The opening of a new café in a village is an event. Its inauguration too. HAS Blacourt (Oise)a small village of 600 souls nestled in the Pays de Bray, the building which formerly housed the school and then the town hall has just been transformed into cafe/restaurant. If all goes well, it will be labeled Country bistro. All this is only conditional because the manager who was to take over the establishment finally withdrew. The town hall, owner of the walls, will audition new future managers on November 26. And hopes to open at the beginning of 2025.
In the meantime, we had to celebrate the end of the work started in February. It was done this Friday, November 15. The crowd was worthy of a trendy Parisian bar during happy hour (the time when beer is half price). A good part of the village was present. And with it its share of elected officials. It is clear that Jean-Pierre Fouquier, the mayor of Blacourt, knows how to bring people together. “There is almost the whole Republic this evening, only the deputy is missing (Philippe Ballard editor’s note),” joked Senator Paccaud.
From the municipality to the State, everyone was (almost) there
Indeed, almost all political strata of the country were present. Jean-Pierre Fouquier mayor of the village and its municipal council, Jean-Michel Duda president of the community of communes, Martine Borgoo and Pascal Verbeke departmental councilors, Chanez Herbanne regional councilor, Olivier Paccaud senator and Frédéric Bovet sub-prefect. It must be said that all these beautiful people (or almost) put their hands in their pockets for this project to see the light of day: €252,000 from the department, €150,000 from the region and €50,000 from the State . The rest was financed by the municipality itself, to the tune of €202,723. Total amount of the project: €654,723.
The host of elected officials were perhaps also there because the petits fours were good. Even if they couldn’t have guessed it before they arrived. Jean-Pierre Fouquier had to whisper in their ears that they would be prepared by the village bakers, installed in May 2023. At least, they were able to realize that in Blacourt, we know how to make food. Well.
Find a traditional bistro
This certainly did not escape the representative of the Bistrot de pays label present this evening. Because the goal is there: to obtain this label. The future café-restaurant in Blacourt, which does not yet have a brand, would be the eleventh in the department. Created in 1993 to support independent bistro owners, the label brings together bistros who commit to respecting a quality charter. “We want to reinvent the traditional bistro, with simplicity, authenticity, and a sense of welcomesays the mayor. The goal was to create a friendly, warm space to share a drink or a good meal with friends. Today, all that is missing is you to bring this place to life. We hope that you will feel at home here, with good food, good wine and good company..”
Each of the elected officials wanted to salute the dynamism of the village mayor. “Blacourt is very active in terms of aid to municipalities allocated by the departmentunderlines Pascal Verbeke. You have benefited from €530,000 since 2019. All of this comes together with projects being realized.» «Jean-Pierre and his council transformed the villagegreets Senator Paccaud. Activities are teeming. We come here to inaugurate, to celebrate too. There was still the blowgun championship!» «In France, 21,000 municipalities out of 35,000 no longer have businesses, which is why the State supports this type of project.», Specifies sub-prefect Frédéric Bovet. “If you have only one thing to do, it’s keep Jean-Pierreconcludes Chanez Herbanne. The mayors who fight for their municipality, we must keep them!»
See you in January to welcome the future manager of the Blacourt bistro. A first in thirty years for the village.
