Tony Esnault
Tony Esnault | |
|---|---|
| Born | Saumur, France |
| Occupation(s) | Chef, restaurateur |
| Known for | Leading Michelin-starred Knife Pleat; executive chef roles at Patina, Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, Adour |
| Notable work | Knife Pleat, Patina, Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, Adour, Spring |
Tony Esnault is a French culinary expert and restaurateur currently leading the kitchen at Knife Pleat, a distinguished French dining venue in Costa Mesa, California recognized with a Michelin star.
Early years
Hailing from Saumur, France, Esnault's enthusiasm for gastronomy was sparked by his grandmother. He pursued formal training at the François Rabelais culinary institute in Lyon before gaining experience at Carré des Feuillants and the one-Michelin-starred Montparnasse 25 in Paris. His journey continued at L’Auberge de l’Île located in Alsace. In 1996, he became part of the team at Louis XV in Monte Carlo, working under renowned chef Alain Ducasse.
Esnault transitioned to San Francisco as a sous chef for the Ritz Carlton, a role he held until 2002. By 2004, he had advanced to executive chef at the Ritz Carlton in Boston, where he was honored as “Best Hotel Chef of America” by Food & Wine Magazine.
In 2005, Esnault moved to New York City to reunite with Ducasse, assuming the executive chef position at Alain Ducasse at the Essex House, a restaurant boasting three Michelin stars. He subsequently launched Adour at the St. Regis in 2007. Under his direction, these establishments collectively earned five Michelin stars and three stars from The New York Times. Additionally, Esnault received StarChef’s “Rising Star” accolade.
Patina
Esnault took on the executive chef role at Patina within the Walt Disney Concert Hall in Los Angeles in 2009. During his leadership, Patina secured a Michelin star and was awarded a four-star review by the Los Angeles Times in 2010.
Church & State
In 2012, Esnault became part of Church & State, a French bistro originally established by Yassmin Sarmadi in 2008.
Spring
Together with his wife Yassmin Sarmadi, Esnault opened Spring, a French dining establishment located in Downtown Los Angeles, in February 2016.
Knife Pleat
In 2019, Esnault and Sarmadi inaugurated Knife Pleat at South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa, California. The restaurant achieved its first Michelin star in 2021, solidifying its status within the upscale culinary scene.