Kalank, a sunny Mediterranean restaurant and delicatessen on the Nation side of Paris

Winter has set in, and so has the gloom that goes with it. To keep the mood in check, there's nothing like putting some sunshine on your plate, and that's exactly what the Mediterranean restaurant Kalank, which opened a couple of years ago a stone's throw from the Place de la Nation, offers.

Originally from Marseille, but a Parisian by adoption for over 25 years, Patrick Sacchetti imagined Kalank as a real little Provencal cabanon, similar to the one in which he would spend his vacations as a child with his grandparents.

With its straw hanging baskets, rattan chairs and bouquets of dried flowers, Kalank is an invitation to travel and relax in the South of France. And don't forget the 12-seat terrace, which can be unpacked once the sunny weather arrives, to fill up on vitamin D.

Before you sit down to eat, take a moment to discover Patrick Sacchetti's little delicatessen corner, well-stocked with culinary souvenirs picked up here and there as he criss-crossed the roads of the South of France, meeting producers, farmers and winegrowers from Provence, Languedoc and Corsica.

Gourmands and gourmets alike can discover little-known products not found elsewhere in the capital: Marseille honey, rillettes de rougets, vintage sardines, Brin de Mimosa 100% Rolle white wine, Menton lemon jam, not to mention pastis de dégustation. The crème de la crème of Provence.

The same care is taken in the sourcing of the fresh, seasonal produce used in the kitchen, all sourced from local producers, from Rungis to local grocery stores. To imagine the recipes and lead the way behind the stove, the owner has placed young chef Bastien Veziat in the kitchen, originally from Brittany but accustomed to the South of France where he cut his teeth.

From his stints at 110 Taillevent, Drouant, L'Aube and Guy Savoy at La Monnaie de Paris, the chef has retained a real attention to detail in the preparation of his dishes, which are nonetheless rooted in traditional and popular cuisine: comforting vichyssoise topped with leek root chips and a light olive oil cream; bistronomic fennel and octopus salad; powerful fish soup with potato dumplings; sweet potato tian lacquered with olive oil; or a particularly sapid quince crumble.

The fine Provencal cuisine is perfectly represented and executed here, lunch and dinner. At lunchtime, prices are as gentle as the sun's first rays on your skin: €22 for a starter/main course or main course/dessert, €25 for a starter/main course/dessert, to choose from the weekly-changing menu.

For dinner, expect to pay €41 for a starter/main course/dessert menu (panisses, of course, but also duck hearts in parsley sauce, Provencal pot-au-feu and iced nougat), and €51 for a 4-course tasting menu, where you can let yourself be guided by the chef's choices and desires.

In the glasses too, Provence reveals its finest assets, with craft beers and local wine (including an incredible immersed wine from Domaine La Courtade, matured on the island of Porquerolles, 30 meters under the sea!), vintage pastis, and quite a few non-alcoholic options, ideal for dry january, including mocktails that aren't too sweet!

This test was conducted as part of a professional invitation. If your experience differs from ours, please let us know.