26th August 2010
Friends and colleagues gather at Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons to bid au revoir to the legendary Monsieur Alain
This week, Raymond Blanc welcomed 100 friends and fellow industry professionals to Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons to celebrate the retirement, Monsieur Alain Descenclos, his Director of Restaurant. Surrounded by industry greats including Silvano Giraldon, Diego Maschiaga and David Moore, the farewell party took place in La Belle Epoque, Le Manoir's private dining room.
M.Alain and Raymond Blanc's friendship spans over 36 years from the moment they met at La Sorbonne in Oxford where Raymond was a young Commis to Alain. Then Alain joined Raymond in 1979 at 'Les Quat'Saisons' and two years later (in 1981) they were awarded two Michelin Stars. Alain has a deep understanding of Raymond's vision and together they created a culture of people and a welcoming ambience which continues to remain at the heart of Le Manoir. Over the years M.Alain has nurtured and inspired a great number of front of house staff into management positions. He has also ensured that every diner who has passed through Le Manoir aux Quat'Saisons has a truly unforgettable experience. Alain's recent recognition was to be inducted into the Academy of Food and Wine Service Skills Hall of Fame as one of the Great Restaurant Managers in the UK. Also, M.Alain has been invited by Raymond to remain involved with the team at Le Manoir in a new role as consultant and ambassador. Raymond is helping him to set up a consultancy company on wine, service and stock control to advise the best in the world. M. Alain said "It has been an honour and a privilege to work alongside M.Blanc for the past 36 years. As a host, I have always strived to translate every meal into an experience for the guest. I shall miss Le Manoir terribly but I am looking forward to continue to oversee the development of the exceptionally high standards at Le Manoir and to also starting my own new adventures." Paying tribute to his colleague and friend, Raymond Blanc said: "M. Alain is one of the greatest and has helped shape the culture of Le Manoir and define its excellence, unfailingly giving his best to hospitality through the years, and becoming the face of Le Manoir. He is leaving a legacy behind him that will continue for years to come." Alain's succession has been established for many years and Monsieur Mourad will take the mantle of the 'Maitre'. M. Mourad has worked with Raymond and Alain for the past 15 years. He shares their same vision and will continue to reinforce their culture.