His Toulouse restaurant, which bears his name, has been awarded two Michelin stars since 2003, he was sworn emblematic of Top chef during seven seasons … His name is no longer to do the job. Michel Sarran is a leading figure in French gastronomy. And yet, there was no question for him to be interested only in the very elaborate dishes of palaces. For the podcast MatryoshK, the former sidekick of Philippe Etchebest, Hélène Darroze or even Paul Pairet in the famous M6 culinary competition responds to criticism on his career choices.
Since 2016, Michel Sarran collaborates with SNCF. No more triangle sandwiches and crisps. On the trains, passengers have the opportunity to taste superb dishes concocted by the 60-year-old chef ranging from quinoa salad and wasabi crab wrap to macaroni with crème fraîche sauce. A quality menu for a price that is necessarily a little higher. SNCF customers are delighted, but this decision by Michel Sarran is criticized by the profession.
In response to criticism, he takes the example of Michel Guérard, another Michelin-starred chef who inspired him. “Ohas always been looking for a challenge. He gave me a different vision of cooking. He’s a businessman, he notes. He is a man who was in the excellence of starred cuisine and who agreed to go to Findus to transform the frozen food industry.“For the new actor ofHere it all begins (TF1), this colleague is “went into battle, he got his hands dirty to make it something different“.”He succeeded because today, we no longer have the same outlook on this industry. Everyone was laughing at him. Michel Guérard transmitted this to me“, continues Michel Sarran. And the ex-juror of Top chef replaced by Glenn Viel to continue: “I know I’m getting slapped on the fingers becauseI’ve been told that what I’m doing for the train doesn’t live up to my name. I don’t give a fuck! Becoming a businessman is not a shame. I try to diversify!“An answer could not be clearer.
Remember that the chef also works with school canteens and hospitals. “The Michelin-starred, that corresponds and affects only a minority of people. My only mission is to improve everyday life“, he concludes.