LE FIGARO. – Why did you leave France?
We wanted to make a difference in our respective professional lives, Fabrice in e-authority and I in marketing within the LVMH group. We took two months off to do everything we dreamed of. a trip through the Basque country that focused on gastronomy, a trip through Norway between Oslo and Tromsø in total isolation and a holiday in Bali. When we were in Indonesia, friends told us about Sumba. A very isolated island, wild but accessible no matter what. The seed was planted. Six months later, we got plane tickets. After arrival we were hit by storm, heavy rains, disaster. However, we both thought our lives would be amazing if this place was a part of it. And so we started working on this hotel project.
What attracts you to Sumba?
Sumba is anti-Maldives. Historically, it is one of Indonesia’s poorest islands because it is geographically landlocked and a supplier of slaves. You can compare what Bali was like fifty years ago. It is twice as large in area, but receives only 25,000 tourists a year. At our resort you can cycle for an hour without meeting anyone. Anthropologists have been very interested in Sumba because traditional cultures are still alive there, be it music, dance or buffalo sacrifices. Ancestral craftsmanship was lost with the banning of the Marapu religion under the Soeharto regime. At Cap Karoso, we plan to welcome artists to revive this legacy.
What is Cap Karoso’s French touch?
The artistic spirit is at the heart of the hotel, both in the rooms and in the common areas. For the French, art, craft, culture and luxury naturally go together. It is not like that everywhere. We are committed to excellence in service rituals. Choosing the right ceramic for our plates, the right glass for each drink… In the kitchen, we don’t start with recipes, but with ingredients. We work on the menu according to available products, season, common sense. We designed our farm with a farmer from Menton who will supply our restaurants with eggs, fruit and vegetables. Cap Karoso is all these at the same time: gastronomy, wild spirit and community atmosphere. In short, quiet luxury.
Cape Caroso. From €230 per night for a double room and from €500 for a 2-bedroom villa, including breakfast.
Source: Le Figaro
