The daughter, granddaughter and great-granddaughter of chefs, Hélène Darroze was naturally destined to become a cook.
Beginning her culinary career at Sup de Co Bordeaux, Helen joined the team of Alain Ducasse at the Louis XV in Monaco, where she worked in the service side Administrative prestigious restaurant. Chef Alain Ducasse quickly identified her immense talent and encouraged young Darroze to cross to the other side of the kitchen.
For four years chef Hélène Darroze remained working with Alain Ducasse before returning to her native Landes region to take up a post at Relais & Château’s Villeneuve-de-Marsan in 1995.
Four years later, chef Hélène Darroze opened her own restaurant, Restaurant Hélène Darroze, in 1999 at 4 rue d’Assas in Paris and had her first taste of accolade success almost immediately. She received her first Michelin star in 2000, her second star in 2003, and was awarded Chef of the Year by Pudlo in 2001.
In 2008 chef Hélène Darroze took charge of the restoration of the prestigious Connaught in London where she received yet another Michelin star.
In February 2010, Helen was made a Knight of the National Order of Merit by the President of the Republic who recognizes her as the best representative of French gastronomy. In January 2011 she also became the first two-star Michelin chef in the UK for her restaurant – Hélène Darroze at the Connaught.
Describe your culinary philosophy in 5 words…
Emotion, Instinct, Generosity, (quality of the) product and (respect of the) season
How did you feel when you were awarded your first Michelin star?
It was a great achievement, I was proud and happy for my team. Gastronomy is for me an opportunity to give others a unique experience and pleasure by creating dishes that are important for me and I hope will be important to my guests.
What is your greatest inspiration?
My heritage, my education, my travels all around the world, my encounters and the products of course.
What three things would you take to a desert island?
“In search of lost time” by Marcel Proust, the gold cross that my grandmother gave me, The Bach’s cello suite by Yo Yo Ma.
- World’s Best Female Chef, 2015 |Veuve Clicquot
- 2 Michelin Stars
- Chef of the Year,2001 |Pudlo
Hélène Darroze
4 Rue d’Assas
75006 Paris
France
+33 1 42 22 00 11
The Connaught
Carlos Place
Mayfair
London
W1K 2AL
UK
+44 (0) 20 7499 7070
Pictures © M Bruno