Alexis Gauthier facts for kids
| Born | 24 June 1973 Avignon, Provence, France |
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| Cooking style | French cuisine |
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Alexis Pascal Gauthier (born June 24, 1973) is a famous French chef. He owns and runs the Gauthier Soho restaurant in London. In 2011, his restaurant earned a special award called a Michelin star. Before that, he also had a Michelin star at another restaurant called Roussillon. Alexis Gauthier learned to cook from a very famous chef, Alain Ducasse, in Monaco. You might have seen him as a judge on the TV show MasterChef. In 2016, he decided to become a vegan, meaning he only eats plant-based foods. By 2021, he changed Gauthier Soho to offer only vegan meals. He also opened a vegan cafeteria called 123 Vegan.
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Becoming a Famous Chef
Early Training and First Restaurant
Alexis Gauthier started his cooking journey in 1991. His first job was at the Hotel Negresco in Nice, France. From 1993 to 1996, he worked with the legendary chef Alain Ducasse. This was at Ducasse's amazing restaurant, Le Louis XV, in Monaco.
After this important training, Gauthier moved to London. He became the head chef at Roussillon in 1998. This restaurant quickly became popular. In 2000, it received a Michelin star, a very high honor in the cooking world. Roussillon also won other awards. It earned three AA Rosettes and was named "Best Vegetarian Award" by Time Out in 2000 and 2001.
Around 2005, there was a concern about bird flu. Chef Gauthier decided to remove chicken and other poultry from his menu. He noticed that fewer people were ordering these dishes.
Opening Gauthier Soho
In 2010, Alexis Gauthier decided to open his own new restaurant. He wanted to create a place that was entirely his. He left Roussillon to start Gauthier Soho. Even though he left, he still owned a part of Roussillon. Because he left, Roussillon lost its Michelin star. The restaurant later closed in 2012.
Gauthier Soho opened in a building that used to be another restaurant. Alexis Gauthier completely updated the space. He even turned the ground floor into a wine shop. This new restaurant was a team effort with a wine expert named Roberto della Pietra. Just one year after opening, Gauthier Soho also earned a Michelin star.
In 2011, something funny happened while Gauthier was eating out. He was at a restaurant called DuckSoup. He noticed two famous food critics sitting nearby. One critic had given Gauthier Soho a good review. The other had given it a critical review. Gauthier shared some lighthearted observations about them on social media. He later said it was "nothing personal." The critics also took it well.
A Chef's Unique Style
Chef Gauthier has a special way of cooking. He doesn't use timers or scales to measure cooking times. Instead, he uses his touch to know if food is ready. He has even shown this skill on TV.
He also loves to highlight vegetables in his dishes. He believes vegetables can be as exciting as meat or fish. He says, "if they have the right texture you can play with vegetables like meat or fish."
From Meat to Vegan Dishes
In 2015, Gauthier made a big change. He made his vegetable menu at Gauthier Soho completely vegan. This means no animal products at all. This special menu, called 'Les Plantes', won an award in 2016. It was named 'Best Vegan Menu' at the PETA Food Awards.
Alexis Gauthier himself became a vegan in 2016. He is now very passionate about plant-based food. He is working to make all his restaurants fully plant-based. He is excited about a "vegan future" for his cooking.
On Television
Alexis Gauthier has appeared on popular cooking shows. In October 2009, he was a judge on BBC One's MasterChef: The Professionals. He judged alongside Gregg Wallace and Michel Roux Jr.. He also appeared on the regular MasterChef series. He was on the show in March 2011 and March 2019. There, he worked with Gregg Wallace and John Torode.
Personal Health Journey
In October 2010, Alexis Gauthier learned he needed to make some health changes. This led him to reduce his calorie intake. He also started listing calorie counts on his menu at Gauthier Soho. This helped his customers make informed choices.
