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 The Family |
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 Richard Coutanceau
At the tender age of 14, although he was supposed to study accounting, Richard Coutanceau gave everything up in order to become an apprentice cook at the Port of La Rochelle. After training at ‘Troigros Restaurant’ in Roanne, Michel Guérard’s Hotel & Restaurant in Eugénie Les Bains, and at the Lenôtre School in Paris, he was ready, together with his wife wife Maryse, to fulfil his dream; to own his own restaurant, and to create pleasure to pass on to his customers and join the group "Relais & Châteaux".
This all became reality: the first star came in 1980, the La Rochelle Beach Restaurant opened in 1984, the second star came in 1986, he entered the "Relais & Châteaux" group in 1987 and since that day, Richard Coutanceau has sailed brilliantly alone on the crest of the region’s best cooking.
All this would not have possible without the abundant energy and enthusiasm that Maryse Coutanceau’s shares as she gently manages the stage, the way boss’s wives often do so well.
With such an upbringing, while hiding under their parent’s skirts, what other outcome was possible for their children? None, they too caught the cooking virus, or more likely the cooking passion.
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Restaurants
Three restaurants
For a business or romantic meal, discover.. "Les Flots"
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Grégory Coutanceau
Grégory, the family's eldest child, is today aged 33 and like his father, he started off in the wrong direction. After studying sciences and two years at medical school, he dumped it all to follow in his father’s footsteps. He got his training from Ducasse in Paris and Monaco, Darroze, Para, Anton, and Lenôtre, and then, at the age of 22, he beagan another adventure by buying "Les Flôts", La Rochelle’s favourite restaurant and incidentally, his father’s dream restaurant. Then 2 years later he acquired Richard’s bistro and renamed it « Le Comptoir des Voyages », a journey to faraway places at the foot of La Rochelle’s towers. In 2004, ‘Grégory Coutanceau Cooking’ saw the light of day. This innovative idea has a 200m² kitchen for organizing outdoor functions like wedding feasts, official receptions, christening lunches, meals with friends, or onboard meals for private jets leaving from La Rochelle airport. Finally in 2006, "L’Entracte" opened its doors welcoming customers into a warm and cozy place with its open, central kitchen where guests can watch the cooks at work and choose from a menu of their childhood favourites and their grandmother’s best deserts.
This wonderful adventure has only been possible through team work, without which nothing would have been as good. Our team is composed of men and women who are fascinated by their daily work and their profession. "People sometimes criticise me for repeating myself too often, but I’ve noticed that such a fine team is not that common. Therefore I thank you all for helping beat such a fine track together, however be warned, it’s only the beginning".
Jennyfer is the youngest child of the family. She too is about to take part in the joys of the catering profession, once she finishes her present studies at the La Rochelle Hotel School. She too shares Grégory’s dream of one day opening another "Relais & Châteaux" restaurant in La Rochelle. |
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Restaurants Gregory Coutanceau
Vieux Port 17000 La Rochelle Tél. 05 46 41 32 51 Fax. 05 46 41 90 80 |
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