Jean-Michel Lorain
Jean-Michel Lorain | |
|---|---|
| Born | January 7, 1959 near Joigny, Yonne, Bourgogne, France |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
| Known for | Owner of La Côte Saint Jacques; youngest chef to earn three Michelin stars at age 27 |
| Notable work | La Cuisine une passion de père en fils (1987), Desserts en fête (1995), Cuisine émotion (2000), Les Collections Lorain : Légumes (2006), Herbes, salades, et fleurs (2007) |
Jean-Michel Lorain (born 7 January 1959) is a distinguished French chef who owns the establishment La Côte Saint Jacques located in Joigny, Yonne, Bourgogne. Together with his father, Michel Lorain, he achieved a remarkable 19.5/20 score from Gault et Millau and was awarded three Michelin stars from 1986 until 2001, and then again between 2004 and 2015. Since 2015, the restaurant has consistently held two Michelin stars.
Michel Lorain
Born in 1934, Michel Lorain is the son of Marie Lorain, the founder of La Côte Saint Jacques in Joigny in 1945. Initially trained as a pastry chef, Michel took over the restaurant in 1958 alongside his wife Jacqueline, who worked as a wine steward.
Michel obtained his first Michelin star in 1971 and secured a second star in 1976. The following year, in 1977, La Côte Saint Jacques became part of the prestigious Relais & Châteaux association.
Biography
Jean-Michel Lorain entered the world in 1959 near Joigny to parents Jacqueline and Michel Lorain. After earning a scientific Baccalauréat, he pursued culinary training under Pierre and Jean Troisgros in Roanne (1977) and later at Taillevent in Paris with Claude Deligne (1979).
Following his military service, Jean-Michel briefly collaborated with his father before gaining experience with chef Frédy Girardet in Crissier, Switzerland (1982–1983). He then returned to Joigny to join forces with his father and married Brigitte; together they have two daughters.
In 1986, Michel and Jean-Michel were awarded a Gault et Millau rating of 19.5/20 as well as their third Michelin star, making Jean-Michel the youngest chef at age 27 to earn three stars. In 1993, Christian Millau honored him as "Chef of the Year" with an outstanding 19.5/20 rating; that same year Michel retired.
After undergoing renovations which caused the loss of its third star in 2001, La Côte Saint Jacques regained this distinction in 2004 and maintained it until 2015.
Honours
- Chevalier of the Legion of Honour
Bibliography
- 1987: La Cuisine une passion de père en fils by Michel and Jean-Michel Lorain, Éditions Robert Laffont
- 1995: Desserts en fête by Jean-Michel Lorain, Éditions Nathan (children's book)
- 2000: Cuisine émotion by Jean-Michel Lorain, Éditions Minerva
- 2006: Les Collections Lorain : Légumes by Jean-Michel Lorain, Éditions Glénat
- 2007: Herbes, salades, et fleurs by Jean-Michel Lorain, Éditions Hachette