Pierre Gagnaire

Famous French chef. Former apprentice with other famous chef Paul Bocuse. In 1976, he directed his family restaurant "Le Clos Fleuri" (near Saint-Etienne), and then installed his new restaurant "Aux Passementiers" in Saint-Etienne in 1981, for which he was given a 18/20 mark in the Gault-et-Millau Guide (one of the most important French restaurant guides) in 1984. He eventually opened a new restaurant in Saint-Etienne in 1992 for which he obtained an impressive 19.5/20 mark in the Gault-et-Millaz Guide and 3 stars in the Michelin Guide (the other important French restaurant guide) in 1992. After bankruptcy he had to close his restaurant in 1996 but thanks to friends' help he opened a new one in Paris, where he obtained 3 stars again in 1998.