About me
Laure Gasquet, 35
Experience, fieldwork, ideas and the drive to shake things up.
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Growing up in the trade
The daughter of restaurant and shop owners, I literally grew up in restaurant dining rooms and behind a counter.
My parents ran several seasonal businesses, between Serre-Chevalier, Lacanau and Le Lavandou, and I followed them from season to season. That also meant regularly changing school, region, surroundings and pace of life.
So from a very young age, I learned to adapt, to observe and to find my place quickly, while being immersed in the daily life of a business: the services, the customers, the unexpected, the long days, but also the passion, the know-how and the energy it takes to keep a place alive.
This way of life, as personal as it was professional, shaped a large part of how I see things today.
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Studies · Aix-en-Provence
I was never very academic, so I chose a work-study programme to learn differently, as close to the field as possible. A hospitality course that brought me into contact with passionate, inspiring people, who passed on much more than a trade… and who almost managed the feat of making me like school!
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Le Lavandou · Saint-Tropez · Le Rayol · Serre-Chevalier
Then came the rhythm of the seasons: summers in Le Lavandou, Saint-Tropez and Le Rayol, and winters in Serre-Chevalier.
Those years let me discover venues, teams and very different clienteles, each time with new rhythms, new standards and new ways of working.
I learned to adapt fast, to observe, to understand what customers expect and to find my place in very varied worlds. Hands-on experiences that fed my sense of service, my high standards and my ability to adapt to every project.
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Marseille
My path then led me to Marseille, where I worked in very different worlds: iconic spots like Toinou (new tab) and the little institutions of Le Panier, all the way to fine dining at Passedat (new tab).
Events also played a big part in my career. In particular, I worked alongside chef Emmanuel Perrodin (new tab), in unusual venues but also at more prestigious events, such as celebrity weddings.
Very different experiences that taught me to adapt quickly, understand the codes of a place and meet very varied levels of expectation.
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Indonesia · Asia · Europe
I’ve travelled a lot, especially in Indonesia, which I crossed with a backpack from Java to Flores, with a long stop in Bali.
I also discovered a good part of Asia: Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Thailand twice. Trips full of encounters and cultural discoveries.
In Europe, I’ve wandered quite a bit, especially in Italy and Spain, with two favourites: Rome and Barcelona. Then I discovered Portugal, and Lisbon in particular, where I felt like putting down roots.
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Lisbon · Cabane
I created Cabane, my vegetarian restaurant in Lisbon, which I ran for six years. I was lucky enough to share this wonderful adventure with my mother, who supported me throughout the project.
One of Cabane’s driving forces was working with local produce and offering a different kind of cooking: vegetarian, vegan, with daily dishes inspired by macrobiotics, as well as sugar-free and gluten-free pastries.
A real challenge for someone who came from traditional restaurants! I had to learn, test, step out of my habits and discover a completely different way of cooking.
Opening a restaurant in another country, without yet speaking the language and in a city where competition is fierce, was already quite a challenge.
That’s where communication became essential.
I learned on the ground, first out of necessity, then for pleasure: creating an identity, producing content, building a community and above all turning that visibility into customers.
Little by little, Cabane made its mark in Lisbon, with features in local and international guides and magazines, as well as several TV appearances, especially on vegetarianism and female entrepreneurship in Portugal.
Events also took on an important place, between the events held at the restaurant and collaborations outside.
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Serre-Chevalier · La Maison
Back in Serre-Chevalier, I took over the family restaurant. It felt only natural to rename it “La Maison” and start again with a completely different concept.
I completely rethought the place, from the identity to the decor, including the positioning, the communication and the customer experience. I came up with a simple, effective concept, with a short menu that was quick to prepare and stood out.
A real fresh start, which was very well received in the valley and quickly became a great success.
An adventure as exciting as it was demanding, far from restful, but from which I came out stronger, more experienced and with a much fuller view of running a business.
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Saint-Tropez
After La Maison, I wanted to rediscover hospitality from another angle and reconnect with my beginnings in events.
So I assisted Jaimi (new tab), a private chef, with his services in villas in Saint-Tropez, taking charge of all the front-of-house service.
A different way of working, where every day is different and where you constantly have to adapt, anticipate and react quickly. An experience that allowed me to broaden my view of the profession even further and gain new skills.
All these experiences taught me what it really means to run a business: having a vision, making choices, managing teams, customers, the unexpected and the lack of time.
Above all, they taught me that a good idea is not enough.
You have to know how to bring it to life, organise it, structure it, make it evolve and surround yourself well.
This journey is what made me want to create Daily Boost
This journey is what made me want to create Daily Boost: to step off the usual restaurant path and put my hands-on experience, my creativity and my vision of retail at the service of other professionals.
Today, I support shop owners and entrepreneurs from very different worlds. My goal: to make their lives easier, give them perspective and support them with their image, their organisation, their choices and their growth. To put my experience at their service, save them time and help them move forward with peace of mind.