About Me

I’m a chef, restaurateur, husband, and father of three. Born in Geneva to an Italian father and French mother, I was raised in Switzerland, where my passion for food, wine, and cooking began. I have a deep connection to nature and love for foraging, hunting, and fishing. When I’m not in the kitchen, you can often find me on the soccer field, playing with the locals in our village.

Now, I’m living in Tuscany on a beautiful 25-acre farm, where I tend to our vineyard, bees, and olive groves. I cherish the slower pace of life here, taking walks with our dogs through the stunning landscapes of this magnificent region.

My Experience

I began my culinary journey by graduating from Thonon-les-Bains Culinary High School in France and later earned a Bachelor’s degree in Hospitality Management from the Lausanne Hospitality School in Switzerland. My professional career took off at the Wheatleigh Hotel in Lenox, Massachusetts—one of the Small Leading Hotels of the World—where I served as restaurant manager for four years.

Returning to France, I joined the team at the Four Seasons Hotel George V in Paris as Assistant Manager of "The Gallerie," the hotel’s second restaurant and bar.

In 2007, I had the incredible opportunity to return to Massachusetts to open my first restaurant. This was followed by two more openings in 2009 and 2010, forming the Lenox Restaurant Group, which grew to employ 90 people. After 15 successful years of managing all three restaurants, I made the decision in 2022 to sell my stake in the group and move to Tuscany, where I now pursue a life centered on joy, fulfillment, and the simple pleasures of farm living.

Working Alongside Paul

I love that Paul refers to me as The Joyful Chef. I’m living a happy and joyful life right now, so I think the title suits me well. During retreats I take our guests for a special farm to table experience where we pick ingredients from the land around me or from one of the wonderful organic farms nearby. Then it’s back to my farm where we all help to prepare a delicious home cooked meal and enjoy some excellent local wine. The views are breathtaking and the conversations are great too, but it’s the joy of cooking with friends that I love the most. 

I’m also excited to be working alongside Paul in the Sweet Life Club. Every month I’ll be hosting a cooking lesson, preparing simple and delicious dishes for our members to cook and enjoy themselves and recording some short videos as I move around Tuscany sourcing fresh ingredients and learning new recipes. You can also watch me hunting for truffles, making wine and taking care of my honeybees. 

Thanks for taking the time to learn more about me, I hope we get the chance to cook together real soon.

Stephane

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