Oxana Crétu's Inima Restaurant: Where Moldovan Heart Meets Bordeaux Flavor

Posted by Rowena Dumlao Rowena Dumlao - Giardina 2/20/2025

Oxana Crétu's Inima Restaurant: Where Moldovan Heart Meets Bordeaux Flavor

In the vibrant city of Bordeaux, where fine wine and rich history converge, Inima delivers a dining experience bursting with creativity and heart. Tucked just off rue du Palais Gallien, this intimate spot radiates warmth and charm. The name Inima, meaning "with all my heart" in Moldovan, perfectly reflects Chef Oxana Crétu's culinary philosophy. Here, diners embark on a flavorful journey, with dishes that tell stories inspired by Oxana's heritage, passion, and innovative vision.

My visit to Inima for the tasting menu with wine pairing was nothing short of extraordinary. On a regular weeknight, the place buzzed with energy, fully booked and alive with conversation. The atmosphere strikes the perfect balance between casual elegance and cozy sophistication, simple yet refined, where every detail feels intentional without being overdone. The space invites you to sit back, relax, and savor an unforgettable evening. With each course, Inima strikes a flawless chord between sophistication and comfort, making it clear why this restaurant has swiftly earned its place among Bordeaux's must-visit destinations.

Oxana Crétu: The Journey from Moldova to Bordeaux

Oxana Crétu’s journey to Bordeaux’s dining scene is as rich and vibrant as her cuisine. Born in Cahul, southern Moldova, she grew up surrounded by nature and flavors, with parents who worked as oenologists traveling the Russian Empire. Her childhood, spent among the forests with her grandfather, a forest ranger, instilled in her a respect for the land and a love for wholesome, seasonal ingredients. Traditional Moldovan dishes like zeama, a tangy soup, remain a source of inspiration in her cooking today.

Oxana Crétu (photo taken from Inima website)

In 2009, Oxana arrived in Bordeaux as an au pair. The transition wasn’t easy, but her determination prevailed. Bordeaux soon became home, and it was here that she uncovered her passion for cooking. Oxana experimented with various creative fields, including design, but soon realized that the kitchen was where she truly belonged. Cooking became her lifeline, a space where creativity, precision, and passion came together. Her self-taught culinary skills, honed through hands-on experience, led her to open Cromagnon in 2017.

Yet, Oxana craved a deeper connection between her cuisine and her story. In 2024, she transformed Cromagnon into Inima, a restaurant that reflects her soul. Her dishes blend the elegance of French gastronomy with bold Moldovan flavors, all while prioritizing local, seasonal ingredients. She collaborates with professional foragers, embracing sustainable cooking practices that respect both tradition and innovation.

Oxana’s culinary excellence gained national recognition when she represented France’s new generation of chefs at the Paris Olympic Games, showcasing local cuisine at the Eiffel Tower. For her, cooking is about creating moments of joy and lightness. Proudly embracing her identity as a female chef in a male-dominated industry, she proves that with determination and heart, anything is possible.

The Menu: A Journey of Flavors

Inima offers an accessible yet refined dining experience with menus that highlight seasonal ingredients and bold flavors. The lunch menu, available Monday to Friday, features two- and three-course options priced between €36 and €45, with wine pairings starting at €25. For dinner, Inima presents three tasting menus: the Angélique Menu (€59) with five courses, the Lily-Rose Menu (€79) featuring seven courses, and the Elyn Menu (€119) offering nine courses. Wine pairings range from €40 to €72, depending on the menu and number of glasses selected. An optional cheese selection from "Madame Fromage" is available for €15.

With thoughtfully crafted menus and expertly curated wine pairings, Inima invites both locals and visitors to savor a taste of Bordeaux infused with Moldovan soul, an unforgettable dining experience where every dish resonates with flavor and heart.