“It worked”. This is how Philippe Etchebest remembers his first date with his wife Dominique, in a surprising place to say the least. Guest on the set of Telematin Tuesday December 12, 2023, the chef remembered with nostalgia this significant event in his life. It was on December 12, 1994 that Philippe Etchebest met the woman who would become his life partner, Dominique. At the time, he was not yet the small screen star we know today thanks to his hit shows such as Kitchen nightmare Or Top Chef objective. And he wasn’t afraid to invite his girlfriend to a rather… classic restaurant. “Is it true, I find it hard to believe, that on your first date you dragged him to McDonald’s?” Thomas Sotto was surprised. Enough to snatch a “Oh” of surprise to Marie Portolano, the co-host. “Yes, it’s true. We had a meeting at McDonald’s, but for a coffee. It was our meeting point, let’s say”the head chef justified himself.
“It’s been over thirty years…”
Information which visibly shocked the journalist. “But what did you not want to prove to him?”, was surprised Thomas Sotto. Enough to slightly annoy the chef, who is not in the habit of letting himself be walked on: “Thomas, it’s been going on for over thirty years, so it worked.”, replied the restaurateur. Enough to make Marie Portolano laugh a lot: “So, a good McDonald’s!”. Restaurant or fast food, when the meeting needs to happen, it happens! And as proof, this first meeting was only the beginning of a long collaboration between the two spouses. Dominique Etchebest is today the general director of the group of her husband’s restaurant business, and notably manages the two Bordeaux restaurants called The fourth wall And New house. A collaboration which is more than fruitful for the couple, still as in love as on the first day, as the chef regularly proves by posting photos of his beloved.