Created by Tristan Cano and Benoît Le Guein in 2014, OCNI is the result of an alliance between culinary design and food innovation. 
TWO PROFILES, ONE MEETING Tristan Cano is from Alès and dreams of becoming a chef. He studied at the Lycée Jean-Drouant of the École Hôtelière de Paris.During his BTS in Hospitality and Catering, he specialized in marketing.A discipline that allows him to combine the world of gastronomy with his commercial appetites. 
Born between Amiens and Beauvais.Benoît Le Guein turned very early to the world of cooking.He obtained his BEP at the hotel school of Le Touquet.Then, he returned to Amiens to pass his literary baccalaureate, with a specialization in visual arts.He continued with an art preparation in Beauvais, before joining the Fine Arts in Quimper.Once he graduated, he continued his singular career with a stage in Paris the time to obtain a CAP in pastry.While working for various catering providers.Then, he joined the École Nationale Supérieure d'Arts de Paris-Cergy, where the man who nicknamed himself the "Savant Food" began research between art and cuisine.This work will continue in 2012 at ESAD in Reims, where he trained in culinary design alongside Marc Brétillot. Their paths finally crossed in 2013 in Paris.Tristan Cano landed an internship in Purgatory while Benoît Le Guein was recruited to create the culinary creations of the events organized in Purgatory.It is then the beginning of a common work that is out of the ordinary.
AN INNOVATIVE BRAND
Very quickly, the duo realizes its compatibility of mood, humor, knowledge and know-how.It was during their collaboration with the caterer Saveurs d'étoiles that they came up with the idea of setting up a joint project. They then make every effort to give life to their ambitions.The duo has the idea and the desire to create a common entity. A kind of laboratory to try, test, experiment, search, find, invent, think outside the box… The primary mission was to design unique culinary services for the events sector. At the beginning of the 2010s, Tristan Cano and Benoît Le Guein imagined and experimented with their first Unidentified Edible Objects.Benoît Le Guein multiplies the tests and experiments with agar-agar. A special sign of this red algae: once reduced to powder, it gels the preparation into which it is integrated.Add to that his experience during his course with grate gummy bread.And we get the prototypes of pencils to cut to season. First OCNI product marketed: a natural and vegetable seasoning in the shape of a pencil to be cut. In September 2021, a new OCNI was born: a condiment presented in the form of a grating bottle. 
OCNI PRODUCTS!
A few chips are enough to raise a plate.It is a playful gesture at the table that not only brings a decorative touch to the plate, but also brings an explosive flavor to the palate.The seasoning pencil is used more on the table than during the preparation of a dish, recommends the "Savant Food". He speaks of an "extra gesture", once the meal is served: enough to arouse the curiosity of the guests, surprise some, amuse others.Because the duo Cano-Le Guein likes to decline its creations in recreation.As for the perfect pairings, the possibilities of creations are numerous from the different flavors developed, salty as sweet. We were of course intrigued by the OCNI brand and we wanted to give you our feelings!It is therefore with great kindness that the brand sent us some boxes (3) of seasoning pencils: Smoked black garlic, Candied lemon and finally cep.
OUR OCNI PRODUCT TEST!
We find in all seasoning boxes: an organic seasoning pencil, its pencil sharpener and a recipe.Its different organic vegetable pencils will bring a touch of originality to your dishes.We notice the shape of the pencil, the smell of the different ingredients, the taste of apple cider vinegar and the salty taste. Black garlic is smoked with oak wood, for more intense flavors.It is a must in Japanese cuisine, revisited with white garlic from the Drôme.The smoked black garlic pencil is seasoned with apple cider vinegar, apple juice, salt… 
The porcini seasoning pencil has it all.A natural aroma of cep, salt, associated with apple cider vinegar, soy sauce … 
The candied lemon pencil is our favorite.It is a seasoning of the future.With a baked smell, you'd feel like you're eating a lemon cookie. The pencil is flavored with apple cider vinegar, lemon puree … 
Just cut a few chips on a dish, to give it a good tangy taste.Perfect flavors to associate with pickled vegetables, alternatives to fish, oriental cuisine… An entire pencil contains up to 120 chips.
Conclusion:
As you can see, OCNI seasoning pencils passed the test with excellent results!They gave us even more the desire to discover the other products of the brand.As for the production, everything is done in Alès, according to an artisanal recipe "100% natural and vegetable".From "made in France" to recyclable packaging, printed in Millau. Today, carving pencils are available in more than 500 points of sale in France (at Nature & Découvertes, delicatessens, concept stores, food shops, etc.).They are also sold online on the OCNI e-shop.Exports are provided to Belgium, Luxembourg, the Netherlands and Japan. Here is a short video presentation of the brand: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qKyAWQ6APvY
