Sometimes we try to run away from our destiny, consciously or unconsciously, but life has a curious way of guiding us exactly to where we should be. Hélene Darroze is an example of this. Born in Mont de Marsan (Les Landes) in southwest France, she belongs to the fourth generation of a family of chefs. After growing up with a strong connection to and a deep respect for her own culture and regional ingredients, she ended up absorbing the values of good gastronomy. Nevertheless, it was the operational side of the restaurant industry that first attracted the young woman, leading to her graduating in administration at L’Ecole Supérieure de Commerce, in Bordeaux. Upon completion, she moved to Monaco to work behind the scenes with Alain Ducasse at his three Michelin-starred Le Louis XV at the famous Hôtel de Paris. However, it wasn’t long before chef Ducasse noticed her natural potential and convinced her – initially part-time – to work in the kitchen.
But in 1995, she returned to her native region, when her father gave her the keys to his Relais & Châteaux-affiliated restaurant in Villeneuve-de-Marsan. It was this moment that allowed Hélène to refine her culinary style with the support of her family, remaining there for four years. At 32, however, the desire to build her own career and break with family tradition was already simmering within her. She opened her own restaurant, Hélène Darroze, in Paris, in the heart of Saint-Germain des Prés. International acclaim was almost instantaneous, and in 2001 she is awarded her first Michelin star (the second landed last year).
The Connaught has been awarded the top three stars in the Michelin Guide 2021
Building on the success in Paris, she opened a restaurant outside France in 2010 in a historic hotel, The Connaught, in London’s prestigious Mayfair. Within six months it was awarded a Michelin star, with the second coming in 2011. The space, which has undergone a complete refurbishment and modernisation, reopened in September 2019. And has already been awarded the top three stars in the Michelin Guide 2021.
The initial inspiration of using the finest seasonal ingredients remains one of the main secrets of its fabled cuisine. The innate talent results in dishes and menus full of instinct and emotion, but always faithful and sensitive to the absolute quality of their main ingredients. In addition to Michelin recognition, she was awarded the Veuve Clicquot Award for Best Female Chef 2015, from the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Dividing her time between Paris and London, Hélène manages her teams and menus on both sides of the English Channel. For her, gastronomy remains the most important opportunity to offer the best in hospitality: «Cooking is living and living is cooking,» the chef assures us.
As a mother of two girls, Hélène co-created the «La Bonne Etoile» association, which helps disadvantaged children, and since 2015 she has been a jury member on the French television series Top Chef.
Hélène was the inspiration for the character Colette in the film Ratatouille
In September 2018, she opened a new venture entitled Jòia par Hélène Darroze, in Le Sentier (2nd Arrondissement) in Paris. Seven months later, and after a renovation, of almost a year, she relaunched her flagship restaurant on Rue D’Assas in the 6th Arrondissement. Named after the capital city in her home region of Les Landes, Marsan par Hélène Darroze herealded a return to Hélène's roots with an exciting new menu and an incredibly redesigned interior.
Hélène Darroze’s life and career is never short of curiosity and delicious details. For example: did you know that she was the inspiration for the character Colette in Pixar Animation Studios’ 2007 film Ratatouille? And that American toymaker Mattel used her as the inspiration for the chef doll in a new concept of 14 different female models in the Barbie range?
But in 1995, she returned to her native region, when her father gave her the keys to his Relais & Châteaux-affiliated restaurant in Villeneuve-de-Marsan. It was this moment that allowed Hélène to refine her culinary style with the support of her family, remaining there for four years. At 32, however, the desire to build her own career and break with family tradition was already simmering within her. She opened her own restaurant, Hélène Darroze, in Paris, in the heart of Saint-Germain des Prés. International acclaim was almost instantaneous, and in 2001 she is awarded her first Michelin star (the second landed last year).
The Connaught has been awarded the top three stars in the Michelin Guide 2021
Building on the success in Paris, she opened a restaurant outside France in 2010 in a historic hotel, The Connaught, in London’s prestigious Mayfair. Within six months it was awarded a Michelin star, with the second coming in 2011. The space, which has undergone a complete refurbishment and modernisation, reopened in September 2019. And has already been awarded the top three stars in the Michelin Guide 2021.
The initial inspiration of using the finest seasonal ingredients remains one of the main secrets of its fabled cuisine. The innate talent results in dishes and menus full of instinct and emotion, but always faithful and sensitive to the absolute quality of their main ingredients. In addition to Michelin recognition, she was awarded the Veuve Clicquot Award for Best Female Chef 2015, from the World’s 50 Best Restaurants.
Dividing her time between Paris and London, Hélène manages her teams and menus on both sides of the English Channel. For her, gastronomy remains the most important opportunity to offer the best in hospitality: «Cooking is living and living is cooking,» the chef assures us.
As a mother of two girls, Hélène co-created the «La Bonne Etoile» association, which helps disadvantaged children, and since 2015 she has been a jury member on the French television series Top Chef.
Hélène was the inspiration for the character Colette in the film Ratatouille
In September 2018, she opened a new venture entitled Jòia par Hélène Darroze, in Le Sentier (2nd Arrondissement) in Paris. Seven months later, and after a renovation, of almost a year, she relaunched her flagship restaurant on Rue D’Assas in the 6th Arrondissement. Named after the capital city in her home region of Les Landes, Marsan par Hélène Darroze herealded a return to Hélène's roots with an exciting new menu and an incredibly redesigned interior.
Hélène Darroze’s life and career is never short of curiosity and delicious details. For example: did you know that she was the inspiration for the character Colette in Pixar Animation Studios’ 2007 film Ratatouille? And that American toymaker Mattel used her as the inspiration for the chef doll in a new concept of 14 different female models in the Barbie range?
