Creating a little part of the French Riviera for their restaurant was easy for Michel and Muriel Loubiere. This is where their roots are. Choosing Aptos for their restaurant was also easy; it feels like a part of Provence to both of them.

The real challenge will be to transmit Muriel’s love of cooking to their clientele. “Au Midi” does not try to be just a French restaurant. We strive to be a good, friendly and neighborly place where one can enjoy local produce prepared with uncompromising technique and then served in sophisticated surroundings

From her youth, on the French Riviera, Tahiti and St. Bartelemy, Muriel has always worked in a restaurant. After a successful stint in New York and Connecticut where one of the restaurants for which she created the menu, was rated “Excellent” by the New York Times, Muriel and Michel decided to leave the cold of the North East and move to the warmth of Santa Cruz County.

For Muriel, cooking is more than a career; it is an ever-growing passion. Starting with a deep appreciation for the raw product and with unflinching attention to every detail, everything is done to create and present deceptively simple dishes. Open to every flavor, curious about new ideas, Muriel is constantly trying to refine her art. It is done with passion, deep knowledge and a humble attitude.

Of course the flavors of Provence are often present in the dishes she prepares, but it is no surprise that many of these are also found in our area. Olive oil, garlic and artichoke, plus much of the produce are grown on this lovely Central coast. Muriel’s other tempting culinary creations are simply the result of her affinity for good food, no matter whence comes!

With the husband greeting the customers and the wife feeding them, “Au Midi” is definitely a family restaurant. It is also a cosmopolitan place with a warm ambiance and a sunny soul!