Laurent Petit
Laurent Petit | |
|---|---|
| Born | June 22, 1963 Bussières-lès-Belmont, Haute-Marne, France |
| Occupation | Chef |
| Known for | Holding three Michelin stars; owner of Le Clos des Sens in Annecy |
Laurent Petit (born 22 June 1963) is a distinguished French chef holding three Michelin stars, currently operating in Annecy.
Biography
Laurent Petit was born in Bussières-lès-Belmont, Haute-Marne, and his early culinary inspiration came from his father, who was a butcher and charcutier. He completed his culinary education at École Hôtelière Saint-Exupéry in Saint-Dizier, obtaining a CAP diploma in cooking in 1981. Following his military service, Petit began his professional journey in Paris at Pied de Cochon, collaborating with sommelier Philippe Faure-Brac under the guidance of Nicolas de Rabaudy. His gastronomic style was further refined through apprenticeships with renowned Michelin-starred chefs such as Michel Guérard, Gérard Boyer, Charles Barrier, Jean-Pierre Billoux, and Roger Vergé.
At the age of 24, in 1987, he launched his inaugural restaurant, Le Péché Gourmand, located in Briançon. After meeting Martine Coin, the couple moved to Annecy in 1992 to open Le Clos des Sens. The establishment received its first Michelin star in 2000. In 2005, Petit introduced ContreSens, a modern brasserie situated near Annecy's train station; by 2007, Le Clos des Sens had earned two Michelin stars, while ContreSens was awarded a Bib Gourmand.
The growth of Le Clos des Sens continued with the acquisition of the historic Café Brunet in 2009 and further expansion in 2012 through the purchase of a former local school building, tripling its size. The venue was upgraded to a five-star hotel in 2015 and became part of the Relais & Châteaux network in 2016.
In 2011, alongside Alain Ducasse and Joël Robuchon, Petit co-established the Collège Culinaire de France to support and promote French culinary heritage. By 2015, he had revised his culinary approach to emphasize local produce and plant-based ingredients while minimizing meat usage.
Laurent Petit was widely expected to be awarded a third Michelin star in 2018 and officially received this distinction on 21 January 2019.
Bibliography
- Images cuisinées des grands lacs de Savoie, AutreVue (2007)
- Le Clos des Sens, Éditions Glénat (2012)
- Café Brunet cuisine canaille, Éditions Inverse
- Best Of Laurent Petit, Ducasse Édition (2018)