Hélène Darroze was born on February 23, 1967, and is a renowned French chef, boasting an impressive six Michelin stars across her three restaurants. She holds three restaurants, including Hélène Darroze at The Connaught in London, Marsan par Hélène Darroze in Paris, and Hélène Darroze à Villa La Coste in Provence, each earning one, two, and three Michelin stars, respectively.
Darroze began her culinary journey in 1990, after graduating from university, by working for Alain Ducasse at Le Louis XV restaurant in Monaco. She was initially employed in the office, but Ducasse convinced her to join the kitchen, marking her first time working outside her family's restaurant. Darroze spent three years under Ducasse's guidance before returning to her family's restaurant, where she successfully maintained its existing Michelin star.
Following the financial struggles and eventual closure of her family's restaurant in 1999, Darroze opened her own establishment, Restaurant Hélène Darroze, in Paris, earning her first Michelin star in 2001 and a second in 2003. However, the second star was later lost in the 2010 guide.
In 2008, Darroze took on the role of chef at the Connaught in London, succeeding Angela Hartnett. As part of a £70m refurbishment, Darroze not only oversaw the restaurant but also managed the hotel's catering services. Despite initial criticism, Hélène Darroze at The Connaught received a Michelin star in 2009, followed by a second star in 2011 and a third in 2021.
Darroze's accomplishments have been recognized with her admission into the French Legion of Honour as a Chevalier (Knight) by President Nicolas Sarkozy in 2012. As a fourth-generation chef, Darroze follows in the footsteps of her predecessors, who ran a family restaurant in Villeneuve-de-Marsan, France.
Before embarking on a culinary career, Darroze earned a degree in business. She is a devoted mother to her two adopted daughters, Charlotte and Quiterie, from Vietnam. To balance her time between her London and Paris restaurants, Darroze alternates her weekly stays between the two cities.
