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Laurent Manrique

Born	March 30, 1966 (1966-03-30) Lombez, France
Rating(s) Michelin stars
Current restaurant(s) Aqua, San Francisco, Fifth Floor, Cafe de la Presse, Rouge and Blanc, San Francisco
Previous restaurant(s) Campton Place San Francisco, Gertrude's New York, Peacock Alley New York, Taillevent Paris
Television show(s) Guest Judge on Top Chef Season 1
[www.aqua-sf.com Official Website]

Laurent Manrique (born March 30, 1966) was the Corporate Executive Chef of Aqua [1], an upscale seafood restaurant in San Francisco, California, which earned 2 Michelin stars in 2006, the first time Michelin came to the San Francisco Bay Area, and again in 2007 and 2008. He also oversees Cafe de la Presse, located on the corner of Bush Street and Grant Avenue, and Rouge and Blance Wine Bar. He helped guide the reopening of the Michelin Starred Fifth Floor [2], in the Hotel Palomar on 4th Street. The most recent is the reopening of the Urban Tavern in the San Francisco Hilton. He is lauded for his modern interpretation of his native Gascon cuisine.

[edit] Biography

Manrique discovered his culinary passion during childhood while cooking with his grandmother Aurélie in the Gascon village of Roques. Following an apprenticeship several years later with master chef Roger Duffour, Manrique trained with master chefs Yan Jacquot and Claude Deligne at Michelin-starred Taillevent and Toit de Passy in Paris.

Following a suggestion to move to United States, Manrique pursued his culinary career in Los Angeles at restaurants Fennel and Rex.

Then in 1992 at the age of 26, Manrique moved to New York City to take over as chef at the Waldorf Astoria's Peacock Alley. Manrique left the Waldorf to become a partner of Gertrudes in 1997, this furthered his popularity, and the following year he earned the Bon Appétit's Rising Star Chef Award.

Shortly thereafter the West Coast beckoned, and Manrique returned to join San Francisco's Campton Palace restaurant as Executive Chef, where he received rave reviews.

In 2003, Manrique was named Corporate Executive Chef for Aqua. Manrique's cuisine and leadership were to play a significant role in the restaurants extraordinary success in San Francisco.

Next came additional Aqua-affiliated adventures: Cafe de la Presse and Rouge and Blance Wine Bar, which Manrique owns pesonally.^[1]

In 2007, Manrique united with friend and colleague Christopher Condy, to form a unique joint venture, resulting in the creation of C&L partners, a restaurant development, operating and investment company. Laurent helped guide C&L through the reopening of the Fifth Floor restaurant at the Palomar Hotel for the Kimpton Group in 2008, followed by the grand opening of the Urban Tavern at the San Francisco Hilton. Both have made additional impacts on the San Francisco dining scene.^{[citation needed]} In July, 2009 Manrique resigned from the company, and the Aqua restaurant, due to difficulties arising from a feud among Condy's heirs and was replaced by Jason Pringle in September 2009.^{[1] [2]}

[edit] Awards

• Bon Appetit Rising Star Chef - 1998

• Michelin Guide – Two Stars, 2008

• Michelin Guide - Two Stars, 2009

• Michelin Guide – Two Stars, 2007

• Wine Spectator - San Francisco’s Best Restaurants 2006

• 7x7 Magazine – Best Business Lunch 2007

• San Francisco Magazine – Best in Chow 2004

• Robb Report – Best of the Best 2004

• Zagat Survey – N°5 Most Popular Bay Area’s Restaurants

• Wine Spectator – Award of Excellence

• Nation’s Restaurant News – Fine Dining Hall of Fame 1999

• Distinguished Restaurants – DiRoNa Award of Excellence 1998

• Restaurants and Institutions – Ivy Award 1998

[edit] Personal life

Manrique's other passionate pursuit is winemaking. Since 2004, Manrique has been involved in vineyard adventures here and abroad, where he has been instrumental in the creation of several wines. Manrique partnered with Master Sommelier Emmanuel Kemiji and a vineyard in Spain, Clos Oblidat and Arrels (which means roots of a vine in Catalon) is the inaugural release.

[edit] Television appearances

• Nick Steins Cooking with Friends

• Guest Judge on Top Chef Season 1 Episode 3

[edit] Philanthropy

• Manrique focuses on a variety of philanthropic causes. Of particular note is his own creation, "Taste and Tribute". This came about in 2001, when Manrique's long time interest in Buddhism inspired him to direct his efforts towards the Tibetan Aid Project [3]. "Taste and Tribute" is an annual event of camaraderie and fine food that supports the Tibetan Aid Project. Manrique has been the guiding light and inspiration for the event since its inception. All proceeds go directly towards the effort to preserve Tibet’s cultural heritage for the benefit of the Tibetan people and all humanity.

• Manrique’s humanitarian beliefs have also taken him to South Africa in 2007 to participate in an anti-HIV program, where he cooked for Nelson Mandela. He is a long time supporter of Meals on Wheels and Project Open Hand in San Francisco, which aims to provide isolated homebound seniors in San Francisco with nutritious meals, daily human contact and supportive services to prevent their premature institutionalization. Participation in Project Open Hand aids the charity in providing “meals with love” to people living with serious illnesses and to seniors. Aqua also contributes to the San Francisco volunteer organization that picks up excess food from the restaurant biweekly and delivers it to feeding programs in the city of San Francisco. In addition, Manrique regularly contributes to many local charities and fundraising events.

[edit] External links

• Cafe de la Presse
• Rouge and Blanc Wine Bar

[edit] References