Pierre Augé, ring a bell? A Top Chef 2010 finalist, he went on to win Top Chef 2014 and two Choc des Champions. Big news! Our little chocolate squares now come with the coffee at his lovely restaurant La Maison de Petit Pierre in Béziers.
Just like our artist friends, Pierre Augé played along with our quick-fire round and multiple-choice quiz! Careful, hot stuff coming through. 🥵
THE PORTRAIT
Where did your urge to become a chef come from?
From my father, a caterer, butcher and pastry chef, and my grandfather, a charcutier and butcher.
Your culinary training?
A CAP vocational diploma in cooking at the lycée in Saint-Chély-d'Apcher.
Not too hard becoming a celebrity?
I'm not famous! I'm a business owner, a head chef and a dad!
At La Maison de Petit Pierre, what's your cooking style?
Bistronomy
What's the vibe like in the kitchen at La Maison de Petit Pierre? (Seriously, no grumps?)
I grumble all the time because I'm very demanding of myself and others, and the days are too short!
Outside the restaurant, any other projects on the go?
No other projects. My restaurant takes up a huge amount of energy and time. You always have to try to do better, to improve, to be more creative, inventive, innovative, to question yourself. Nothing is ever a given, that's my motto! You have to be rigorous, serious and honest!
Is made in France important to you?
I love made in France. I grow it, I cook it, I pass it on! We have such a beautiful country, with riches and treasures we use every day in my kitchen. I'm lucky to live in a region with a rich heritage and talented producers; I work mainly with market gardeners, fishermen and farmers from my region!
PIERRE'S QUICK-FIRE ROUND
FOOD CATEGORY:
The recipe or creation you're proudest of?
The scallop carpaccio from my Top Chef 2014 final.
Inventing new recipes or reworking traditional ones?
Inventing
Should you prick merguez sausages before cooking?
Yes!
Pasta carbonara, with or without cream?
With lots of cream
Chocolatine or pain au chocolat?
Chocolatine
Ketchup or mayo?
Mayo
How do you like your eggs?
Soft-boiled, fried, medium-boiled, surprise… I love eggs
An underrated food?
Offal
Your last meal on earth?
My grandmother's stuffed tomatoes
Your favourite chocolate recipe?
Le Supplice, my father's signature cake.
The food that will NEVER, in your lifetime, be on the restaurant menu?
Industrial ketchup
If you hadn't been a chef, your dream job would be?
Airline pilot 🙂
The best restaurant after yours?
Le Bristol
The best advice you've ever been given?
Never give up, keep at it and give it everything, with heart and sincerity.
The (oh so simple) recipe you'll just never remember?
The measurements for pastry
The city where you eat best?
Paris
Today's dessert is… ?
Almond-dragée mousse, cocoa, sesame crumble and blood orange sorbet.
NO-CATEGORY CATEGORY
Which question would you rather not answer?
Anything to do with money, I hate talking about money!
The best moment of the day?
When I kiss my kids, and then being in my kitchen
A one-on-one evening with Donald Trump, what do you do?
I tell him he's crazy!
What do you say when you stub your toe?
Putain!
The first thing you do when you get up?
Have a wash
The first word that pops into your head?
My head is a pressure cooker, too much going on in there!
2.0 CATEGORY
The last link you sent to all your friends?
A photo of me clowning around
The most absurd thing you've ever typed into Google?
"How to unblock a sink". I'm hopeless at DIY!
Your latest Instagram photo?
A parsnip and a porcini
Your favourite photo on your Instagram account?
The boomerangs of my son in the kitchen with me
Hashtag or no hashtag?
Lots of hashtags
If hashtag, the # you use most?
#lamaisondepetitpierre
PIERRE AUGÉ'S MULTIPLE-CHOICE QUIZ
The funniest Top Chef judge?
☒ Ghislaine Arabian
☐ Christian Constant
☐ Thierry Marx
On the plane, you tell the flight attendant…?
☒ The salted peanuts, please
☐ The little sweet biscuits, please
☐ The bottle of rosé, please
The best TV show?
☐ Questions pour un champion
☒ Le Choc des champions
☐ The Champions League
Pierre Augé is the biggest… ?
☒ party animal
☐ loudmouth
☐ late riser
Pizza… ?
☐ With pineapple
☐ Without pineapple
☒ With my sweetheart
To kick off the evening right?
☐ Pasta with pesto
☐ Pastis nice and early
☒ Despacitooooo ♫
