In the heart of San Francisco, In Mission District, Thomas Éthève directs one of the most famous restaurants reinventing Korean cuisine. The establishment obtained a star in the Michelin guide. From meeting to California via the metropolis and Hong Kong, Other stars punctuate the course of Thomas Ethève, on an adventure, fifteen years ago, with in his pocket his Cuisine Centhor kitchen.
Yardbird, Your, San Ho Won : Three of the most famous Asian restaurants. The first is in Hongkong, and the other two in San Francisco. Their other common point, It is that a Reunionese made her talent as a cook shine there : Thomas Ethève. A student from the Centhor who went on an adventure. Thomas Ethève had, it must be recognized, to hold, since he is the grandson of the founders of the marquee, Almost mythical place in the animation of the south of Reunion, In Montvert les Bas. It was at the marquee that he took his first steps in the kitchen to help his parents. Next chapter, He holds a kitchen course at Centhor. He is 20 years old. His "whim" occurs when he is on vacation in Lyon. "I wanted an adventure. Disneyland Paris recruited for the summer season, I applied and I liked it. I stayed there for two years. "Then it is the desire to" go to the upper level "which leads him to the south of France with Franck Ferigutti, Meilleur Ouvrier de France, at the head of two seasonal hotels. Franck Ferigutti is also the head of the Bocuse houses. "I had the chance to attend the French team at the 2014 Golden Bocuse, which is one of the most prestigious culinary competitions in the world. "And it is a Thomas eths to the sharp technique and enriched with knowledge and experience that, The following year, Integrates the team of the Multi -Setoile Chef Thierry Marx restaurant within the Palace Le Mandarin Oriental.
Corey Lee's meeting
In the next chapter of its history, Thomas Éthève embarks on an English learning program in professional immersion. Here it is in San Francisco at work in an exceptional restaurant, Nothing less than in Benu. This already famous restaurant in the United States was founded by American-Korean chef Corey Lee, At the origin of the Korean "new kitchen". An internationally known address. Benu will be the first restaurant in San Francisco to receive three stars in the Michelin guide ! Corey Lee already has a rich career behind him, in New York and Paris, where he worked with the chiefs of some of the largest tables. It is with this master that Thomas Éthève introduces himself to the most refined modern Asian gastronomy.
A very nice relationship
His year of training in English ends when the Benu restaurant makes its first appearance in the list of World’s 50 Best Restaurants. " Fantastic. I cannot extend at that time for lack of visa, But a very nice relationship is created. Corey Lee encourages me to go to Hong Kong. For life experience, openness and learn other culinary techniques. »»
From Hong Kong to St. Francis
Le Yardbird, in Hongkong, is one of the most famous restaurants in Asia (This Japanese "bistro" will obtain in 2021 a Michelin star). Thomas ethèves refine his technique in the atmosphere of relaxed rigor which characterizes the establishment. But arrives 2020 : the pandemic of Covid-1. Thomas Ethève returns to Reunion.
Since his return to San Francisco, city he loves, The mange le San Ho Won, Second restaurant opened by Corey Lee in San Francisco, fin 2021. San Ho Won received its first star six months after its opening ! The former Student of the Centhor is therefore now a head of a starred establishment and who appears on the list of Top 50 favorite restaurants in the New York Times.
