“Cafe Society” Returns at Mona Athens

“Cafe Society” Returns With a one month plant-based culinary residency starting January 23, Thursday to Sunday, with French chef Justine Pruvot 

As part of House of Shila’s ongoing mission to foster collaborations, Cafe Society serves as a platform for creativity, reconnecting thoughtfully prepared food and its local community.

HOS invites you to rediscover vegetarian cooking, merging French flair and Mediterranean flavors, as Marseille-based chef Justine Pruvot takes over brunch at Mona’s downtown concept space in Psirri, Athens. 

Cafe Society is a pop-up social gathering led by invited guest chefs at Mona’s open plan Living Room, unveiling new gastronomic horizons, inspiration and creativity.

For a limited time only,  starting on 23rd January to 16th February 2025– Thursdays to Sundays – chef Justine Pruvot will prepare à la carte dishes merging Mediterranean and French cuisine.

Justine will craft a refined, plant-based menu that celebrates the finest Greek produce, emphasizing simplicity, nourishment, and a return to our roots. “My cooking is plant-based, poetic and colourful. I style my dishes like little paintings. Naturally, I follow the seasons, and this means constantly renewing my recipes.” 

Growing up in the French countryside, her dishes draw on her extensive culinary background, which includes stints at renowned establishments such as Le Mermoz (Paris), the Michelin-starred Elsa (Monaco), Le Chardon (Arles), and Mercato (Marseille), as well as fermentation techniques inspired by her travels across Asia.

In addition to her culinary expertise, Justine’s talents extend to handcrafted ceramics, tableware, and aprons under her own brand, Touillet. Items from the Touillet collection will be featured on the table during Lunch Sessions and available for guests to peruse and purchase.

Access to Cafe Society is open to HOS members, locals and hotel guests who can expect pop-up guest appearances over brunch on the weekends with live vinyl sets and artistic  showcases.

To complement the menu, Mona will offer a curated selection of natural wines from small producers across Greece.

Cafe Society is a creative addition to HOS’s initiatives bringing together exceptional chefs in a collaborative, multifaceted environment. “We believe in the new currency of nomadic cooking and are excited to offer a platform for rotating chefs to connect, create, and share their work with the people of Athens,” says the team behind HOS.

This new culinary offering in the city builds on Mona’s celebrated Supper Club Series, where acclaimed chefs from around the world are invited at Mona’s kitchen, to create intimate dining experiences in communion that celebrate food and creative expression.

About Justine Pruvot

Justine worked in the media industry for ten years before embarking on the world of food. She studied cooking at the Ferrandi school in Paris and honed her culinary skills alongside renowned chefs and establishments: Manon Fleury at Le Mermoz (Paris), the Michelin-starred Elsa (Monaco), Alexia Duchêne at Datcha (Paris) and Alcidia Vulbeau at Bonne Aventure (Saint-Ouen) as second-in-command. In 2021, Justine took up residency at Le Chardon in Arles and later headed up the cuisine at Mercato, expressing herself with simple vegetarian dishes and fine wines. She also runs her own tableware brand, Touillet, consisting of handmade, limited edition ceramics and art de la table items, based on collaborations. She is president of Bondir.e Cheffes Collective, a volunteer-run organisation that fights against sexist and physical violence in the catering industry.

About House of Shila

House of Shila (HOS) is a creative studio in the pursuit of aesthetic pleasures. HOS creates distinctively designed spaces, serving as laboratories of experiential storytelling. Dedicated to all things sensually beautiful, our work is multi-disciplinary spanning from boutique hotels (Mona and Shila), design, creative direction, curated pop-up events and publishing. HOS  runs an artist-in-residence programme and members club between its locations in Athens, New York and Skopelos Island. Collaborating with creatives from around the world, we are driven by a desire to showcase inspired work that unites a community of artists, designers, and entrepreneurs, while supporting talent at all stages.