Alexandre Mazzia is one of the most original chefs in France, holder of three Michelin stars at his restaurant AM in Marseille. A former professional basketball player born in Congo, he built a genuinely singular cuisine – cross-cultural, seafood-driven and served in waves of small plates – that has been described as a kind of ‘gourmet anarchy’.
Rejecting the conventions of the three-star restaurant, Mazzia offers a personal, boundary-crossing experience full of unexpected flavours, spices and textures.
TL;DR
- French chef, born in 1976 in Pointe-Noire, Congo
- A former professional basketball player
- Three Michelin stars at AM in Marseille since 2021
- Opened AM in 2014; first star within six months
- Known for cross-cultural, seafood-driven small plates
Alexandre Mazzia key facts
| Born | 1976, Pointe-Noire, Congo |
| Nationality | French |
| Restaurant | AM par Alexandre Mazzia, Marseille (3 Michelin stars) |
| Third star | 2021 |
| Known for | Cross-cultural, seafood-forward cuisine |
From basketball to the kitchen
Alexandre Mazzia was born in 1976 in Pointe-Noire, Congo, to a family of French origin, and grew up between Africa and France. He first pursued a career as a professional basketball player, including for the French national team, before an injury ended his sporting career. He then trained as a chef and worked with leading names such as Pierre Herme, Alain Passard and Martin Berasategui.
AM in Marseille
In June 2014 Mazzia opened AM – a name that plays on his initials and the French word ame, meaning soul – in Marseille. Michelin awarded it a first star only six months later, a second in 2019 and a third in 2021, an extraordinarily rapid ascent that made his tiny restaurant one of the most sought-after tables in France.
Gourmet anarchy
AM deliberately breaks with the conventions of a three-star restaurant: rather than grand plated courses, Mazzia serves numerous small dishes in successive waves across the table. His cuisine is cross-cultural and seafood-forward, a kaleidoscope of flavours bringing together local produce and influences from around the world, often described as a form of ‘gourmet anarchy’.
Signature style
Mazzia’s style is unmistakable – personal, playful and full of surprise. He works with smoke, spice, seafood and unexpected pairings, building a meal from many small plates rather than a fixed sequence of courses. Shaped by his cross-cultural background, it is one of the most distinctive and boundary-pushing cuisines in France.
Alexandre Mazzia in context
Mazzia is one of France’s most original three-star chefs featured on Pickup Table 4, alongside fellow southern French chefs Glenn Viel and Christophe Bacquie.
Follow Alexandre Mazzia
AM par Alexandre Mazzia – official site
Alexandre Mazzia FAQ
Who is Alexandre Mazzia?
A French chef with three Michelin stars at AM in Marseille.
What did he do before cooking?
He was a professional basketball player.
How many Michelin stars does he have?
Three, since 2021.
What is his style?
Cross-cultural, seafood-driven cuisine served as small plates.
Where is his restaurant?
In Marseille, in the south of France.
