The victim of a “setback” at the end of October, star chef David Gallienne, winner of Top chef 2020 and manager of Le Jardin des plumes and Oscar restaurants in Giverny, spent several days in hospital. A famous episode in which he received thousands of messages and despite himself became a spokesperson for the mental and physical health of restaurateurs and business leaders.
“What I really want is to provide support to our experts, institutions and unions so they can recognize the warning signals I am sending,” the chef said today. Life for me goes on.”
“For five years, I didn’t take any leave”
The man first wanted to make sure he was not “on the verge of death.” “A medical examination confirmed that I was feeling unwell,” he explained. Today everything is fine. I went back to the stove and found my team. I would even like to say that this short visit was good for me. I was able to take a forced break and be more aggressive. It must be said that for five years, I did not take any leave. We have a job, especially when we enter a code of excellence and with pressure from the guide, that requires us to give the best to the customer, whether in the kitchen or in the service. I always compare it to high level sports.”
The great chef says he is going through a “very complicated” time despite his fame. “I think about all my colleagues who do the same job as me and are isolated and have less media exposure than me,” he admits. Many do not thrive in a cultural environment as significant as the one I experienced at Giverny. When we see that, in the Puy de Dôme department alone, more than 200 restaurants close in one year, we understand the difficulty of this work.”
“I received thousands of messages”
Passionate and determined, the master is angry with his company’s situation. “How can we let our profession rot and do nothing? Because of the discomfort I was experiencing, I told myself that I had to speak out, because I received thousands of messages, one of which touched me deeply. A young woman brought me a testimony about her father who committed suicide a few weeks ago due to too much stress and financial difficulties. A terrible thing.”
And it is up to the great leader to support his opinion. “Some people refused to let me share their messages. It was really a taboo topic, like fear, because of ego and pride. Even among my fellow stars. I went to two 3-star companies during my recovery. They were happy for me to speak, but they didn’t want to do it. On the other hand, others didn’t find it. I heard that. It’s good for them if they don’t have that pressure.”
“We need to explain the pressure we are under”
But the former Top Chef winner remains optimistic. “The goal was to find a solution together. I started sports training again. I thought I didn’t have time and in the end, I became more efficient. I was tougher and stronger. We hide our faces by telling ourselves that we don’t have time.” And if he goes back to work, it means getting back on track in life. “I don’t want to be a spokesperson. Besides, this is my last intervention. But we have to explain the pressure we are under. For example? A banker called me to tell me that I was psychologically and physically fragile so he didn’t want to support me in a new project. Crazy!”.
It doesn’t matter, the chef he stars in admits that he has a mind full of ideas. Therefore, they intend to offer a new weekly lunch offer for 59 euros to adapt to the decline in purchasing power as well as offers dedicated to under 35s to educate tastes or even a -50% promo code for hotel stay and dinner. “We are also continuing the Normandy Tour starting December 17 with our Picorette food truck with an 18 euro Christmas menu as well as a special end of year celebration menu at our grocery store in Vernon,” he explained. “And, in 2026, we will open the Oscar restaurant in Marrakesh and host a lunchtime show with Celtic Legends in Val-de-la-Haye. »
To commemorate the centenary of Monet’s death, he will present a project to the Eureka attraction agency to present Dinner in the Sky: “Dinner on top of Monet’s garden with a 360 degree view of Giverny. The international artist Saype will be there. He will paint water lilies in the fields. We have to change ourselves. I know it will be more complicated for the middle class to come and dine with us. However, behind the crisis, there is always growth. You have to know how to get there. We have to move. We have no choice!”
