Alexis Gauthier
Alexis Pascal Gauthier | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 24, 1973 |
| Nationality | French |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
| Known for | Proprietor of Gauthier Soho, Michelin-starred chef, judge on BBC's MasterChef |
Alexis Pascal Gauthier (born 24 June 1973) is a renowned French chef and the proprietor of Gauthier Soho in London, which received a Michelin star in 2011. Prior to this, he managed the Michelin-starred establishment Roussillon in Pimlico until 2010. Gauthier honed his skills under the guidance of Alain Ducasse at Le Louis XV in Monaco and has served as a judge on BBC's MasterChef. After adopting a vegan lifestyle in 2016, he transformed Gauthier Soho into a fully vegan restaurant by 2021 and launched 123 Vegan, a plant-based cafeteria.
Career
Gauthier commenced his culinary journey in 1991 at Hotel Negresco in Nice before joining Alain Ducasse’s team at Le Louis XV from 1993 to 1996. He later assumed the role of head chef at Roussillon in Pimlico, London, overseeing its relaunch in 1998. Under his leadership, the restaurant secured a Michelin star in 2000, achieved three AA Rosette awards, and earned Time Out's "Best Vegetarian Award" consecutively in 2000 and 2001.
Amid the Bird Flu outbreak in 2005, Gauthier removed poultry dishes such as chicken, pigeon, and foie gras from Roussillon’s offerings due to diminished customer interest. He departed from Roussillon in 2010 to establish Gauthier Soho, aiming for complete ownership after separating from previous business partners while maintaining partial ownership of Roussillon. Following his exit, Roussillon lost its Michelin star and ultimately closed in June 2012; Gauthier expressed intentions to repurchase the location.
Gauthier Soho is situated in the former Lindsay House restaurant premises (once operated by Richard Corrigan) and underwent significant refurbishment to incorporate a wine shop on the ground floor. This enterprise is a collaboration between Gauthier and sommelier Roberto della Pietra. Within one year of opening, the restaurant was awarded a Michelin star.
In 2011, Gauthier engaged in a public exchange on Twitter criticizing food critics Matthew Norman and Tracey MacLeod during a dining experience; the interaction was later received with humor by all parties involved.
Gauthier is recognized for his preference for sensory cooking techniques rather than relying on timers or pre-measured cooking durations. His culinary philosophy highlights vegetables as central components, treating them with equal importance as meat or fish. Although vegetarian menus are available upon request, his traditional vegetable tasting menu at Gauthier Soho previously included meat-based ingredients.
By 2015, he had transitioned his vegetable menu to be entirely vegan, earning the 'Best Vegan Menu' accolade at the PETA Food Awards in 2016. Since adopting veganism himself in 2016, Gauthier has been an advocate against meat consumption and is dedicated to converting all his dining establishments to fully plant-based menus.
Television work
Gauthier appeared alongside Gregg Wallace and Michel Roux Jr. as a judge on BBC One's MasterChef: The Professionals in October 2009. He also featured on the standard MasterChef program with Wallace and John Torode in March 2011 and again in March 2019.
Personal life
In October 2010, Gauthier received a diagnosis of fatty liver, which led him to reduce calorie consumption and implement calorie information on the menu at Gauthier Soho.