Jean-François Piège
Jean-François Piège | |
|---|---|
| Born | September 25, 1970 Valence, Drôme, France |
| Occupation | Chef |
| Known for | Two Michelin stars, head chef of Les Ambassadeurs, founder of Thoumieux complex, judge on Top Chef (France) |
Jean-François Piège (born 25 September 1970) is a distinguished French chef recognized with two Michelin stars.
Training and career
Piège started his culinary journey in 1991 as an assistant chef at the Palais de l'Élysée during his military service, collaborating closely with sous-chef Bernard Vaussion. He honed his skills under the guidance of celebrated chefs including Bruno Cirino, Yves Camdeborde, Christian Constant, and Alain Ducasse. Eventually, he took on the role of head chef at Les Ambassadeurs located in the Hôtel de Crillon in Paris, where he skillfully merged the heritage of palace cuisine with more accessible culinary styles.
In 2009, together with Thierry Costes, Piège established the Thoumieux complex in Paris, comprising Brasserie Thoumieux (2009), the Jean-François Piège restaurant (2010), and Hôtel Thoumieux (2011). His restaurant was awarded two Michelin stars in February 2011, and that same year he was honored as chef of the year by his peers through a poll conducted by Le Chef magazine.
Seeking complete autonomy in 2014, Piège opened Clover alongside his wife Élodie in Saint-Germain-des-Prés, providing an intimate venue for spontaneous culinary creations. The following year, they inaugurated the Grand Restaurant, a fine dining establishment near Paris’s Golden Triangle focused on inventive haute cuisine, which earned two Michelin stars in 2016.
At the same time, Piège launched Clover Grill, dedicated to dishes prepared over charcoal grills, and took ownership of Poule au Pot, revitalizing classic French bourgeois fare. In early 2018, Clover transformed into Clover Green, spotlighting vegetable-centric menus that underscore Piège’s dedication to culinary innovation and sharing gastronomic pleasure.
Television
Piège extends his culinary knowledge through published works and television appearances, including shows like Un dîner presque parfait (the French adaptation of Come Dine with Me) and 100% Mag on M6. From 2010 until 2019, he was a judge on the French edition of Top Chef, also broadcast on M6.
Honours
- 2001: Awarded 3 Michelin stars for the restaurant at Plaza Athénée
- 2005: Received 2 Michelin stars and named Chef of the Year by Pudlo and Champérard guides for his work at Les Ambassadeurs
- 2007: Honored as Chef of the Year by Gault et Millau for Les Ambassadeurs
- 2008: Appointed Chevalier (Knight) of the National Order of Merit
- 2010: Earned "Lillet / Lebey de l'Innovation" award for Brasserie Thoumieux
- 2011: Secured "Omnivore Maison" prize for Hôtel Thoumieux; Pudlo recognized Jean-François Piège as Event of the Year; attained two Michelin stars for his eponymous restaurant; voted Chef of the Year by revue Le Chef
- 2014: Designated "Creator of the Year" at OMNIVORE festival; appointed Vice-President of "Grandes Tables du Monde"
- 2016: Awarded two Michelin stars for Le Grand Restaurant in Paris; received Lebey Prize for Best Meat dish; again named "Chef of the Year" by Pudlo and Champérard guides
- 2017: Clover Grill honored with "Coup de Cœur" from Guide Lebey Paris/London and featured on Condé Nast Traveller’s Hot List
- 2018: Recognized as best restaurant by World Luxury Restaurant Awards for Le Grand Restaurant; rated 19/20 with five hats by Gault & Millau
- 2019: Granted one Michelin star for La Poule au Pot in Paris
Books
- 2007 - Côté Crillon, côté maison (Flammarion)
- 2008 - Jean-François Piège dans votre cuisine (Flammarion)
- 2011 - Le Petit Dictionnaire d’Alexandre Dumas et des recettes de Jean-François Piège (J’ai Lu); Best Of Jean-François Piège (Alain Ducasse)
- 2013 - Manifeste L’art de manger (Autrement); Jean-François Piège (Flammarion)
- 2014 - English edition of Jean-François Piège (Flammarion); Jean-François Piège, le poisson à sa façon (Kéribus)
- 2016 - Jean-François Piège pour tous (Hachette)
- 2017 - Les desserts de Jean-François Piège pour tous (Hachette)
- 2018 - Zéro gras (Hachette)
- 2019 - Les Tartes de Jean-François Piège pour tous (Hachette)
Television programs
- 2008–2011 - Served as head judge for seasons 2 through 4 of Un dîner Presque parfait on M6
- 2010–2019 - Lead judge for all ten seasons of Top Chef broadcast on M6