A seduction operation in London, Cannes gives Rendez-Vous to the British
20/03/2024
Crush -
Gastronomy
David Palanque
A passionate man who blends excellence, creativity and joy in his cocktails!
It is with finesse and sobriety, and always with a smile, that David Palanque works behind his bar, and not the least, the famous Harry’s Bar in Cannes.
Highly acclaimed by the profession, he is no less concerned about the right balance and perfect proportioning of the ingredients that he mixes masterfully in his shaker. The magic works, delighting the taste buds of the lucky ones who come to enjoy the experience.
Harry’s Bar Cannes
On the Espace Large in Cannes’ Port Canto and its 150m² terrace, Harry’s Bar celebrates the South American cocktail tradition with a wide selection of Cuban recipes. There are also creations that pay tribute to the Côte d’Azur. David Palanque offers a menu featuring a selection of Daiquiris, Frozens, Juleps and iconic cocktails such as the Hemingway Special, the Cuba Libre and the Rosa Paloma.
David Palanque’s background:
Born in Strasbourg into a family originally from the Languedoc region, he studied hotel management at the Paris School of Catering and obtained a diploma from a bar school in London. He forged his experience and his passion for the world of bars and cocktails in the great Parisian hotels of the Place de l’Opéra, then at the American bar of the Closerie des Lilas before continuing his career in the palaces of the Côte d’Azur and finally becoming manager of Harry’s bar in Cannes.
After winning numerous cocktail awards, including two French champion titles, and taking part in two world championships in 2010 in Singapore and 2014 in Cape Town, representing France at the International Bartender Association (IBA), in 2019 he was awarded the title of Best Bartender Worker in France, a distinction currently held by only 7 bar professionals!
“This title means a lot to me. It rewards both my commitment and all those who have supported me.
David Palanque says he wants to “give himself a little time to think” before using this title “wisely, above all to advance the profession”.
His values:
A hello, a smile and a modicum of elegance – the best cocktail will have no flavour without these three ingredients!
For David Palanque, welcome and service are at the heart of the experience. Drawing on his expertise in palaces and 5-star hotels, he never wavers from the rule.
The transmission:
David Palanque is keen to pass on these values to the younger generation who work alongside him. He is also a member of competition juries, notably at the Cannes hotel school, where he specialises in ‘bar’.
Excellence, creativity, joy: these are the ingredients that David likes to mix and pass on with enthusiasm, to the delight of future generations.
