This Monday, October 28, the famous guide presented distinctions to several Alsatian gastronomy professionals.
Alsatian gastronomy takes center stage. The famous Gault&Millau guide presented awards this Monday, October 28 to nine Alsatian gastronomy professionals for their excellence in several categories for the Grand Est as part of the Gault&Millau Tour.
The Gault & Millau d’Or for Pascal Bastian
Main distinction, the “Gault & Millau d’Or” trophy was awarded to Pascal Bastianchef at the helm of the gourmet restaurant Le Cheval Blanc Lembach (Bas-Rhin) for more than 15 years. He himself worked in starred kitchens for renowned chefs, such as Gérard Boyer, Philippe Etchebest and Jean-Georges Klein. He is also part of, among others, the Étoiles d’Alsace and the Culinary College of France.
Paul Iacono was awarded the “Young Talent” trophy. After working in several large houses and having worked for more than ten years in Alsace, he is today the head of Violon d’Ingres, located in the 7th arrondissement of Paris.
Jean-Paul Ackerchef of the restaurant of the five-star hotel La Chenaudière, located in Colroy-la-Roche (Bas-Rhin), received the “Great of Tomorrow” trophy. He notably learned his skills under the expertise of Frédéric Kempf, Haut-Rhin chef of the Clarines d’Argent.
Tradition and exceptional terroir
The Gault & Millau Tour also awarded the “Home” trophy to Michael Wagnersommelier of the Strasbourg restaurant 1741. With more than ten years of experience under his belt, Michael Wagner has toured major houses such as Arnsbourg in Baerental and Clairefontaine in Luxembourg. In 2019, he won the prize for best young sommelier from the Gault & Millau Tour.
The “Sommelier” trophy was awarded this year to Valère Rousselfrom the gourmet restaurant L’Atelier du Peinture, located in Colmar. The guide describes the sommelier as “jovial and sharp”, who provides advice on a cellar “which contains all the best in France”.
Matthieu Koenigchef of the L’Arbre vert restaurant in Berrwiller (Haut-Rhin), was rewarded in the “Today’s Tradition” category, while Thomas Koebel of the Relais de la Poste in La Wantzenau (Bas-Rhin), decorated with two toques by Gault & Millau (as well as a Michelin star), received the “Sea, lakes and rivers” trophy.
The “Technical Excellence” trophy was awarded to Guillaume Kassel, from the family inn Au Vieux Moulin Graufthal in Eschbourg (Bas-Rhin). He returned to the inn’s kitchens in 2016, after several years spent training in large houses. Finally, the “Exceptional Terroir” trophy was awarded to Antoine Hugueninhead of the Huna in Waldersbach. A restaurant “predominantly plant-based and locavore which combines vegetable gardening and creation”, indicates the guide.
Charlotte Baechler with Laurène Rocheteau
