Arnaud Donckele
Arnaud Donckele | |
|---|---|
| Born | March 29, 1977 Rouen, France |
| Occupation | Chef |
| Known for | Leading two Michelin three-starred restaurants: La Vague d'Or at Cheval Blanc St-Tropez and Plénitude at Cheval Blanc Paris |
Arnaud Donckele (born 29 March 1977) is a distinguished French chef renowned for leading two Michelin three-starred restaurants: La Vague d'Or located at Cheval Blanc St-Tropez and Plénitude at Cheval Blanc Paris. His Saint-Tropez venue was awarded its third Michelin star in 2013, followed by his Paris establishment achieving the same distinction in 2022.
Life and career
Originating from Rouen, Arnaud Donckele was raised in Mantes-la-Jolie by his parents, Philippe and Véronique Donckele, who were professional charcutiers-traiteurs. He also spent significant time on his grandparents' farm in Catenay, an experience that deeply shaped his culinary philosophy through early contact with agricultural producers. His father’s enthusiasm for gastronomy and hunting, combined with classic French culinary literature authored by chefs like Michel Guérard and Roger Vergé, sparked Donckele’s passion for fine dining at an early stage.
At the age of 16, despite initial parental reservations, he relocated to Paris to pursue a BEP diploma in culinary arts at the École Ferrandi. There, he trained under chef Georges Landriot at Goumard Prunier. In 1996, he undertook an internship at Michel Guérard’s three-Michelin-starred Les Prés d'Eugénie, where he chose to leave formal education to progress from cooking assistant to saucier by 21 years old. During this period, he met Marie, who would later become his wife.
In 1998, Donckele joined Alain Ducasse’s team as a third cooking assistant at the Restaurant Louis XV in Monaco. After fulfilling his military service within the kitchens of Hôtel Matignon, he worked at Ducasse’s Plaza Athénée in Paris before returning to Monaco. By 2001, Ducasse promoted him to sous-chef under Jean-Louis Nomicos at Lasserre in Paris. He married Marie and welcomed their first son, Maxence.
In 2004, following Olivier Brulard’s departure from the Michelin-starred La Vague d'Or at Résidence de la Pinède in Saint-Tropez, Donckele applied for the head chef role with Ducasse’s recommendation and assumed leadership of the kitchen at just 27 years old. During this period, his second son was born in Provence.
Prizes and titles
In 2008, Donckele received four toques from Gault et Millau in their France edition. By 2010, La Vague d'Or at Cheval Blanc St-Tropez had been awarded two stars by the Guide Michelin. The international food academy recognized him as "Jeune chef de l'avenir" in 2012. That same year, his restaurant obtained the official five-star classification. In 2013, Donckele secured a third Michelin star for his establishment and was named "Chef of the Year" by peers in a poll conducted by Le Chef Magazine.