Five Miles Up: How chef Alain Ducasse eats up the world
How does one sum up world-renowned chef Alain Ducasse in numbers? Michelin stars, we stopped counting at 33. Restaurants, 24. Their locations include eight countries and a list of cities including Paris, London, Tokyo, Monaco, New York and Saint-Tropez.
Châteaux & Hôtels Collection inns, three so far; two in Provence, one in Tuscany. What we’ve derived from these calculations? Not only does Ducasse love his work, he’s definitely putting his stamp on the globe in a self-proclaimed “quest for excellence.”
Carry-on or check-in?
Carry-on preferably because of how often I travel. I usually don’t stay in one place for more than a couple of days.
Window or aisle seat?
Aisle.
What’s your idea of the perfect vacation?
Wherever I am, I always try to visit the local farmers’ markets. This is where you find the real soul of the region. It’s hard to choose just one, but three of my favorites are the farmers’ market in New York City's Union Square; the Cours Saleya food market in Nice on the French Riviera; and the food market in Biarritz, in the heart of the French Basque country.
Where’s your favorite destination for practicing your profession?
With restaurants across the world, each and every one is different because the cities where they’re located are different. People’s lives are different in Paris, New York or Tokyo. They don’t dine at the same time and they don’t expect the same experience. Moreover, the local products are very different and guests’ culinary tastes and expectations vary from one city to the next. The only common denominator is the quest for excellence – and that does not count for nothing.
What's the most decadent souvenir you’ve ever brought back from a trip?
An exquisite 19th century (dating back to somewhere between 1815 and 1830) apothecary I shipped from Bordeaux to New York and built into the upstairs framework of my restaurant, Benoit. The Officine is an exclusive event space accommodating up to 12 guests and showcases antique porcelains and labels with Latin medicinal herbs and vintage Marie-Jeanne wine bottles.
Favorite hotel, resort, yurt, train or boat you've ever stayed in/on?
The next one.
Favorite restaurant you’ve discovered while traveling.
I like to dine around. A cocktail at one location, dinner at another. Weekend brunch is another favorite.
Biggest regret you've ever had while on vacation.
Every experience is worth having, good or bad. I try to make the most of my time in each place I visit because I want to see, do and taste as much as I can everywhere I go. I know there are always things left unseen, undone, and untasted… and those are for that next trip.
The one thing you're willing to splurge on when traveling above all else.
Restaurants. I am, above all, a curious and incorrigible gourmand. I seek out simple and flavorful cuisine. I love to discover and taste everything, such as the simple pleasure of a marvelous piece of fruit. Food made with joy and enthusiasm is always well-received. Service is also important. The failure to smile, an inhospitable reception, is unforgivable. After all, a ready and gracious smile is the easiest thing to offer. Conveying that joie de vivre is essential.
Where would you take someone visiting your hometown for the first time?
Even though Provence isn’t my birthplace, I would take them there. The region is full of charm, from the local terroir to the landscape, there is so much to discover from one part of the region to another. In fact, I have a beautiful country inn at the heart of the Alpes de Haute Provence region overlooking the small town’s (Moustiers-Sainte-Marie) striking hills. The property boasts a prolific vegetable garden onsite offering a bounty of scents, colors, and flavors typical of Provence, as well as four acres of park where you’ll find majestic centuries-old olive trees.
You only get one more trip in your lifetime. Where will it be?
Somewhere I have yet to go.
