Darroze named top female chef
Judge on M6's Top Chef is also believed to have inspired feisty female character in hit Disney animated film Ratatouille
A FRENCH chef has spoken of her “honour” at being named world’s best female chef 2015.
Hélène Darroze, a judge on French broadcaster M6’s reality culinary show Top Chef and who is also said to have inspired the tough-but-warm-hearted chef Colette in hit Disney animation Ratatouille, will collect her Veuve Clicquot-sponsored award, which celebrates female chefs only, at “The World's 50 Best Restaurants" awards ceremony in London in June.
She runs Restaurant Hélène Darroze, a one-star venue in Paris, and another in the Connaught hotel in London, which boasts two stars.
“I am honoured to win the award because there are talented female chefs all over the world and I imagine choosing only one is challenging. I think it is important to celebrate women and their achievements,” Ms Darroze said in a statement when the results were announced..
“My hope is that the recipients of this award inspire young women, including my daughters, to follow their passion and work hard to hone their skill regardless of profession. I greatly admire all of the previous winners of this prestigious award and I am thrilled to now be in their company.”
A fourth-generation chef and single mother, Darroze divides her time between her restaurants in London and Paris. She worked with Alain Ducasse in Monaco before returning home to run her family’s restaurant in the Landes. Four years later, she opened the restaurant that carries her name on the capital’s Left Bank.
She succeeds Brazilian-born Helena Rizzo of Mani restaurant in Sao Paulo.
The awards is voted for by by almost 1,000 restaurant industry experts and international gourmets who are members of the Diners’ Club World’s 50 Best Restaurants Academy. The Academy comprises 27 regions around the world, each of which has 36 members.
Photo: M6 / Top Chef
