Jean Sulpice facts for kids
Jean Sulpice
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| Born | 27 July 1978 Aix-les-Bains, France |
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| Cooking style | Seasonal Food |
| Spouse | Magali Sulpice |
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Jean Sulpice (born 27 July 1978) is a famous French chef from Aix-les-Bains. He is known for being the youngest French chef to earn a Michelin Star. He was only 26 years old at the time! His first restaurant was in Val Thorens, a ski resort in the French Alps.
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About Jean Sulpice
Jean Sulpice was born on 27 July 1978 in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, France. He grew up in a family of restaurant owners. This is where his love for cooking began at a very young age.
When he was 16, Jean started learning to cook professionally. He trained with famous French chefs Jean and Pierre Marin. In 1998, Jean Sulpice worked with another well-known chef, Marc Veyrat. He kept learning and worked in other top restaurants across France, including in Paris.
In 2002, Jean and his wife Magali opened their own restaurant in Val Thorens. This restaurant was very high up, at 2,300 meters (about 7,500 feet) above sea level. It was first called The Oxalys, but later changed its name to "Restaurant de Jean Sulpice" in 2014.
Jean Sulpice earned his first Michelin star when he was 26. He got his second star at age 31. This made him the youngest French chef to receive two Michelin stars. His restaurant became the highest-starred restaurant in Europe! In 2016, Jean Sulpice sold his Val Thorens restaurant. He then took over a famous old inn called Auberge du Père Bise in Talloires, near Lake Annecy.
Jean Sulpice's Restaurants
Jean Sulpice's first restaurant opened in 2002 in Val Thorens. This area is part of the 3 Valleys ski area, which has some of the highest ski resorts in Europe. The restaurant was named after a mountain plant called oxalis. These flowers grow in the mountains of Val Thorens and inspired Jean Sulpice's cooking.
Opening a fine dining restaurant in a ski resort was a big challenge. Tourists in Val Thorens usually expected to eat traditional mountain foods like fondue. But Jean Sulpice's restaurant became the highest fine dining restaurant in the world. In 2014, the restaurant had 25 employees. Menus ranged from €74 to €226.
Jean Sulpice's Cooking Style
Jean Sulpice is known for using local and seasonal ingredients. His cooking is inspired by the traditions of the Savoie region and his own life experiences. He creates new dishes by trying different cooking methods. He experiments with raw ingredients at different temperatures to find new textures, flavors, and looks.
Cooking at 2,300 meters high is tricky because of the altitude. Jean Sulpice had to change many of his cooking methods to make sure his dishes turned out perfectly.
Special Projects
Besides being a famous chef, Jean Sulpice is involved in other projects. His restaurant closes for certain seasons. This gives him time to participate in other events. For example, he cooks for the day-nursery in Val Thorens. He wants to teach children about good quality food. Jean Sulpice also hosts "open kitchen" events in the summer. He shares his cooking knowledge with others.
In 2014, Jean Sulpice took part in the Épicure Culinary Festival in Zürich. He also joined a cooking workshop organized by Uncle Ben's (rice). Parents and children cooked together to promote family cooking. He also supported the Ben's Beginners program, which teaches young children about cooking.
Awards and Recognition
Jean Sulpice is the youngest French chef to receive two Michelin stars. He earned his first star at age 26 and his second at 31. He is now working towards getting his third Michelin Star.
He has also been awarded four Gault-Millau chef hats. In 2018, the Gault et Millau Guide named Jean Sulpice "Cook of the Year."
TV Appearances
Jean Sulpice has appeared on several television shows.
Guest Chef Appearances
- On 25 February 2012, he was on "Planète gourmande," a France 3 TV show. He showed how to make his famous "Beaufort foam, herbs and mountain flowers, beetroot coulis." He also made "duck with spiced carrots."
- On 26 September 2013, Jean Sulpice was on "24 minutes chrono." This episode was about the Savoy region. He prepared dishes like "Ceps eggs" and "Trout pastilla."
- On 1 November 2013, he hosted and judged an episode of MasterChef France. He welcomed eight contestants to his restaurant. They had to work in teams to recreate two of his famous recipes. These included the Beaufort foam dish and a dish with Grenoble walnuts, féra fillet, quail eggs, and cucumber jelly. Jean Sulpice helped the judges decide which team did the best.
- On 6 December 2013, he hosted "Masterchef Se Met à Table." He shared his daily routines. For example, he walks 45 minutes to get cheese from a local producer for his recipes. He talked about his restaurant and working with his wife, Magali. He also explained how his passion for cooking came from his father.
Panel Member
Jean Sulpice was also a judge on "Un dîner presque parfait : le combat des régions." This was a cooking TV show on M6. He was the judge for the South of France region.
In 2010, he helped judge different cooking challenges. These included enhancing carrots and cooking octopus. The chefs also had to create their own dishes. The final round took place in unique locations, like a train and a high basket.
Family Life
Jean Sulpice is married to Magali Sulpice. Magali is also the sommelier (wine expert) at Restaurant Jean Sulpice. They have two young children who live in Val Thorens.
