Just around the corner from the popular foodie square of Place des Corps Saints in Avignon, Vivotto is a ‘fast-food’ restaurant with a healthy, sophisticated twist.
The story of Vivotto is a personal one to Michelin-star trained chef, Charles, who grew up in the city of Avignon. He was inspired to open the café after experiencing the wonderful food of Piedmont, Italy, on his travels. Hoping to show gratitude to his beloved risotto, Charles experimented in the kitchen for 6 months before perfecting his recipes which he then went on to serve in his first venture, Risotto and Co., Avignon, in 2012.
Following the success of his first café, Charles expanded his vision and transformed his brand into Vivotto as we know it today - the Italian-Provencal fusion restaurant which sells handmade products from gluten-free pastas to artisanal cakes and much more.
Vivotto is different to other cafés thanks to its ecologically-minded set up: the customer chooses from a selection of glass pots stored in a huge fridge (containing anything from lasagne, to risotto, to chocolate mousse), takes their choice to the counter, and their food is heated up for them to enjoy mere moments later. The idea of serving food in glass jars is to reduce waste from plastic packaging, and this forward-thinking ethos is evident in the ingredients used in the food here.
In-keeping with the Franco-Italian theme, many of the ingredients in the recipes at Vivotto are from Italy and France - even from Piedmont and Provence themselves, and the café specialises in using gluten-free, fresh ingredients without artificial preservatives.
The trendy, minimalistic interior is a relaxing setting for lunch or an evening meal alike, and the general atmosphere is welcoming and inclusive. You can choose to combine the selection of salads, soups, pastas, risottos, desserts, fresh juices and wines in either two or three-course set menus, or of course to simply select whatever takes your fancy from the fridge.
With so much variety to choose from, and so much thought going into the dining experience, there is sure to be something at Vivotto to impress you. And it just might be the first guilt-free ‘fast food’ experience you’ve had!