Hard blow for Hélène Darroze’s teams. The gourmet chef, popularized by Top chef around ten years ago, announced on Instagram that she was already closing her burger restaurant in the 2nd arrondissement, which she had opened last March. Just seven months after openingTHE Jòia Bun definitively lowered the curtain on Saturday October 15, 2023, to the great dismay of the restaurant teams. On Instagram, the best chef in the world justified it, explaining that she had new incompatible professional goals: “Thank you for following us since the opening of Jòia Bun, it was a magnificent human adventure. Thank you for your smiles, your support and your encouragement. We had a blast with you. Today we have decided to refocus on other important projects, but we will see you soon on rue de la Michodière for equally exciting adventures. We will keep you informed of the expected reopening date.” she promised.
Laeticia Hallyday’s best friend is at the head of numerous prestigious restaurants: since 2008, she has been the London restaurant owner Hélène Darroze at The Connaught, awarded three stars by the Michelin guide. In 2018, she opened the restaurant Joìa in the 2nd arrondissement of Paris. The following year she opened Marsan rue d’Assas in Paris, awarded two stars in the Michelin guide. In 2021, Hélène Darroze chose to go to Provence, to offer a brand new restaurant already awarded one star by the Michelin guide, and called Hélène Darroze at Villa La Coste at Puy-Saint-Réparade in Bouches-du-Rhône. In the past, she also directed between 1999 and 2018 the prestigious restaurant Hélène Darroze rue d’Assas in Paris, which has since been renamed Le Marsan.
Hélène Darroze is not the only juror of Top chef facing closure; last August, his colleague Michel Sarran also announced that he would put an end to at his street food restaurant which he had named Le Croq’Michel. This restaurant, entirely dedicated to croque-monsieur, had been opened three years earlier. The chef still owns a prestigious gourmet restaurant in Dubai, and a restaurant in Toulouse, located not far from the Capitol.