire as a common thread
From breads and meats to vegetables and desserts, each dish paid tribute to the power and poetry of fire. The chefs made embers and flames dance to offer guests a unique sensory experience, blending woody smells, smoky textures and bold flavors.
To accompany this feast: a selection of lively, natural wines chosen by Laura Aillaud the Domaine des Bergeries de Haute-Provence . A perfect blend of terroir, authenticity and festive spirit.
An artistic and convivial immersion
The evening was punctuated by the spellbinding voices of the singers of Cor de la Plana, a former emblematic Occitan polyphony group, accompanied by Raphaël Imbert a renowned jazz saxophonist. Their powerful, vibrant vocals enveloped the space in an authentic, collective energy.
Around the long tables set up inside the factory, the 135 guests shared much more than a meal: a moment of communion, human warmth, and a celebration of fire in all it represents.
Shared success
This first Act of ARDENT would not have been possible without the involvement of our partners, volunteers, artists, chefs, winemakers and guests. Their presence and participation made this evening a collective success and a promise for the future.
Our warmest thanks go to our loyal partners who have supported us in this adventure: Blachère Illumination, Distilleries et Domaines de Provence, Fromagerie de Banon, La Maison de la Pistache, Substance/s, Terre d’Oc, Groupe Territoire de Provence.
See you in 2026 for Act II
ARDENT is just getting started. The dinner, conceived as an annual event, will return in 2026 with a new theme, new chefs and the same ambition: to celebrate wood-fired cooking, a traditional cuisine that attracts as much as it brings people together.
📸 To relive the evening in pictures :
See you soon for the continuation of this fiery adventure. 🔥
The Ephrem team
