Gilles Epié

Born in Nantes, France, Chef Gilles Epié started training at the age of 14 alongside iconic chefs Roger Jaloux at Paul Bocuse restaurant and Alain Senderens at Lucas Carton. After traveling the world to study global cuisine, he returned to Paris where he made an early name for himself as one of the youngest chefs to earn a Michelin Star. After joining Francois Clerc at La Vieille Fontaine-Maison Lafitte as Executive Chef, together they earned a second Michelin Star.

In 1995, Chef Epié left France to explore American cuisine and in 1996 was voted Best New Chef by Food & Wine magazine as he transformed L’Orangerie in Los Angeles with his gastronomic light French fare. Here, he catered birthday celebrations for both Frank Sinatra and Sophia Loren, and cooked dinners for Presidents George Bush, Bill Clinton, Ronald Reagan and Gerald Ford, along with numerous notables including heads of state, politicians and A-list celebrities.

Over the years, Chef Epié has worked at prestigious restaurants including Miravile, Paris (owner) and La Petite Cour, Saint-Germain-des-Pres, Paris. He has owned, operated and managed several successful restaurants internationally, including as owner/Executive Chef of Citrus Étoile restaurant in Paris with his wife, actress Elizabeth Epié, from 2005 to 2017. It was selected as a member of the Châteaux & Hotels Collection—Tables Remarquables, is included in Alain Ducasse’s book, "J’aime Paris" and listed as a “must visit” new Paris restaurant in 2006. In 2006, Condé Nast Traveller named it as one of the Top 100 Hot Restaurants in the World.

Epié and his wife starred in two seasons of "Dans La Vraie D’un Grand Chef" ("In the Real Life of a Top Chef"), a French reality show produced by Canal+/Cuisine+ (2013-2014). In 2015, he filmed twenty 30-minute episodes of his cooking show "Un Frenchy en Cuisine" ("A Frenchy in the Kitchen)", airing on Canal+. In addition, he served as the expert food correspondent for the BBC (2010-2016) and on a panel of judges for Israel’s "Iron Chef" 2008.

Chef Epié’s culinary talents were also on display at his Parisian-style gastronomic restaurant Frenchy’s at the Charles de Gaulle Airport; as Corporate Executive Chef at Juvia in Miami Beach, Florida; and as Culinary Director and Executive Chef at Gilles@Montage Beverly Hills. He reopened Oahu’s Turtle Bay Resort after a $250 million display renovation. Known for his rich bold tastes he creates without butter or cream, using the pure and simple way of cooking with steam to bring out the flavors of the finest products, Chef Epié most recently worked as Executive Chef of L’Avant-Garde, a modern French gastronomic restaurant in Washington, DC until his July 2024 appointment as Senior Manager, Corporate Executive Chef Development and Sustainability, at Celebrity Cruises.