In June 2021, the famous Plaza Athénée (in the 8th arrondissement of Paris) announced the departure of chef Alain Ducasse after two decades in the establishment’s kitchens. He was then replaced, to everyone’s surprise, by Jean Imbert, chef of the stars and himself a star of social networks. After a torrent of criticism – sometimes very virulent – the latter finally answered in the pages of the newspaper Le Figaro.
Jean Imbert had first shown his know-how by starting with the Relais Plaza before tackling, this winter, the gastronomic table of the Plaza Athénée. His first steps had been shot down! It must be said that upon the announcement of his arrival in the kitchens of the Parisian palace, the 40-year-old chef had been dezinced. “He does not have the CV [il a ouvert L’Acajou, puis Mamie, NDLR] nor the experience necessary for such a place (…) He likes bling-bling, famous people, money … He has the talent for nerve, social networks, selfies and knowing how to surround himself well.“, released the food critic and host François-Régis Gaudry. However, you have to get up early to find favor in his eyes, many of whom have experienced it like Mory Sacko …
Nearby Figaro, who had not been tender a few months ago and returned to test his gourmet cuisine, Jean Imbert reacted to criticism. “This ultimately impacted my parents more than me. I always try to gain height, to put things into perspective. A lot of things motivate me, and criticism is one of them. I know that nothing is taken for granted. The only thing I have to focus on is myself and my teams. If we do something very well, I’m sure it will be well received“, he confided.
Jean Imbert, however, risks reinforcing some of his detractors in the idea they have of him since he readily admits having “kept informed of the progress of the project“some friends from show business.”Some like Kylian Mbappé and Omar Sy have even come before“, he adds. On top of that, when the task is already big enough in Plaza – who is inevitably happy to be able to count on the chef’s name to fill his reservation book – Jean Imbert is working on other projects. “He is preparing to open a restaurant in the Dior boutique, opposite the Plaza, in early March, before another still confidential project“, relates the newspaper …