Claire Vallée

Claire Vallée (born 1980) is a French chef. Her restaurant, ONA, was the first vegan establishment to win a Michelin star.[1]

Early life

She was born in 1980[2] in Nancy[3] and spent her childhood in Montélimar.[4] She holds a doctorate in archaeology.[5]

Career

After her studies, she took a summer job at a restaurant in Crans-Montana, Switzerland, and ended up staying for eight years. She trained as a pastry chef.[5] Following some time in Thailand, she became a vegetarian, and on her return to France was reluctant to work with meat or fish.[3][6]

In 2016 she opened a vegan restaurant in Arès, near Bordeaux, in southwestern France. It is called ONA, which stands for "Origine non animale", not of animal origin.[7] She financed her business through a crowdfunding campaign that raised 10,000 euros[3] and through La Nef [fr], an ethical finance co-operative.[8] Aside from the food, Vallée extends veganism to the drinks and the decor of the restaurant, which uses renewable electricity and composts its wastes.[5] The restaurant closed permanently in October 2022.[9]

Recognition

In 2018 the Michelin Guide awarded ONA one fork, a symbol for a restaurant of comfort and quality.[8] Rival guide Gault Millau gave her two chef's hats, its equivalent symbol.[3] This made ONA the first organic and vegan establishments recognised by these guides.[10]

In 2021, she received the first Michelin star awarded to a vegan restaurant.[1] The Michelin Guide also gave her a Green Star for excellence in sustainable gastronomy.[8]

References

  1. ^ a b "Claire Vallée is first chef to win Michelin star for her vegan restaurant". Women's Agenda. 20 January 2021. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  2. ^ Bourge, Mathilde (16 November 2022). "Claire Vallée, la super cheffe végane". cuisine.journaldesfemmes.fr (in French). Retrieved 9 June 2024.
  3. ^ a b c d Match, Paris (9 April 2019). "Claire Vallée : l'étoile végane". parismatch.com (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  4. ^ Jeudi, Louis (18 January 2021). "Claire Vallée (Ona, Arès) : au-delà de la cuisine végétalienne, la reconnaissance d'une cheffe à part". ATABULA - Edition générale (in French). Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  5. ^ a b c "Claire Vallée, cheffe vegan surdouée, livre ses recettes pour réussir vos fêtes". Rue89Bordeaux (in French). 22 December 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  6. ^ Magazine, Cheek. "Claire Vallée: La cheffe vegan qui a conquis le guide Michelin - ChEEk Magazine". cheekmagazine.fr. Retrieved 18 January 2021.[permanent dead link‍]
  7. ^ Breeden, Aurelien (19 January 2021). "Vegan Restaurant Gets Michelin Star in France, a First". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved 21 January 2021.
  8. ^ a b c "Guide Michelin 2021 : un restaurant végan étoilé, une première en France". Le Monde.fr (in French). 18 January 2021. Retrieved 18 January 2021.
  9. ^ "En Gironde, ce restaurant ferme définitivement un an après sa première étoile Michelin". actu.fr (in French). November 2022. Retrieved 5 March 2023.
  10. ^ "Rencontre avec Claire Vallée, chef du restaurant ONA". AVF (in French). 9 October 2018. Retrieved 18 January 2021.